Tasman Fracture Marine Park lies off the south-west corner of Tasmania, complementing the Port Davey Marine Reserve which was proclaimed in 2005 by the Tasmanian Government. The Tasman Fracture Marine Park is scored by steep canyons, and encloses other geological features including steep escarpments, troughs, saddles, basins, seamounts and part of a plateau that is over 400 kilometres long and rises three kilometres above the seafloor. These features host spectacular deep-water coral communities, providing habitat for a rich diversity of marine invertebrates and fish species. The waters of the marine park are also home to many species of seabirds, seals and cetaceans such as dolphins and killer whales.
Video
A deep reef biodiversity survey was carried out in the Tasman Fracture Marine Park in January 2009. The survey, jointly carried out by the NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub, CSIRO, National Science Foundation and Woods Hole Advanced Imaging and Visualisation Laboratory used a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to observe the marine life down to depths over 3800 metres.
Research
These short articles highlight the findings from ongoing scientific research within the Tasman Fracture Marine Park, including exciting new discoveries and ideas for future projects.
A second survey of the fish, lobster and non-mobile seafloor organisms in shelf waters within the Tasman Fracture Marine Park (TFMP) was conducted in 2021, following initial surveys in 2014/15. The broad aim was to look at changes in the no-take National Park Zone (NPZ) following protection, relative to adjacent fished locations both within the park and in nearby areas. The 2021 surveys reinforced the status of the TFMP as a biodiverse Marine Park within the SE Marine Park Network. Of special interest was the observation of rare and endangered species such as a pink handfish and a collar seahorse.
Small and/or camouflaged fish species hidden on or near the reef surface are commonly referred to as ‘cryptic’ or ‘cryptobenthic’ fishes. These species are characteristically difficult to see but are diverse and abundant throughout Australian Marine Parks and may play an important role in supporting the larger predatory fish species protected within park boundaries.
A collaborative research voyage on the state-of the-art research vessel RV Investigator in 2018 explored Tasmania’s hidden seamounts (under-sea mountains). Extensive areas of deep-sea coral reefs supporting diverse communities were surveyed, mostly between 700 and 1500 metres below the sea surface. These seamount reefs represent a globally significant reference site to monitor recovery of deep-sea coral communities following the impacts sustained from bottom trawling in the 1990’s. We now better understand the biodiversity and distribution of these vulnerable ecosystems and their ability to recover from impacts such as a bottom trawling.
Parks Australia manage 60 Australian Marine Parks, many of which include shallow reefs. These reef habitats are hugely diverse, and include tropical reefs dominated by hard corals; current-swept offshore bommies covered in sea whips, sea fans and soft corals; temperate rocky reefs with sea urchin barrens or low lying colourful seaweeds; and deeper rocky reefs with sessile invertebrates and large black coral trees.
In Autumn 2019, the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Science (IMAS) completed a two-week continuous multibeam mapping program in shelf waters of the Freycinet, Huon and Tasman Fracture Marine Parks to extend current knowledge of habitat distribution in these parks. In addition, several areas outside the park were mapped to provide external reference areas for the Tasman Fracture Marine Park. This mapping will underpin future biological inventory and monitoring programs.
Tasman Fracture Marine Park contains deep reefs, seamounts and a fracture zone unique to the network.
Natural values
Our marine parks have a number of different values, including natural, cultural, heritage and socio-economic values. The natural values of our marine parks refer to the habitats, species and ecological communities within them, and the processes that support their connectivity, productivity and function. Below are the key datasets that help inform park managers about the natural values that exist within our network of Australian Marine Parks. For more information on other park values refer to the relevant park Management Plans on the Parks Australia website.
See which wetlands of international significance are protected by Australian Marine Parks.
Maps
The information provided by these datasets was integral in the planning and development of our national network of marine parks. Learn in detail about how scientists and marine park planners used these important marine features together to design Australia's network of marine parks, or explore the datasets for the Tasman Fracture Marine Park individually through the links below.
See which areas of Australia's marine environments have been World Heritage listed.
Latest maps
Since the initial planning of the Australian Marine Parks Network in 2012, new mapping data has emerged that allows us to see in finer detail the features that exist within our parks. These datasets help marine managers to understand more about what's under the surface, where there are overlaying management or protection regimes, and/or where pressures on the marine environment may be increasing.
Find out where the seafloor has been mapped with sonar across the Marine Parks.
Scientific papers
The following publications contain information relevant to the Tasman Fracture marine park and adjacent waters. Click on the links to access to the publications.
Monk, J, Barrett, N, Hulls, J, James, L, Hosack, G, Oh, E, Martin, T, Edwards, S, Nau, A, Heany, B and Foster, S. (2016).
Seafloor biota, rock lobster and demersal fish assemblages of the Tasman Fracture Commonwealth Marine Reserve Region: Determining the influence of the shelf sanctuary zone on population demographics.
Emery, T , Hartmann, K and Gardner, C. (2015).
Tasmanian giant crab fishery Assessment 2013/14.
Monk, J, Barrett, J, Hulls, J, Hosak, G, Oh, E, Martin, T, Edwards, S, Nau, A, Heany, B and Foster, S. (2015).
Seafloor benthos, rock lobster and demersal fish assemblages of the Tasman Fracture Commonwealth Marine Reserve Region: determine the influence of the shelf sanctuary zone on population demographics. Tasman Fracture CMR Survey Progress Report 2, June 2015.
Thresher, R, Althaus, F, Adkins, J, Gowlett-Holmes, K, Alderslade, P, Dowdney, J, Cho, W, Gagnon, A, Staples, D, McEnnulty, F and Williams, A. (2014).
Strong depth-related zonation of megabenthos on a rocky continental margin (? 700-4000 m) off southern Tasmania, Australia..
Pethybridge, H. R, Nichols, P. D, Virtue, P and Jackson, G. D. (2013).
The foraging ecology of an oceanic squid, Todarodes filippovae: the use of signature lipid profiling to monitor ecosystem change.
Alderman, R, Gales, R, Tuck, G. N and Lebreton, J. D. (2012).
Global population status of shy albatross and an assessment of colony-specific trends and drivers.
Exon, N. F, Marshall, J. F, McCorkle, D. C, Alcock, M, Chaproniere, G. C. H, Connell, R, Dutton, S. J, Elmes, M, Findlay, C, Robertson, L, Rollet, N, Samson, C, Shafik, S and Whitmore, G. P. (1995).
AGSO Cruise 147 Report: Tasman Rises Geological Sampling Cruise of Rig Seismic: Stratigraphy, Tectonic history and Palaeoclimate of the offshore Tasmanian region.
TOP