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Australian Marine Parks
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Australia > South-west > Abrolhos

Abrolhos Marine Park

  • Research
  • Natural values
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  • Latest maps
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  • Spangled Emperor fish - Lethrinus nebulosus
    IMAS
  • Seastar at Abrolhos Marine Park
    IMAS
  • School of Parrot fish at Houtman Abrolhos Marine Park
    RLS
  • Brain coral in Houtman Abrolhos Islands
    RLS
  • Boating in the Abrolhos
    Parks Australia
Image gallery
Network: South-west
Marine park area: 88,060 kilometres2
Depth range: less than 15 – 6,000 metres
Average depth: 3,796 metres
More info about this marine park

Abrolhos Marine Park is located in the Commonwealth waters adjacent to the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, about 27 kilometres south-west of Geraldton. This marine park is host to a unique community of tropical and temperate species owing to the mixing of the warm tropical waters of the Leeuwin Current and colder waters more typical of lower latitudes. The northernmost breeding colony of sea lions can be found sharing habitat with an abundance of reef sharks, and coral reefs are interspersed with benthic algae. Abrolhos Marine Park also contains the largest seabird breeding area in the eastern Indian Ocean, with over one million known breeding pairs.

Video

Baited Underwater Video Stations (BRUVS) can be used to describe and compare fish assemblages. This below footage was collected as part of a broader survey from BRUVS deployed on the upper slope (100-600 metres) of the continental slope surrounding Abrolhos Islands.

Research

These short articles highlight the findings from ongoing scientific research within the Abrolhos Marine Park, including exciting new discoveries and ideas for future projects.
Pleurosicya mossambica

Cryptic fishes of Australian Marine Parks

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.
Green moon wrasse in Emily Bay lagoon

Extraordinary diversity of shallow reef habitats in Australian Marine Parks

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.

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.

Biologically important areas

See where sea lions, sea birds, whales, dolphins and turtles like to breed, forage and nest.

Bioregions

See which areas of Australia's oceans have similar characteristics.
KEF Preview Imange

Key ecological features

See which habitats, features and processes scientists consider particularly important for biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Ramsar Preview Image Ampsatlas

RAMSAR wetlands

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 Abrolhos Marine Park individually through the links below.
Bathomes Preview Imange

Bathomes

See which areas of Marine Parks are of similar depth.
Bathymetry Preview Imange

Bathymetry (250 metre resolution)

Compare how deep the waters are within and between the Australian Marine Parks.
mean primary productivity hotspots

Chlorophyll-a and ocean productivity

See where Australian's oceans are (and aren't) rich in phytoplankton.
Preview Image Geomorph

Geomorphology

Explore the banks, pinnacles, troughs and other features of the seafloor in Australian Marine Parks.

National Offshore Petroleum Titles

Find out where activities to search for and extract petroleum offshore are planned, underway or cancelled.
rates of ocean warming

Sea surface temperature

Check out the typical water temperature in Australian Marine Parks.
Species Richness Preview Image Ampsatlas

Species richness

See where species richness is at its highest and lowest across Australian Marine Parks.
WHA Preview Imange Ampsatlas

World heritage areas

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.

Where have ships mapped the seafloor with sonar?

Find out where the seafloor has been mapped with sonar across the Marine Parks.

Which Marine Parks are exposed to the most tropical cyclone activity?

Examine how exposure to tropical cyclone activity varies across Australian Marine Parks.

Scientific papers

The following publications contain information relevant to the Abrolhos marine park and adjacent waters. Click on the links to access to the publications.
  • Andreakis, N, Costello, P, Zanolla, M, Saunders, G. W and Mata, L. (2016). Endemic or introduced? Phylogeography of Asparagopsis (Florideophyceae) in Australia reveals multiple introductions and a new mitochondrial lineage.
  • Gilmour, J, Speed, C. W and Babcock, R. (2016). Coral reproduction in Western Australia.
  • Markey, K. L, Abdo, D. A, Evans, S. N and Bosserelle, C. (2016). Keeping It Local: Dispersal Limitations of Coral Larvae to the High Latitude Coral Reefs of the Houtman Abrolhos Islands.
  • Bornt, K. R, McLean, D. L, Langlois, T. J, Harvey, E. S, Bellchambers, L. M, Evans, S. N and Newman, S. J. (2015). Targeted demersal fish species exhibit variable responses to long-term protection from fishing at the Houtman Abrolhos Islands.
  • de Lestang, S, Caputi, N, Feng, M, Denham, A, Penn, J, Slawinski, D, Pearce, A and How, J. (2015). What caused seven consecutive years of low puerulus settlement in the western rock lobster fishery of Western Australia?.
  • Dunlop, J. N, Rippey, E, Bradshaw, L. E and Burbidge, A. A. (2015). Recovery of seabird colonies on Rat Island (Houtman Abrolhos) following the eradication of introduced predators.
  • Rothman, M. D, Mattio, L, Wernberg, T, Anderson, R. J, Uwai, S, Mohring, M. B and Bolton, J. J. (2015). A molecular investigation of the genus Ecklonia (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales) with special focus on the Southern Hemisphere.
  • Surman, C, Dunlop, J. N and Biosciences, D. H. (2015). Impact Assessment of aquaculture on seabird communities of the Abrolhos Islands, to support the Mid-West Aquaculture Development Zone proposal.
  • de Lestang, S. (2014). The orientation and migratory dynamics of the western rock lobster, Panulirus cygnus, in Western Australia..
  • Rountrey, A. N, Coulson, P. G, Meeuwig, J. J and Meekan, M. (2014). Water temperature and fish growth: otoliths predict growth patterns of a marine fish in a changing climate.
  • Saunders, B. J, Harvey, E. S and Kendrick, G. A. (2014). Factors influencing distribution and habitat associations in an endemic group of temperate Western Australian reef fishes over a latitudinal gradient.
  • Abdo, D. A Bellchambers, L. M Evans, S. N. (2012). Turning up the heat: increasing temperature and coral bleaching at the high latitude coral reefs of the Houtman Abrolhos Islands.
  • Harvey, E. S, Dorman, S. R, Fitzpatrick, C, Newman, S. J and McLean, D. L. (2012). Response of diurnal and nocturnal coral reef fish to protection from fishing: an assessment using baited remote underwater video.
  • Hayes, K. R, Dambacher, J. M, Lyne, V, Sharples, R, Rochester, W. A, Dutra, L. X. C and Smith, R. (2012). Ecological Indicators for Australias Exclusive Economic Zone: Rationale and Approach with Application to the South West Marine Region.
  • Scheffers, A. M, Scheffers, S. R, Kelletat, D. H, Squire, P, Collins, L, Feng, Y, Zhao, J. X, Joannes-Boyau, R, May, S. M, Schellmann, G and Freeman, H. (2012). Coarse clast ridge sequences as suitable archives for past storm events? Case study on the Houtman Abrolhos, Western Australia.
  • Smale, D. A and Wernberg, T. (2012). Ecological observations associated with an anomalous warming event at the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia.
  • Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and communities, Western Australian Fishing Industry Council Incorporated (2011). AGREEMENT BETWEEN COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, as represented by and acting through the Department of Sustainability Environment, Water, Population and Communities, ABN 34 190 894 983 AND WESTERN AUSTRALIAN FISHING INDUSTRY COUNCIL INCORPORATED, ABN 36 814 383 345 in relation to Services for Engagement of the commercial fishing industry in the marine bioregional planning program for the South-west marine region: "South-west Commonwealth Marine Bioregional Planning commercial fishing industry engagement project" Milestone report 4.
  • Marriott, R. J, Wise, B and St John, J. (2011). Historical changes in fishing efficiency in the west coast demersal scalefish fishery, Western Australia: implications for assessment and management.
  • McLean, D. L, Harvey, E. S and Meeuwig, J. J. (2011). Declines in the abundance of coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus) in areas closed to fishing at the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia.
  • Pearce, A, Slawinski, D, Feng, M, Hutchins, B and Fearns, P. (2011). Modelling the potential transport of tropical fish larvae in the Leeuwin Current.
  • Saunders, B. J. (2011). The Ecology of Territorial Herbivorous Damselfish (Genus Parma) on Temperate Western Australian Rocky Reef.
  • Smale, D. A, Kendrick, G. A and Harvey, E. S. (2010). Establishment of a cost-effective monitoring program to detect changes in the structure of benthic invertebrate and macroalgae assemblages in the West Coast Bioregion.
  • Smale, D. A, Kendrick, G. A, Waddington, K. I, Van Niel, K. P, Meeuwig, J. J and Harvey, E. S. (2010). Benthic assemblage composition on subtidal reefs along a latitudinal gradient in Western Australia.
  • Edgar, G. J and Stuart-Smith, R. D. (2009). Ecological effects of marine protected areas on rocky reef communities--a continental-scale analysis.
  • England, P.R , Condie, S, Feng, M and Slawinski, D (2009). Modelling connectivity for resilient protected area design among areas for further assessment identified by DEWHA for the development of a Commonwealth MPA Network in the Southwest Marine Region.
  • Van Herwerden, L, Choat, J. H, Newman, S. J, Leray, M and Hillersoy, G. (2009). Complex patterns of population structure and recruitment of Plectropomus leopardus (Pisces: Epinephelidae) in the Indo-West Pacific: implications for fisheries management.
  • Watson, D. L, Anderson, M. J, Kendrick, G. A, Nardi, K and Harvey, E. (2009). Effects of protection from fishing on the lengths of targeted and non-targeted fish species at the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia.
  • Hayes, K. R., Lynne, V., Dambacher, J. M., Sharples, R. and Smith, R. (2008). Ecological indicators for the exclusive economic zone waters of the south west marine region.
  • Woo, M and Pattiaratchi, C. (2008). Hydrography and water masses off the western Australian coast.
  • Government, Australian (2007). The South-west Marine Bioregional Plan: Bioregional Profile.
  • Chidlow, J , Gaughan, D and McAuley, R. (2006). Identification of Western Australian Grey Nurse Shark aggregation sites.
  • Twomey, L and Van Ruth, P. (2006). List of key species groups.
  • Williams, A, Kloser, R and Bax, N. (2005). Mapping benthic ecosystems on the deep continental shelf and slope in Australia's "SouthWest Region" to understand evolution and biogeography and support implementation of the SW Regional Marine Plan and Commonwealth Marine Protected Areas.
  • Babcock, R. C, Wills, B. L and Simpson, C. J. (1994). Mass spawning of corals on a high latitude coral reef.
  • Gales, N. J, Shaughnessy, P. D and Dennis, T. E. (1994). Distribution, abundance and breeding cycle of the Australian sea lion Neophoca cinerea (Mammalia: Pinnipedia).
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