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.
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.
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.
Ever wondered what the weird and wonderful inhabitants of Australia’s Marine National Parks look like?
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 Abrolhos 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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