The Great Australian Bight Marine Park is located about 12 kilometres south-east of Eucla and 174 km west of Ceduna, adjacent to the South Australian Far West and Nuyts Archipelago Marine Parks. Great Australian Bight Marine Park includes part of the world's largest known temperate carbonate platform, and protects unique soft sediment ecosystems that are considered globally significant for their diversity of sponges, ascidians and bryozoans. The marine park is also famous for its southern right whales, which aggregate in the region for calving each year.
Video
On the first voyage to survey the habitats and biodiversity of the Great Australian Bight, scientists aboard the Marine National Facility research vessel Southern Surveyor collect a range of different data samples from 200-2000 metre depths, including CTD, sediment and plankton.
Research
These short articles highlight the findings from ongoing scientific research within the Great Australian Bight 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.
The Great Australian Bight is one of the last strongholds of the charismatic Australian sea lion. Every year, researchers overcome the challenges of sheer cliffs and isolated rocky islands to count new pups, information that provides critical insights into how this threatened species is faring and how marine park managers can address existing and emerging threats.
Fowlers Bay sits in the Great Australian Bight, immediately adjacent to the Great Australian Bight Marine Park. The bay is characterised by long stretches of wide, white sandy beaches and rocky headlands. To the east, they’re backed by towering sand dunes and to the west, immense 90 metre cliffs run for a 170 kilometre stretch. Exposed to south-easterly winds that drive large swells, the region is a popular haunt for the keen surfer and recreational fisherman. It is also known for its white shark population and thought to be prime habitat for juvenile white sharks.
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 Great Australian Bight 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 Great Australian Bight marine park and adjacent waters. Click on the links to access to the publications.
Gill, P. C., Pirzl, R., Morrice, M. G. and Lawton, K. (2015).
Cetacean diversity of the continental shelf and slope off southern Australia.
Laurent, C.M. (2015).
Stochastic analysis of deep sea oil spill trajectories in the Great Australian Bight.
Segawa, T and Kemper, C. (2015).
Cetacean strandings in South Australia (1881-2008).
Ward, T.M, Ivey, A.R and Carroll, J.D. (2014).
Spawning biomass of sardine, Sardinops sagax, in waters off South Australia in 2014.
Goldsworthy, S.D, Page, B, Rogers, P.J, Bulman, C, Wiebkin, A, McLeay, L.J, Einoder, L, Baylis, A.M, Braley, M, Caines, R and Daly, K. (2013).
Trophodynamics of the eastern Great Australian Bight ecosystem: Ecological change associated with the growth of Australia's largest fishery.
Hamer, D. J, Goldsworthy, S. D, Costa, D. P, Fowler, S. L, Page, B and Sumner, M. D. (2013).
The endangered Australian sea lion extensively overlaps with and regularly becomes by-catch in demersal shark gill-nets in South Australian shelf waters.
Kemper, C. M, Middleton, J. F and van Ruth, P. D. (2013).
Association between pygmy right whales (Caperea marginata) and areas of high marine productivity off Australia and New Zealand.
Lowther, A. D, Harcourt, R. G, Page, B and Goldsworthy, S. D. (2013).
Steady as he goes: at-sea movement of adult male Australian sea lions in a dynamic marine environment.
Lowther, A. D, Harcourt, R. G, Goldsworthy, S. D and Stow, A. (2012).
Population structure of adult female Australian sea lions is driven by fine-scale foraging site fidelity.
Currie, D.R and Sorokin, S.J. (2011).
A Preliminary Assessment of the Deepwater Benthic Communities of the Great Australian Bight Marine Park..
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.
Gill, P. C, Morrice, M. G, Page, B, Pirzl, R, Levings, A. H and Coyne, M. (2011).
Blue whale habitat selection and within-season distribution in a regional upwelling system off southern Australia.
Kompas, T, Che, N, Chu, L and Klaer, N. (2011).
Transition to MEY Goals for the Great Australian Bight Trawl Fishery.
Linnane, A, Penny, S, Hoare, M and Hawthorne, P. (2011).
Assessing the effectiveness of size limits and escape gaps as management tools in a commercial rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) fishery.
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.
Hamer, D. J, Ward, T. M, Goldsworthy, S. D and Shaughnessy, P. D. (2009).
Effectiveness of the Great Australian Bight Marine Park in protecting the Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) from by-catch mortality in shark gill-nets.
Rivers, J. M, Kyser, T. K and James, N. P (2009).
Isotopic composition of a large photosymbiotic foraminifer: Evidence for hypersaline environments across the Great Australian Bight during the late Pleistocene.
Potter, A, Southby, C and Heap, A. (2008).
Sedimentology and Geomorphology of the South West Planning Region of Australia: A Spatial Analysis.
Puga-Bernabeu, A and Betzler, C. (2008).
Cyclicity in Pleistocene upper-slope cool-water carbonates: Unravelling sedimentary dynamics in deep-water sediments, Great Australian Bight, Odp Leg 182, Site 1131A.
Currie, D. R, Ward, T. M and Sorokin, S. J. (2007).
Infaunal Assemblages of the Eastern Great Australian Bight: Effectiveness of a Benthic Protection Zone in Representing Regional Biodiversity.
Government, Australian (2007).
The South-west Marine Bioregional Plan: Bioregional Profile.
Middleton, J. F and Bye, J. A. (2007).
A review of the shelf-slope circulation along Australia's southern shelves: Cape Leeuwin to Portland.
Sorokin, S, Fromont, J and Currie, D. (2007).
Demosponge biodiversity in the benthic protection zone of the Great Australian Bight.
Gill, P , Gaughan, D, Goldberg, N , Goldsworthy, S, Kangas, M , Kemps, H, Linnane, A, Loneragan, N , Mayfield, S, McDonald, J and McKenzie, J. (2006).
The South-west Marine Region: Ecosystems and Key Species Groups.
Ward, T. M, Sorokin, S. J, Currie, D. R, Rogers, P. J and McLeay, L. J. (2006).
Epifaunal assemblages of the eastern Great Australian Bight: Effectiveness of a benthic protection zone in representing regional biodiversity.
Australia, Commonwealth of (2005).
Great Australian Bight Management Plan 2005 - 2012.
Australia, Commonwealth of (2005).
Great Australian Bight Marine Park - Description of Values and Uses.
McLeay, L. J, Sorokin, S. J, Rogers, P. J and Ward, T. M. (2003).
Benthic Protection Zone of the Great Australian Bight Marine Park: 1. Literature Review.
Pidcock, S, Lunney, M and Burton, C. (2003).
The potential sensitivity of marine mammals to mining and exploration in the Great Australian Bight Marine Park Marine Mammal Protection Zone.
Ward, T. M, McLeay, L. J and Rogers, P. J. (2003).
Benthic Protected Zone of the Great Australian Bight Marine Park: 2. Monitoring Sustainable Use.
Ward, T. M., Sorokin, S. J., Rogers, P. J., McLeay, L. J. and Turner, D. J. (2003).
Benthic Protection Zone of the Great Australian Bight Marine Park: Assessment..
Ward, T.M, Sorokin, S.J, Rogers, P.J, McLeay, L.J and Turner, D.J. (2003).
Benthic Protection of the Great Australian Bight Marine Park: Pilot Study for Perfromance Assessment.
Hill, P. J, Symonds, P. A and Rollet, N. (2001).
Seafloor Mapping of the South-east Marine Region and Adjacent Waters-AUSTREA Final Report: Lord Howe Island, South-east Australian Margin (includes Tasmania and South Tasman Rise) and Central Great Australian Bight..
Edyvane, K.S (1998).
Great Australian Bight Marine Park Management Plan, Part B, Resource Information, Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs, South Australia..
McGowran, B, Li, Q, Cann, J, Padley, D, McKirdy, D. M and Shafik, S. (1997).
Biogeographic impact of the Leeuwin Current in southern Australia since the late middle Eocene.
Maxwell, J. G. H. (1981).
The fishing ventures of the Great Australian Bight: with a resume of known potential resources and review of trawling surveys on the south western Australian continental shelf.
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