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Australia > South-west > Great Australian Bight

Great Australian Bight Marine Park

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  • Natural values
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Network: South-west
Marine park area: 45,822 kilometres2
Depth range: less than 15 – 6,000 metres
Average depth: 1,473 metres
More info about this marine park

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.
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.
Australian Sea Lion

Monitoring Australian sea lion populations in the Great Australian Bight

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.
Figure 3. Skull of an Australian sealion. (image: Russell Br

On the hunt for prime white shark habitat

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.

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 Great Australian Bight 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 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).
  • Sharples, A. G, Huuse, M, Hollis, C, Totterdell, J. M and Taylor, P. D. (2014). Giant middle Eocene bryozoan reef mounds in the Great Australian Bight.
  • 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.
  • Rogers, P. J, Huveneers, C, Goldsworthy, S. D, Mitchell, J. G and Seuront, L. (2013). Broad-scale movements and pelagic habitat of the dusky shark Carcharhinus obscurus off Southern Australia determined using pop-up satellite archival tags.
  • Braccini, M, Van Rijn, J and Frick, L. (2012). High post-capture survival for sharks, rays and chimaeras discarded in the main shark fishery of Australia?.
  • 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.
  • Rogers, P. J, Huveneers, C, Page, B, Hamer, D. J, Goldsworthy, S. D, Mitchell, J. G and Seuront, L. (2012). A quantitative comparison of the diets of sympatric pelagic sharks in gulf and shelf ecosystems off southern Australia.
  • 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.
  • Hamer, D. J, Ward, T. M, Shaughnessy, P. D and Clark, S. R. (2011). Assessing the effectiveness of the Great Australian Bight Marine Park in protecting the endangered Australian sea lion Neophoca cinerea from bycatch mortality in shark gillnets.
  • 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.
  • Willis, J and Hobday, A. J. (2007). Influence of upwelling on movement of southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) in 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, McLeay, L. J, Dimmlich, W. F, Rogers, P. J, McClatchie, S. A. M, Matthews, R, KAMpf, J and Van, R. (2006). Pelagic ecology of a northern boundary current system: effects of upwelling on the production and distribution of sardine (Sardinops sagax), anchovy (Engraulis australis) and southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) in the Great Australian Bight.
  • 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.
  • Edyvane, K. S, Dalgetty, A, Hone, P. W, Higham, J. S and Wace, N. M. (2004). Long-term marine litter monitoring in the remote Great Australian Bight, South Australia.
  • 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.
  • Holbourn, A, Kuhnt, W and James, N. (2002). Late Pleistocene bryozoan reef mounds of the Great Australian Bight: isotope stratigraphy and benthic foraminiferal record.
  • Knuckey, I and Brown, L. P. (2002). Assessment of Bycatch in the Great Australian Bight Trawl Fishery.
  • Middleton, J. F and Cirano, M. (2002). A northern boundary current along Australia's southern shelves: The Flinders Current.
  • 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..
  • James, N. P, Bone, Y, Collins, L. B and Kyser, T. K. (2001). Surficial sediments of the Great Australian Bight: facies dynamics and oceanography on a vast cool-water carbonate shelf.
  • Edyvane, K.S (1998). Great Australian Bight Marine Park Management Plan, Part B, Resource Information, Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs, South Australia..
  • Burnell, S. R and Bryden, M. M. (1997). Coastal residence periods and reproductive timing in southern right whales, Eubalaena australis.
  • 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.
  • James, N. P and Christopher, C. (1991). Carbonate shelf edge off southern Australia: a prograding open-platform margin.
  • 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.
  • Motoda, S, Kawamura, T and Taniguchi, A. (1978). Differences in Productivities between the Great Australian Bight and the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia, in Summer.
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