Perth Canyon Marine Park lies 52 kilometres west of Perth. The marine park includes the majority of the Perth Canyon, Australia's largest submarine canyon, which is home to the largest feeding aggregations of blue whales in Australia. This unique feature is also of particularly significance because it cuts into the continental shelf west of Rottnest Island, linking the shelf with deeper ecosystems at depths of up to 5000 metres.
Video
Scientists from Geoscience Australia and the National Environmental Science Program's Marine Biodiversity Hub have mapped and modelled the Perth Canyon in detail. The video above takes on you a 'flythrough' of the Perth Canyon Marine Park, showcasing the seafloor bathymetry and marine life found there.
Research
These short articles highlight the findings from ongoing scientific research within the Perth Canyon 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 Perth Canyon 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 Perth Canyon marine park and adjacent waters. Click on the links to access to the publications.
Erbe, C, Verma, A, McCauley, R, Gavrilov, A and Parnum, I. (2015).
The marine soundscape of the Perth Canyon.
Moors-Murphy, H. B. (2014).
Submarine canyons as important habitat for cetaceans, with special reference to the Gully: A review.
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.
Double, M.C , Jenner, K.C.S, Jenner, M.N , Ball, I , Laverick, S and Gales, N. (2012).
Satellite tracking of pygmy blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) off Western Australia.
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.
Gavrilov, A. N, McCauley, R. D, Salgado-Kent, C, Tripovich, J and Burton, C. (2011).
Vocal characteristics of pygmy blue whales and their change over time.
Pearce, A, Slawinski, D, Feng, M, Hutchins, B and Fearns, P. (2011).
Modelling the potential transport of tropical fish larvae in the Leeuwin Current.
Salles, T. B, Griffiths, C. M, Dyt, C. P. and Li, F. (2011).
Australian shelf sediment transport responses to climate change-driven ocean perturbations.
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.
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.
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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