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Australian Marine Parks
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Australia > South-west > South-west Corner

South-west Corner Marine Park

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  • Natural values
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  • Latest maps
  • Scientific papers
Network: South-west
Marine park area: 271,833 kilometres2
Depth range: less than 15 – 6,400 metres
Average depth: 4,427 metres
More info about this marine park

The South-west Corner Marine Park lies off the south-west corner of Western Australia, between Cape Naturaliste and Esperance. As the largest marine park in the South-west Network, it contains a wide range of important ecosystems in both shallow and deep water, reaching abyssal depths and including the Diamantina Fracture Zone, Naturaliste Plateau and Donnely Banks. These Key Ecological Features are unique seafloor structures that enhance productivity and support the high species diversity and endemism.

Video

Research

These short articles highlight the findings from ongoing scientific research within the South-west Corner 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 South-west Corner 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 South-west Corner marine park and adjacent waters. Click on the links to access to the publications.
  • Boo, G. H, Nelson, W. A, Preuss, M, Kim, J. Y and Boo, S. M. (2016). Genetic segregation and differentiation of a common subtidal alga Pterocladia lucida (Gelidiales, Rhodophyta) between Australia and New Zealand.
  • Gilmour, J, Speed, C. W and Babcock, R. (2016). Coral reproduction in Western Australia.
  • Lavers, J. L and Bond, A. L. (2016). Selectivity of flesh-footed shearwaters for plastic colour: Evidence for differential provisioning in adults and fledglings.
  • Norman, B. M, Reynolds, S and Morgan, D. L. (2016). Does the whale shark aggregate along the Western Australian coastline beyond Ningaloo Reef?.
  • Thompson, K. F, Patel, S, Baker, C. S, Constantine, R and Millar, C. D. (2016). Bucking the trend: genetic analysis reveals high diversity, large population size and low differentiation in a deep ocean cetacean.
  • 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?.
  • Gaynor, A. (2014). Shifting Baselines or Shifting Currents?.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Salles, T. B, Griffiths, C. M, Dyt, C. P. and Li, F. (2011). Australian shelf sediment transport responses to climate change-driven ocean perturbations.
  • 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 Wernberg, T. (2011). Subtidal macroalgal richness, diversity and turnover, at multiple spatial scales, along the southwestern Australian coastline.
  • Stafford, K. M, Chapp, E, Bohnenstiel, D. R and Tolstoy, M. (2011). Seasonal detection of three types of "pygmy" blue whale calls in the I ndian Ocean.
  • Tuya, F, Wernberg, T and Thomsen, M. S. (2011). The relative influence of local to regional drivers of variation in reef fishes.
  • Batteen, M. L and Miller, H. A. (2009). Process-oriented modeling studies of the 5500-km-long boundary flow off western and southern 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.
  • Potter, A, Southby, C and Heap, A. (2008). Sedimentology and Geomorphology of the South West Planning Region of Australia: A Spatial Analysis.
  • 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.
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