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      • Oceanic Shoals
      • Wessel
      • West Cape York
    • North-west
      • Argo-Rowley Terrace
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      • Carnarvon Canyon
      • Cartier Island
      • Dampier
      • Eighty Mile Beach
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      • Kimberley
      • Mermaid Reef
      • Montebello
      • Ningaloo
      • Roebuck
      • Shark Bay
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      • Beagle
      • Boags
      • East Gippsland
      • Flinders
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Australian Marine Parks
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Australia > South-west > Western Eyre

Western Eyre Marine Park

  • Research
  • Natural values
  • Maps
  • Latest maps
  • Scientific papers
Network: South-west
Marine park area: 57,944 kilometres2
Depth range: 15 – more than 6000 metres
Average depth: 2,514 metres
More info about this marine park

Western Eyre Marine Park is located off the south coast of Australia between Port Lincoln and Streaky Bay. It contains a diversity of shallow and deep water habitats, including examples of the deepest ocean areas in the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone. Mesoscale eddies and nutrient-rich upwellings along the continental shelf sustain hotspots for productivity, with feeding aggregations of marine mammals, sharks and seabirds.

Research

These short articles highlight the findings from ongoing scientific research within the Western Eyre 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 Western Eyre 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.

Scientific papers

The following publications contain information relevant to the Western Eyre marine park and adjacent waters. Click on the links to access to the publications.
  • 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).
  • Shaughnessy, P.D , Goldsworthy, S.D, Hamer, D.J, Page, B and McIntosh, R.R. (2014). Records of vagrant fur seals (family Otariidae) in South Australia.
  • Ward, T.M, Ivey, A.R and Carroll, J.D. (2014). Spawning biomass of sardine, Sardinops sagax, in waters off South Australia in 2014.
  • Mellin, C, Russell, B. D, Connell, S. D, Brook, B. W and Fordham, D. A. (2012). Geographic range determinants of two commercially important marine molluscs.
  • 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.
  • Shaughnessy, P. D, Goldsworthy, S. D, Hamer, D. J, Page, B and McIntosh, R. R. (2011). Australian sea lions Neophoca cinerea at colonies in South Australia: distribution and abundance, 2004 to 2008.
  • 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.
  • Government, Australian (2007). The South-west Marine Bioregional Plan: Bioregional Profile.
  • Willis, J and Hobday, A. J. (2007). Influence of upwelling on movement of southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) in the Great Australian Bight.
  • 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.
  • Shaughnessy, P. D, Dennis, T. E and Seager, P. G. (2005). Status of Australian sea lions, Neophoca cinerea, and New Zealand fur seals, Arctocephalus forsteri, on Eyre Peninsula and the far west coast of South Australia.
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