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.
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 Western Eyre 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.
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.
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.
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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