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Australian Marine Parks
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Australia > Temperate East > Norfolk

Norfolk Marine Park

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  • Natural values
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  • Latest maps
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Network: Temperate East
Marine park area: 188,444 kilometres2
Depth range: 0 – 5,000 metres
Average depth: 2,354 metres
More info about this marine park

Norfolk Island Marine Park surrounds Norfolk Island, a small landmass 1,400 kilometres offshore from Evans Head in New South Wales. The park is recognised primarily for its commercial and conservation values. A series of prominent pinnacles and seamounts that protrude the Norfolk Ridge act as biodiversity hotspots, attracting an abundance of fish species to the dense coral and sponge habitats. These unique seafloor features are also thought to act as stepping stones for faunal dispersal between New Caledonia and New Zealand. Norfolk Island Marine Park is also recognised for its cultural values, with several important archaeological sites within the Park boundaries revealing its Polynesian heritage.

Research

These short articles highlight the findings from ongoing scientific research within the Norfolk Marine Park, including exciting new discoveries and ideas for future projects.
Norfolk Island at sunset

Changes in Norfolk Island shallow reefs from 2009 to 2021

Surveys of shallow reef biodiversity were undertaken in the Norfolk Marine Park (NMP) in 2009, 2013 and 2021 by collaborative dive teams from the Reef Life Survey program and University of Tasmania. While the reef life differed between locations around the Island, relatively little change has occurred over the 13-year study period.
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 Norfolk 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.
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.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Reef Life Survey site locations

See where Reef Life Survey have gathered important data about Australian reefs.

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 Norfolk marine park and adjacent waters. Click on the links to access to the publications.
  • Andreakis, N, Costello, P, Zanolla, M, Saunders, G. W and Mata, L. (2016). Endemic or introduced? Phylogeography of Asparagopsis (Florideophyceae) in Australia reveals multiple introductions and a new mitochondrial lineage.
  • Gruby, R. L, Gray, N. J, Campbell, L. M and Acton, L. (2015). Toward a Social Science Research Agenda for Large Marine Protected Areas.
  • Sommerfeld, J, Kato, A, Ropert-Coudert, Y, Garthe, S, Wilcox, C and Hindell, M. A. (2015). Flexible foraging behaviour in a marine predator, the Masked booby (Sula dactylatra), according to foraging locations and environmental conditions.
  • Van Der Meer, M. H, Berumen, M. L, Hobbs, J.P and Herwerden, L. (2015). Population connectivity and the effectiveness of marine protected areas to protect vulnerable, exploited and endemic coral reef fishes at an endemic hotspot..
  • Sutton, P. J and Bowen, M. (2014). Flows in the Tasman front south of Norfolk island.
  • Lach, L and Barker, G. (2013). Asessing the Effectiveness of Tramp Ant Projects to Reduce Impacts on Biodiversity.
  • Meer, M. H, Horne, J. B, Gardner, M. G, Hobbs, J. P. A, Pratchett, M and Herwerden, L. (2013). Limited contemporary gene flow and high self-replenishment drives peripheral isolation in an endemic coral reef fish.
  • Sommerfeld, J, Kato, A, Ropert-Coudert, Y, Garthe, S and Hindell, M. A. (2013). Foraging parameters influencing the detection and interpretation of area-restricted search behaviour in marine predators: a case study with the masked booby.
  • Jovanovic, B, Braganza, K, Collins, D and Jones, D. (2012). Climate variations and change evident in high-quality climate data for Australia's Antarctic and remote island weather stations.
  • Pendoley, K. And Christian, M. (2012). A summary of Marine Turtle records for Norfolk Island. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum.
  • Brewer, D, Flynn, A, Skewes, T, Corfield, J, Pearson, B, Alowa, J and Young, J. (2007). Ecosystems of the East Marine Region.
  • Millar, A. J and Freshwater, D. W. (2005). Morphology and molecular phylogeny of the marine algal order Gelidiales (Rhodophyta) from New South Wales, including Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands.
  • Clark, M, Roberts, C, Williams, A and Last, P. (2003). Voyage report of a biodiversity survey of seamounts and slopes of the Norfolk Ridge and Lord Howe Rise (NORFANZ), May-June 2003.
  • Williams, A, Althaus, F and Gowlett-Holmes, K. (2003). Biodiversity survey of seamounts & slopes of the Norfolk Ridge and Lord Howe Rise.
  • de Forges, B. R, Koslow, J. A and Poore, G. C. B. (2000). Diversity and endemism of the benthic seamount fauna in the southwest Pacific.
  • Millar, A. D. K. (1999). Marine benthic algae of Norfolk Island, South Pacific.
  • Francis, M. P and Randall, J. E. (1993). Further additions to the fish faunas of Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands, southwest Pacific Ocean.
  • Francis, M. P. (1993). Checklist of the coastal fishes of Lord howe, norfolk, and Kermadec Islands, southwest Pacific Ocean.
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