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.
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.
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.
In collaboration with Norfolk Island residents, a drop-camera system was used to ground-truth the marine habitat classifications derived from satellite imagery of the ecosystems surrounding Norfolk, Nepean, and Phillip Islands. This resulted in the first marine habitat map for Norfolk Marine Park.
Ocean Infinity completed drone photogrammetry at seven sites representing various areas of the Norfolk Island coastline. High-resolution digital elevation models and 3D imagery were produced to analyse the geomorphology of the coastline.
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 Norfolk 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 Norfolk marine park and adjacent waters. Click on the links to access to the publications.
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.
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.
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