It is a rugged, high-energy coast, with visually impressive white beaches between headlands dominated by dome shaped granite hills and mountains of similar origin to the islands. More than half the coastline is included in the Cape Le Grand and Cape Arid National Parks which contain large tracts of natural bushland. The remainder of the coast comprises a wide belt of vegetated and windblown dunes backing on to cleared agricultural lands of the Esperance Coastal Plain and Sandplains. Significant activities in the Recherche Archipelago include shipping from the Port of Esperance, commercial and recreational fishing, tourism, scenic and charter tours, diving and coastal recreation. Strong prevailing winds, swells and storm events in the Recherche Archipelago will require special consideration in the design and location of marine aquaculture structures.
Currents are mostly wind driven, but with low velocity reducing with depth.
Special husbandry techniques will be required to deal with flushing within and around sea cages, particularly during extended calm periods. Many of the islands of the Recherche Archipelago have sea bird breeding areas, seal and sea lion breeding and haul-out areas. Marine mammals including whales, dolphins and seals occur in the area. These will impose special management techniques on marine aquaculture operations. The benthic habitats of the Recherche Archipelago are not well known and a detailed survey of the location and function of the benthos, including the fauna of sand areas, will be required before marine aquaculture projects can proceed.