The twelve small Bass Strait island reserves covered by this management plan are significant breeding places for seabirds or seals and are highly vulnerable to disturbance by people. Low Islets, Foster Islands and Penguin Island Nature Reserves are significant as Tasmania's only Australian pelican breeding colonies and apart from one New Zealand breeding site, are the most southerly in the world.
Pelicans are shy, non-synchronised breeders who favour remote, undisturbed sites.
Moriarty Rocks, Tenth Island, Judgement Rocks, West Moncoeur and Reid Rocks Nature Reserves are significant as Tasmania's only Australian fur seal breeding colonies, which provide approximately half the global habitat for the species. Population trend data are variable indicating a small overall increase over the past decade, but numbers fluctuate considerably from site to site due to the influence of storms on breeding success. Black Pyramid Rock Nature Reserve is the only breeding site for the Australasian gannet in Bass Strait and one of three Tasmanian, and eight national breeding sites for this species. The major breeding sites globally are off the north island of New Zealand. Black Pyramid Rock is the largest breeding colony nationally with approximately 12,500 birds.