Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00100:front:0:p16
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00100
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 46838–49892

is in the top 10% globally. Pressures in the region are expected to increase during the life of this plan, including due to climate change (Section 2.4).
The south-east marine region includes ecosystems spanning depths from the continental shelf to the slope and down to the abyssal plain (deep ocean floor). The continental shelf, including Bass Strait, is a mosaic of rocky reefs and soft sediments. Marine canyons, which deeply incise the continental slope, are a common feature of the region and include the Sprigg Canyon  one of Australia's largest and most spectacular marine canyons. Globally significant clusters of seamounts (underwater volcanoes) occur south and east of Tasmania. The seamounts rise 4,000 m above the seafloor, with the shallowest peaks reaching about 750 m below the sea surface. Several ocean currents influence the region and its climate. The eastern parts of the region are strongly influenced by the East Australian Current, which carries warmer, nutrient-poor waters and tropical and subtropical marine species southward. Over the last 50 years the East Australian Current has strengthened and extended about 350 km further south. The western parts of the region are influenced by the warmer south-easterly/southward-flowing Leeuwin and Zeehan currents. Macquarie Island lies in the path of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. In winter the Antarctic Circumpolar Current moves north and passes close to Tasmania, bringing colder, nutrient-rich water to the area.
The region is relatively low in nutrients and primary productivity; however, in some locations, water bodies converge, mix and rise close to the surface to create areas of enhanced primary productivity, which support aggregations of pelagic marine life. Examples include the Bonney Upwelling and the upwelling east of Eden.
Owing to the complex geomorphology, ocean current systems and evolutionary history of the area, the marine environment contains high biodiversity, including many species endemic to southern or south-eastern Australia. The region also includes Biologically Important Areas for many species protected under the EPBC Act, including seabirds, whales and sharks.
Figure 2.1 South-east marine region

    2.2           The South-east Marine Parks Network
The South-east Marine Parks Network (South-east Network) (Figure 2.2) covers 701,927 km2 and includes 14 marine parks. It was designed to protect representative examples of the region's ecosystems and biodiversity in accordance with the Goals and principles for the establishment of the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (ANZECC, 1998).
Australia's marine environment has been divided into bioregions  large areas of ocean with broadly similar characteristics based on the distribution of marine species, seafloor features and ocean conditions (Integrated Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia (IMCRA)). All 10 provincial bioregions in the region are represented in the South-east Network, along with 10 of the 11 mesoscale bioregions (Figures 2.3 and