Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00326:front:0:p98
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00326
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 282809–285888

Leeuwin Current has a significant influence on the biodiversity of this nearshore area as it pushes subtropical water southward along the area's western edge. The area contains a diversity of tropical and temperate marine life including a large number of endemic fauna species.
Key ecological features of the Marine Park are:
  * Commonwealth marine environment surrounding the Houtman Abrolhos Islands—the islands are among Australia's most important seabird breeding sites, with extensive foraging grounds in Commonwealth waters. The islands and surrounding reefs support a unique mix of temperate and tropical species, resulting from the southward movement of species by the Leeuwin Current;
  * Demersal slope and associated fish communities of the Central Western Province—an area that provides important habitat for demersal fish communities and is characterised by high species diversity and endemism;
  * Mesoscale eddies—important transporters of nutrients and plankton communities that form at predictable locations off the western and south-western shelf break;
  * Perth Canyon and adjacent shelf break, and other west-coast canyons—unique seafloor features give rise to ecologically important events of localised productivity and aggregations of marine life;
  * Western rock lobster—plays an important trophic role in many of the inshore ecosystems of the South-west Marine Region. Western rock lobsters are an important part of the food web on the inner shelf, particularly as juveniles;
  * Ancient coastline between 90 m and 120 m depth—high benthic biodiversity and productivity occur where the ancient coastline forms a prominent escarpment; and
  * Wallaby Saddle—a unique seafloor feature that is associated with enhanced biological productivity in an area of generally low productivity. The saddle is the site of upwellings of deeper, more nutrient-rich waters and aggregations of marine species including large predators such as sperm whales.
The Marine Park supports a range of species including species listed as threatened, migratory, marine or cetacean under the EPBC Act. Biologically important areas within the Marine Park include foraging and breeding habitat for seabirds, foraging habitat for Australian sea lions and white sharks, and a migratory pathway for humpback and pygmy blue whales. The Marine Park is adjacent to the northernmost Australian sea lion breeding colony in Australia on the Houtman Abrolhos Islands.
Cultural values
Sea country is valued for Indigenous cultural identity, health and wellbeing. Across Australia, Indigenous people have been sustainably using and managing their sea country for tens of thousands of years.
The Nanda and Naaguja People have responsibilities for sea country in the Marine Park. Traditional owners have strong stories that connect ocean and land. Artefacts from ancestors are abundant on islands in the adjacent state marine park.
The Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation is the Native Title Representative Body for the Yamatji region.
Heritage values
No international heritage listings apply to