Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00071:body:0:p9
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00071
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 25857–28853

(The Rip) and Pulu Maraya provide important fish habitat. The marine park covers the south‑eastern half of the lagoon and the area between North Point on West Island and Horsburgh Island, capturing ecologically representative samples of all habitats in and around the lagoon. The southern atoll lagoon is very important for the ecosystem services it provides for the local community. It is also vulnerable and under pressure. This is discussed below in Section 2.4 (Pressures and drivers in Cocos (Keeling) Islands Marine Park).
Outer reef ecosystems
The reef system (outer reef flat, reef crest, reef slope and mesophotic reef) encircling the southern atoll (Figure 2.4) is important for a diversity of species, including hybrid and endemic coral reef fauna, popas bottlenose dan spinner (bottlenose and spinner dolphins), cucut (reef sharks), pareh (manta rays) and benthic organisms, such sponges and other invertebrates. The reef at Belakang Batu-Karang (Trannies Beach) is biodiverse and is of high conservation value. The outer reef is also important for species that are targeted by fishers  for example, ikan hijau (humphead Māori wrasse), dongol (bumphead parrotfish), gelek burik (coral trout), udang (painted crayfish) and udang lepeh (slipper lobster), kakap (snappers and emperors), deepwater fishes (for example, cods, jobfishes) and resident pelagic species such as ikan tuna (dogtooth tuna).
The presence of hybrid and endemic coral reef fauna not found anywhere else on earth is of global conservation significance. Their evolution is largely due to their geographic position at the border of 2 marine bioregions, which are subject to a mixing of Indian and Pacific Ocean waters and species.
Reef fish communities
Cocos (Keeling) Islands supports a diverse community of reef fish, reflecting the diverse habitats and the islands' unique biogeography. Habitats utilised by reef fishes include the inner lagoon, coral bommies, blue holes and the exposed outer reef. Wrasses, gobies, damselfishes and cods are found inhabiting the islands' reef habitats, including high numbers of ikan hijau (humphead Māori wrasse).

The Cocos (Keeling) Islands marine environment also supports endemic and hybrid fishes, including the Cocos and lemonpeel angelfishes. Six varieties of hybrid reef fish and 2 endemic reef fish have been recorded on the outer reef ecosystems of the islands. High levels of endemism and hybridisation contribute to the islands' significant biodiversity by creating new genetic combinations which may enhance ecosystem resilience to environmental changes.

Figure 2.4 Southern atoll lagoon and surrounding habitat types

Kolam (blue holes)
The kolam (blue holes) are an ecologically important habitat within the southern atoll lagoon ecosystem. Scattered across the sandy habitats of the lagoon, the blue holes are encircled by coral and contain coral rubble in the centre, providing deeper and more complex habitats. They support cucut (sharks), gong gong (spider