Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00326:front:0:p88
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L00326
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 255495–258483

depths from 15 m to 5000 m.
The Marine Park was proclaimed under the EPBC Act on 14 December 2013 and renamed Bremer Marine Park on 9 October 2017. The Marine Park is assigned IUCN category II and includes two zones assigned under this plan: National Park Zone (II) and Special Purpose Zone (Mining Exclusion) (VI).
Coordinates for the Bremer Marine Park and zones are provided in Figure S2.9 and Schedule 4.
Statement of significance
The Bremer Marine Park is significant because it contains habitats, species and ecological communities associated with two bioregions: Southern Province and South-west Shelf Province. It includes two key ecological features: Albany Canyon group and adjacent shelf break (valued for high productivity, aggregations of marine life and unique seafloor features with properties of regional significance); and ancient coastline between 90 m and 120 m depth (valued for relatively high productivity, aggregations of marine life and high levels of biodiversity and endemism).
The Marine Park contains the Bremer Canyon and significant calving and aggregation area for whales as well as important foraging areas for sharks, sea lions, and a range of seabirds.
Natural values
The Marine Park includes examples of ecosystems representative of:
  * Southern Province—includes the deepest ocean areas of the Australian EEZ, reaching depths of around 5900 m, and is characterised by a long continental slope incised by numerous, well-developed submarine canyons; and
  * South-west Shelf Province—marine life in this area is very diverse and clearly influenced by the warm waters of the Leeuwin Current. The sheltered bays along the south coast are important southern right whale calving areas.
Key ecological features of the Marine Park are:
  * Albany Canyon group and adjacent shelf break—a feature consisting of 32 canyons, including Bremer Canyon, cut deeply into the steep continental slope. The canyons are believed to be associated with small periodic upwellings that enhance productivity and attract aggregations of marine life; and
  * Ancient coastline between 90 m and 120 m depth—high benthic biodiversity and productivity occur where the ancient coastline forms a prominent escarpment.
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 habitat for seabirds, Australian sea lions, and white sharks, a migratory pathway for humpback whales, and a significant calving area for southern right whales. The Marine Park includes canyons—important aggregation areas for killer whales.
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 Noongar people have responsibilities for sea country in the Marine Park. Local traditional owners