Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00100:front:0:p83
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00100
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 256923–259902

area for post-fledgling Tasmanian endemic endangered shy albatross from Albatross Island, western Bass Strait. The northern section of the park is a breeding area for endangered southern right whales and a foraging area for male endangered Australian sea lions.

The park includes several canyons that are part of the Murray Canyons group, including west Sprigg Canyon, east Sprigg Canyon, Seal Canyon, Kangaroo Canyon and Gantheaume Canyon. West Sprigg Canyon, the deepest and one of the largest, is about 60 km long, 30 km wide and 2 km deep. Upwelling of nutrient-rich waters occurs in this area, which is a feeding and nursing aggregation area for endangered pygmy blue whales and likely a sperm whale feeding area.

The park contains habitats, species and ecological communities associated with 3 provincial bioregions – Spencer Gulf Shelf Province, Southern Province and West Tasmania Transition – and the Coorong mesoscale bioregion.

Social and economic benefits

At the time of making this plan, the main commercial fisheries operating in the park include:

       * South-east Scalefish and Shark Fishery  gillnet, hook and trap sector (Commonwealth managed)

       * Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishery (Commonwealth managed)

       * Small Pelagic Fishery (Commonwealth managed)

       * South Australian Sardine Fishery

       * South Australian Rock Lobster Fisheries

       * South Australian Marine Scalefish Fishery

       * South Australian Giant Crab Fishery.

This park is one of the parks in the South-east Network most used by recreational fishers due to its proximity to the coastal town of Victor Harbour, but use is low relative to state waters nearer shore. Recreational fishing is focused in the nearshore northern section of the park.

Figure S1.13 Murray Marine Park
Macquarie Island Marine Park
Proclaimed   20 October 1999 and expanded 1 July 2023

Assigned zones in park Sanctuary Zone (IUCN Ia) 57,137 km²

    National Park Zone (IUCN II) 385,133 km²
    Habitat Protection Zone (Macquarie) (IUCN IV) 33,196 km²
Depth range   86 m–6,341 m

Total area   475,465 km²

Overview and summary of values

Macquarie Island Marine Park (Figure S1.14) is in the Southern Ocean, 1,500 km south-east of Tasmania and approximately halfway between Australia and Antarctica.

A dominant feature of the park is the Macquarie Ridge, which runs northsouth through the middle of the park. This oceanic ridge, the boundary between the Indo-Australian Plate and the Pacific Plate, impedes the eastward flow of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, creating significantly different oceanic conditions and biology on the west and east sides of the ridge. From north to south there are 3 distinct bodies of water separated by 2 major oceanographic fronts (boundaries between distinct water masses) which run eastwest through the park.
The Sub-Antarctic Zone, with water temperatures greater than 8°C, is north of the Subantarctic Front. The Polar Frontal Zone, with