WesternPort
MarineNationalParks
-Lifebetweenthetides
Ahiddenabundance
WesternPort,Victoria’ssecondlargestbay,isabiological treasuretrove. Largelyconcealedfromviewbehindashorelineveilof marshlandandmangroves,itswaterscontainexpansiveintertidalmudflats,meadowsofseagrass,deepchannelsandsmallrockyreefs.
The resultofthisisanabundanceofmarinelife. Juvenilefishfindprotectionwithintheextensiveseagrassbeds,whileadultfishandsharksgorgethemselvesonthesmallanimalsthatlivein themudandseagrassbeds. Whenthetiderollsouttheextensivemudflatsprovideawealthoffoodforwaterbirdstofeaston.
ThetidesarethekeytounderstandingWesternPort’smarinelife. Thewaters’ebbandflowexposesshallowmudflatsandcreatesdeepchannelsthatfunctionasrichfeedinggrounds.
WesternPortisrecognisedasoneoftheworld’smostvaluableareasforinternationalmigratorywaderbirds. Alongwithresidentwaders,manyspeciesofbirdsmigratefromnorrthernandcentralAsiatoWesternPorteveryyear.
ThisrichanddiversemarineenvironmentwillnowbeconservedinthreenewMarineNationalParks.
TheserenewatersofYaringaMarineNationalPark,inthenorthofthebay,preservetheconnectionbetweenmangrovesandmudflatsthat issoimportantforroostingwaterbirds.
FrenchIslandMarineNationalPark,inthecentre,protectsextensiveseagrassbedsthathavelargelydisappearedelsewhereinthebaysincethe1950s.
LampShells
Inthesouth,ChurchillIslandMarine NationalParkisinfluencedinpartbythenearbyopencoast,andhostsbedsofthelivingfossilsknownaslampshellsorBrachiopods.Thisancientgroupofanimalsoncehadthousandsofspecies,butisnow reducedtoafewspeciesworldwide.
Allthreeparkscontaininternationallysignificantroostingsitesandfeedingareasformigratorywadersandotherwaterbirds.
Birdwatchingisapopularandrewardingpastimeinthecoastalareasandeachparkprovidesopportunitiesforwaderbirdobservation. ExploringthemangrovesathightideinacanoeorthechannelsinsmallboatsaregreatwaystoexploreWesternPort.
Protectingourmarineenvironment
ThewatersoffAustralia’ssoutherncoastareveryspecialandunique. Over90%oftheplantsandanimalslivingherearefoundnowhereelseonearth.
TheVictorianGovernmenthascreatedasystemof13MarineNationalParksand11smallerMarineSanctuariestoensurethatrepresentativesamplesofVictoria’sdiverse,distinctiveandamazing marineenvironmentareconservedforfuturegenerations.
Theseparksandsanctuariesnow protect5.3%ofVictoria’scoastalwaters,safeguardingimportantmarinehabitatsandspecies,andcomplementingourworld-classnationalparkssystemonland.
Bykeepingsomeofthesemarineareasinanaturalstate,freefrompotentiallydamaginghumanactivities,wewillprotecttheseenvironmentsintothefuture. Victorianswillalsobenefitfromthepositiveeffectsthatthisprotectionwillhaveonrecreationandtourism,communityeducationandscientificresearch.
PeopleareencouragedtovisitMarineNationalParksandMarineSanctuaries,butextractiveorpotentiallydamagingactivities(e.g.fishingandmining)areprohibitedwithintheirboundariesinordertopreservemarinebiodiversityandmaintainorenhancetheconditionoftheseareas.
FormoreinformationcalltheParksVictoriaInformationCentre
on131963orvisitourwebsiteat
Yaringa,FrenchIslandChurchillIslandMarineNationalParks
02.55
KILOMETRES
No fishing, netting, spearing,takingorkilling of marine life.
All methods of fishing,
Highway Sealedroad
MarineNationalPark
NaturePark Waterbody
Exposedatlowwater
.A
e
HWM
Boataccesspoint
YellowTriangular boundarymarker
Inwaterboundary
Information HighWaterMark
CartographybySpatialVision2003 M/7364
MELBOURNEe
*
ToCranbourne
fromtheshoreoratsea, are prohibited.
objects (artefacts).
To Frankston
C781
38012'47"S
145018'10"E
M420
Tooradin
C421
Koo Wee Rup
Warneet
C777
Tyabb
A780
YaringaMarina
.A
Quail Island
Chinaman Island
Pelican Point
W E S T E R N
38014'50"S
145014'55"E
YaringaMarine NationalPark 980ha
38016'24"S
145018'45"E
Crawfish
Rock
Barrallier
JoeIsland
38017'07"S
38016'46"S
FrenchIslandMarineNational
Scrub
Point
.A
eIsland
145023'12"E
38017'33"S
145022'06"E
145025'10"E
e
Park
2,800ha
Lang
Lang
e
e
38017'00"S
145018'30"E
38017'34"S
e
145027'15"E
Palmer
LangLang
B440
Hastings
WesternPortMarina
SandstoneIsland
Middle Spit
FRENCHISLAND
.APoint
38018'24"S
145027'12"E
C786
CribPoint
StonyPoint
NATIONALPARK
F R E N C HI S L A N D
Stockyard Point
Sandy Point
HMAS CERBERUS
Passenger Ferry
Tankerton
P O R T
SandyPoint
TortoiseHead
Tortoise
Settlement Point
Corinella
Grantville
HeadBank
Long Point
ElizabethIsland
CoronetBay
Cowes
Observation Point
A420
P H I L L I P
I S L A N D
Rhyll
38029'09"S
145018'20"E
Long
Point
.A
ChurchillIslandMarineNationalPark
670ha
38029'37"S
Reef Island
Kennedy Point
LatitudeandLongitudevalues
S A S SS T R A I T
.A145020'16"E
Churchill Island
Newhaven
SanRemo
Anderson
arebasedonWGS84.GPS usersnotethatco-ordinatesfor boundariesaregiveninthe formatdegrees:minutes:seconds. Alternateformatsareavailable onParkweb,bycalling131963 orfromParksVictoriaOffices. Locationofreefsarefor illustrativepurposesonlyand maynotindicatethetrueposition
Western Port Marine National Parks
Western Port'sdiverse andsensitive marineenvironment is protected in three Marine National Parks.
YaringaMarineNationalPark(980ha)protectsextensive mangroves, sheltered intertidal mudflats and saltmarsh areas. The relatively undisturbed mangrove and saltmarsh habitats of Watson Inlet and Quail Island are of State geomorphological significance.
Mangroves area vitalpart of the bay ecosystem and provide an important habitat for a number of invertebrates, marine snails and bivalves and adult and juvenile fish.
Theintertidalmudflatsareofinternationalsignificanceasroosting andforagingareasforwadersandwaterbirds,whiletheadjacent coast supports sand heathland, coastal saltmarsh and low woodland dominated by manna gums.
Nearby Quail and Chinaman Islands are of State botanical and zoologicalsignificanceandaremanagedasanatureconservation reserve.
CurlewSandpiper
FrenchIslandMarineNationalPark(2,800ha)isadjacentto the northernshore of French Island National Park, and contains a variety of sheltered habitats, including seagrass beds, deep channels, mangroves, intertidal mudflats and sandy beaches.
ThenorthernshoreofFrenchIslandhasoneofthemostextensive areas of saltmarsh and mangrove communities in Victoria and the mudflats are of State geomorphological significance.The seagrassbedsarenurseryareasforfish,includingcommercially andrecreationallyimportantspeciessuchasKingGeorgeWhiting, Bream and Mullet.
The area is especially significant as a feeding habitat for the 32 species of migratory waders found inWestern Port.The waters aroundBarralierIsland,one ofthebay's13 hightideroost sites, are particularly sensitive to disturbance.
ChurchillMarineNationalPark(670ha)protectsseagrass beds,mangroves,shelteredintertidalmudflatsandsandybeaches, witharaisedbeachintheMarineNationalParkofStategeological and geomorphological significance.The intertidal mudflats extendingfromRhylltoNewhavenalsosupportseagrassesand vast numbers of bivalve molluscs, worms and creatures that provide a rich food source for birds and fish.
The area around Rhyll, the nearest town, is popular for boat- basedactivities,shore-basedsightseeing,birdwatchingandother natural history activities.
Ramsar wetlands
ThesethreeMarineNationalParksareallpartoftheinternationally listedWesternPortRamsarwetlands,containingimportantforaging and roosting areas for a number of waterbird species, including migratory waders.
Thesiteisalsoanimportantdroughtrefugeforinlandwaterbirds during the summer months as the marine environment provides habitat all year round.
WesternPortisoneofthethreemostimportantsitesinVictoria intermsofwadernumbersanddensity.Itperiodicallysupports morethan10,000ducksandblackswans,aswellasmorethan 5% of the Victorian population of eight migratory shorebird species, including the Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew Sandpiper, Double-banded Plover, Eastern Curlew and Red-necked Stint.
Western Port is also a significant breeding area for the Fairy Tern, Pied Oystercatcher, Pied Cormorant,Australian Pelican and Hooded Plover.
HoodedPloversnestinveryexposedbeachlocations,soplease takecareandwatchforeggswhenwalkingabovethehightide line, especially betweenAugust and February.
HoodedPlover
MarineNationalParkboundaries
YaringaMarineNationalPark(980hectares)isadjacentto Quail Island Nature Conservation Reserve.Ashore marker atYaringa Marina identifies the park boundary.
FrenchIslandMarineNationalPark(2,800ha)extends15 km along the northern shore of French Island National Park. The park boundary follows NorthArm and the Horseshoe Channel and is marked by In-water navigation marks and Shore marks at the eastern and western extent of the park.
ChurchillIslandMarineNationalPark(675ha)islocated south of Rhyll, on the eastern shore of Phillip Island. Shore marks at Long Point and the north point of Churchill Island identify the park boundary.
Personalsafety
Divingshouldonlybeundertakenbytrainedandexperienceddivers
Bewareofsuddenchangesinweather,especiallywhenboating orcanoeingon
openwater
Wearadequateprotectivefootwearwhenexploringcoastalenvironments
Watchwhereyourhandsaregoingatalltimestoavoidpotentiallydangerous
creatures
Bewareof largetidalvariationsofuptothree
metres
Stayawayfromcliffedges
andbases
Ensureadequateprotectionfromthesunandwind
Practisesafeboating,andfollowallsigns andmarkers
correctly
Caringforthemarine
environment
Keepclearofbirdfeeding
orroosting areas
Takeallrubbishhomewithyou–plasticand otherwastecankillbird and
marinelife
Alwaysreplaceanyorganismsorrocksyoumayhavedisturbed
Cleanbilgesandsumpsout
regularlyonland
Disposeofallwastematerial onlandinawayinwhichitwillnotflowintothe
Bay
Takecarewhenyoudropanchor,avoidsensitiveareasanduseincomingbuoyswhereprovided
Practiseminimalimpactdivingandsnorkelling
techniques
TakethetimetolearnmoreaboutVictoria’smarineanimals andplantsandthehabitatstheydepend on
EnjoyingWesternPort’sMarineNationalParks
Aswellasprotectingthemarineenvironment,WesternPort’sMarineNationalParksofferanattractiverangeofrecreationopportunities.
Canoeing isanidealwaytoexplore themangrovesandestuarineconditionsofYaringaandChurchillIslandmarinenationalparks.
Whetheronlandorfromthewater,birdwatchingcanbeveryrewarding,withmanyspeciesbreedingorroostingaroundthebay,includinganumberofmigratorywaders.
Yachtingisincreasinglypopularinthebay’srelativelytranquilwaters. Inparticular,atriparoundFrenchIslandisanenjoyableexperience
-butpleaseremembertotakecarewhenmooringwithinthefragileseagrassbedsandavoidnestingandroostingsitesforbirds.
Oncalmdayssnorkellinganddivingamongtheseagrassmeadowswillrevealamyriadofcrustaceans, fishandothermarinespecies.BeonthelookoutforthePot-belliedSeahorseandWeedySeadragon,Victoria’smarineemblem.
Nearbyparksandreserves
FrenchIsland NationalPark
Aquiethaven fornature lovers,theparkhasalargekoalapopulationandabundantnativebirdlife. Access isbyferryfromStonyPoint.Visitors’carsarenotpermittedontheisland,sotravelisbyfoot,bicycleorguidedtour.
MorningtonPeninsula NationalPark
TakinginPointNepean,GreensBushandtheoceancoastlinebetweenPortseaandFlinders,theparkfeaturessuperbsurfbeaches,rockyheadlandsandmagnificentcoastalscenery.Explorethenineteenthcentury fortificationsofFortNepean,includingtunnelsandgunemplacements,andtakeatourorstayovernightatthehistoricCapeSchanckLighthouse.
BunurongMarineNationalPark
TheBunurongcoastfeaturesstrikingrockformations,attractivesandycoves,ruggedsandstonecliffsandprominentheadlands.Thecoastalwatersalsocontainaremarkablerangeofhabitatsthatsupportabundantmarinelife.
TheBunurongcoastisidealforallsortsofactivities,fromswimming,boatinganddivingtobeachwalks,exploringrockpoolstodiscoverBunurong’sfascinatingmarinecreaturesorsimplyenjoyingthespectacularcoastalscenery.
Restrictions
Fortheprotectionof themarineenvironment,anumberofactivitiesareprohibitedwithintheboundariesofVictoria’sMarineNationalParksandMarineSanctuaries.
Nofishing,netting,spearing,takingorkillingof marinelife.All methodsof fishing,fromtheshoreoratsea,areprohibited
Notakingordamagingofanimals,plantsandobjects(artefacts)
TherearestrongpenaltiesundertheNationalParksActforfishinginMarineNationalParksandMarineSanctuaries. TheserestrictionsandpenaltiesapplyinWesternPort’sMarineNationalParksfrom16November2002.
You maycarryfin-fishonboardyourboatwithinparkboundariesifyoucaughtthefishoutside theparks,andyoumayalsocarry(butnotuse)a fishingrod ora speargun.
You mayalsohaveabaloneorrocklobsterandassociatedequipment(securelystowed)onboardtheboatprovidedthatyouaretravellingstraightthroughtheparkbytheshortestpracticableroute.
ToreportafishingoffencecalltheDepartmentofPrimaryIndustrieson13FISH (133474).
CanoeingParksVictoriaisresponsiblefortheday-to-daymanagementofVictoria’sMarineNational
ParksandMarineSanctuaries.
IfyouwouldlikefurtherinformationaboutVictoria’sMarineNationalParksandMarineSanctuaries,contacttheParksVictoriaInformationCentreon131963orvisittheParksVictoriawebsiteat:
ParknotesoneachofVictoria’sMarineNationalParksandMarineSanctuaries,includingboundariesandpermittedandprohibitedactivities,havebeenproducedtoassistvisitorstotheseareas.
December2003