MushroomReef MarineSanctuary
DiscoveringmarinewondersatFlinders
TherockyshoresandsurroundingreefsatFlinders,atthesouth-westcornerof WesternPort,arefamousforthediversityoftheirmarinelife. Forthousandsofschoolchildren,Flindersistheirfirstexposuretothewonderfulcreaturesthatlivealongorrockyshores– thenumerousrectangularcrabsthatscurryunderrocks,multicolouredcushionseastars,spiralledshellsof manyshapesandsizes,androwsofcolourfulanemones.
Foroverahundredyears,scientistsandnaturalistshavefrequentedthereefs,andtheareashasrevealednumerousanimalspeciesnotpreviouslyknowntoscience. Recentdiscoveriesincludeseastarsthatbroodtheiryounginthestomach,andanothertinyseastarspeciespreviouslythoughttobejuveniles.
Athightidethecoastlineisspectacularenough,butthebreakingwavesgenerallyconcealtheoffshorereefs. Atlow tide,theseawithdrawstoexposeahugemushroom-shapedplatform. Alineofcobblesstretchesouttosea,formingthestalkofthemushroom.Atthetip,sectionsofreefbranchoutoneithersideto formthemushroomcap. Otherreefslieto the leftand rightandfurtherouttosea,creatingamosaicofshelteredbaysandpools.
The reefisformedfromancientbasaltthathasweatheredextensivelytoformamultitudeofmicro-habitats,allowingadiverserangeofcreaturestoshelterunderthelooserocksorwithin thecrevicesandcracks. Thebottomsofthe rockpoolsarecoveredindensemeadowsofbrightgreenseagrassandbrownseaweed.
FishsuchasSaddledWrasseandMagpieMorwongswimhastilybetweenthefronds.Strangebox-likecowfishand WeedySeadragons,Victoria’smarinestateemblem,beattheirsmallfinscontinuouslytohoverfurtivelyovertheseagrassbeds.
MushroomReefMarineSanctuaryispartofasystemof13MarineNationalParksand11smallerMarineSanctuariescreatedbytheVictorianGovernmenttoensurethatrepresentativesamplesofVictoria’sdiverse,distinctiveandamazing marineenvironmentareconservedforfuturegenerations.
Theseparksandsanctuariesnow protect5.3%ofVictoria’scoastalwaters,safeguardingimportantmarinehabitatsandspecies,andcomplementingourworld-classnationalparkssystemonland.
Bykeepingsomeofthesemarineareasinanaturalstate,freefrompotentiallydamaginghumanactivities,wewillprotecttheseenvironmentsintothe future.
Rockpoolrambling
EnjoyingMushroomReefMarineSanctuary
TherockpoolsatFlindersprovideawonderfulopportunity toexplore,appreciateandlearnabouttheamazingdiversityofVictoria’smarinelife.
Divingandsnorkellingonthesubtidalreefsisalsopopular. Ifyou lookcarefully,youmayseetheamazingBlackandWhiteSeaStar,one ofonly two seastars knowntobrooditsyoung initsstomach. Itcarefullydepositstheeggsontorocksandafterfertilisationpassesthe eggsoneby onewith itstube feetto themouth.
Upto300juvenilesgrowin thestomachforamonthorsoandarereleasedasclustersoftinypinkstarsinOctober. Nooneknowsforsure,butitappears thatthefemaledoesnoteatduringthisperiod.
TheBlackandWhiteSeaStarisnotcommon.Itappearstofavourshallow rockpoolsonbasaltandoccursonlyinVictoriaandTasmania.
FormoreinformationcalltheParksVictoriaInformationCentre
on131963orvisitourwebsiteat
MushroomReef
Area: 80 ha
0200
400
No fishing, netting, spearing,takingorkilling
MarineSanctuaryMETRES
Cartography by Spatial Vision 2004
of marine life.
All methods of fishing,
Majorsealedroad Minorsealedroad
MarineNationalPark
Boataccesspoint YellowTriangular
boundarymarker
NM/7364
MELBOURNEe
e
fromtheshoreoratsea, are prohibited.
No taking or damaging
NationalPark Waterbody
GEELONG
*
of animals, plants and objects (artefacts)
LatitudeandLongitudevaluesarebasedonWGS84.GPSusersnotethatco-ordinatesforboundariesaregivenintheformatdegrees:minutes:seconds. AlternateformatsareavailableonParkweb,bycalling131963,orfromParksVictoriaoffices.
Locationofreefsareforillustrativepurposesonlyandmaynotindicatetrueposition.
ToFlinders
KENNON COVE
MORNINGTON PENINSULA
38028'47"S
145000'48"E
Flinders Yacht Club
NATIONALPARK
Ocean
Beach
Flinders Golf Course
38028'59"S
145001'10"E
Mushroom Reef
WestHead
Personal safety
Diving should only be undertaken by trained and experienced divers
Beware of sudden changes in weather, especially when boating on open water
Beware of strong currents and undertows when snorkelling or at the beach
38029'28"S
145000'47"E
38029'29"S
145001'09"E
Wear solid shoes that grip well when walking on rock
platforms
Watchwhereyourhandsare going at all times to avoid potentially dangerous
creatures
Be aware of large unexpected waves when walking on shore, especially
on rock platforms
Stay away from cliff edges
and bases
Ensure adequate protection from the sun (hat, loose
8 A S SS T R A I T
MarineSanctuaryboundaries
MushroomReefMarineSanctuary(80ha)is located at Flinders.The sanctuary encompasses Mushroom Reef and extends offshore to the south for approximately 1 kilometre.
Restrictions
clothing and sunscreen)
Caring for the marine
environment
Discarded gear and rubbish canendangerbirdsandmarineanimals-pleasetake
your rubbish home
Always replace any organismsorrocksyoumay
have disturbed
Keepclearofbirdnestingor
roosting areas
Do not remove rock pool animals and plants from the
water
For the protection of the marine environment, a number of activities are prohibited within the boundariesof Victoria'sMarineNationalParksand Marine Sanctuaries.
TherearestrongpenaltiesundertheNationalParks ActforfishinginMarineNationalParksandMarine Sanctuaries.Theserestrictionsandpenaltiesapply in Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary from
16 November 2002.
You may carry fin-fish on board your boat within park boundaries if you caught the fish outside the parks, and you may also carry (but not use) a fishing rod or a spear gun.
You may also have abalone or rock lobster and associatedequipment(securelystowed)onboard the boat provided that you are travelling straight throughtheparkbytheshortestpracticableroute.
To report a fishing offence call the Department of Primary Industries on 13 FISH (133 474).
ParksVictoriaisresponsiblefortheday-to-day managementofVictoria'sMarineNationalParksandMarineSanctuaries.ForfurtherinformationcontacttheParksVictoriaInformationCentreon131963orvisittheParksVictoriawebsiteat:
ParknotesoneachofVictoria'sMarineNational Parks and Marine Sanctuaries, including boundaries and permitted and prohibited activities, have been produced to assist visitors to these areas.
January 2004