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Western Port Marine National Parks - Life between the tides A hidden abundance In the south, Churchill Island Marine National Park is influenced in part by the Western Port, Victoria’s second largest bay, is nearby open coast, and hosts beds of the living a biological treasure trove. Largely concealed fossils known as lamp shells or Brachiopods. from view behind a shoreline veil of marshland This ancient group of animals once had and mangroves, its waters contain expansive thousands of species, but is now reduced to a intertidal mudflats, meadows of seagrass, deep few species worldwide. channels and small rocky reefs. All three parks contain internationally The result of this is an abundance of marine significant roosting sites and feeding areas for life. Juvenile fish find protection within the migratory waders and other waterbirds. extensive seagrass beds, while adult fish and sharks gorge themselves on the small animals Birdwatching is a popular and rewarding that live in the mud and seagrass beds. When pastime in the coastal areas and each park the tide rolls out the extensive mudflats provide provides opportunities for wader bird a wealth of food for waterbirds to feast on. observation. Exploring the mangroves at high n o t e s tide in a canoe or the channels in small boats The tides are the key to understanding are great ways to explore Western Port. Western Port’s marine life. The waters’ ebb and flow exposes shallow mudflats and creates deep channels that function as rich feeding Protecting our marine grounds. environment Western Port is recognised as one of the The waters off Australia’s southern coast are world’s most valuable areas for international very special and unique. Over 90% of the migratory wader birds. Along with resident plants and animals living here are found waders, many species of birds migrate from nowhere else on earth. norrthern and central Asia to Western Port every year. The Victorian Government has created a system of 13 Marine National Parks and 11 This rich and diverse marine environment will smaller Marine Sanctuaries to ensure that now be conserved in three new Marine representative samples of Victoria’s diverse, National Parks. p a r k distinctive and amazing marine environment are conserved for future generations. The serene waters of Yaringa Marine National Park, in the north of the bay, These parks and sanctuaries now protect 5.3% preserve the connection between mangroves of Victoria’s coastal waters, safeguarding and mudflats that is so important for roosting important marine habitats and species, and waterbirds. complementing our world-class national parks system on land. French Island Marine National Park, in the centre, protects extensive seagrass beds that By keeping some of these marine areas in a have largely disappeared elsewhere in the bay natural state, free from potentially damaging since the 1950s. human activities, we will protect these environments into the future. Victorians will also benefit from the positive effects that this protection will have on recreation and tourism, community education and scientific research. People are encouraged to visit Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries, but extractive or potentially damaging activities (e.g. fishing and mining) are prohibited within their boundaries in order to preserve marine biodiversity and maintain or enhance the condition of these areas. Lamp Shells For more information call the Parks Victoria Information Centre on 13 1963 or visit our website at www.parkweb.vic.gov.au No fishing, netting, Yaringa, French Island & Churchill 0 2.5 5 spearing, taking or killing Island Marine National Parks of marine life. KILOMETRES All methods of fishing, Cartography by Spatial Vision 2003 Highway Boat access point N M/7364 from the shore or at sea, are prohibited. Sealed road s Yellow Triangular MELBOURNE l boundary marker Marine National Park l In water boundary marker l National Park GEELONG No taking or damaging (Pile or Buoy) of animals, plants and Nature Park Information H objects (artefacts). Waterbody HWM High Water Mark Exposed at low water To Cranbourne BAXTER 3801247S M420 Koo Wee Rup C781 DIN RD To RD A C421 TOOR 14501810E H Frankston Tooradin SOUT Warneet M W H Pelican Quail Point GIPPSLAND l DANDENONG Yaringa Island e Marina Chinaman n C777 A780 n Island a h s C WESTERN din Tyabb ra 0 Yaringa o B 38 1450S 0 o Marine 38 1624S T AB 14501455E 14501845E TY National Crawfish French Island Rock Bouchier Channel Park 0 Barrallier 38 1707S 3801646S Marine National 980 ha Joe Island Island 0 0 Park Scrub l 145 2312E 145 2510E Lang 3801733S 2,800 ha Point Chicory Lane l Lang s 14502206E l Inside Channel 0 HW N 38 1734S O l 0 H l 0 Y R 38 1700S igh Post 145 2715E Lang T 0 Office Lang H 145 1830E B440 Channel Mark Palmer Middle s Point Hastings Spit Water Western Port Marina 3801824S 14502712E Sandstone Island FRENCH ISLAND NATIONAL PARK Stockyard C786 Crib Point Point FRENCH ISLAND Sandy Point Stony Point ARM ARM Passenger Tankerton HMAS Ferry CERBERUS PORT HWY EAST Grantville Sandy Point Tortoise Head Settlement CHANNEL Point Corinella Tortoise Head Bank Long Elizabeth Island Point Coronet Bay SHIPPING Cowes Observation Point A420 Churchill Island Reef Rhyll Marine National Island PHILLIP 3802909S Park 14501820E 670 ha Kennedy PHILLIP Long Point Point IS s 0 L 38 2937S ISLAND A Latitude and Longitude values N 14502016E D s are based on WGS84. GPS Churchill Island BASS users note that co-ordinates for boundaries are given in the HWM format degrees:minutes:seconds. RD Newhaven Alternate formats are available on Parkweb, by calling 13 1963 or from Parks Victoria Offices. San Anderson Remo Location of reefs are for illustrative purposes only and BASS STRAIT may not indicate the true position To Wonthaggi Western Port Marine National Parks Western Port is one of the three most important sites in Victoria in terms of wader numbers and density. It periodically supports Western Ports diverse and sensitive marine environment is more than 10,000 ducks and black swans, as well as more than protected in three Marine National Parks. 5% of the Victorian population of eight migratory shorebird species, including the Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew Sandpiper, Yaringa Marine National Park (980 ha) protects extensive Double-banded Plover, Eastern Curlew and Red-necked Stint. mangroves, sheltered intertidal mudflats and saltmarsh areas. The relatively undisturbed mangrove and saltmarsh habitats of Western Port is also a significant breeding area for the Fairy Watson Inlet and Quail Island are of State geomorphological Tern, Pied Oystercatcher, Pied Cormorant, Australian Pelican significance. and Hooded Plover. Mangroves are a vital part of the bay ecosystem and provide an Hooded Plovers nest in very exposed beach locations, so please important habitat for a number of invertebrates, marine snails take care and watch for eggs when walking above the high tide and bivalves and adult and juvenile fish. line, especially between August and February. The intertidal mudflats are of international significance as roosting and foraging areas for waders and waterbirds, while the adjacent coast supports sand heathland, coastal saltmarsh and low woodland dominated by manna gums. Nearby Quail and Chinaman Islands are of State botanical and zoological significance and are managed as a nature conservation reserve. Hooded Plover Marine National Park boundaries Yaringa Marine National Park (980 hectares) is adjacent to Quail Island Nature Conservation Reserve. A shore marker at Yaringa Marina identifies the park boundary. French Island Marine National Park (2,800 ha) extends 15 km along the northern shore of French Island National Park. The park boundary follows North Arm and the Horseshoe Channel and is marked by In-water navigation marks and Shore marks at the eastern and western extent of the park. Churchill Island Marine National Park (675 ha) is located Curlew Sandpiper 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. French Island Marine National Park (2,800 ha) is adjacent to the northern shore of French Island National Park, and contains a variety of sheltered habitats, including seagrass beds, deep Activity What can channels, mangroves, intertidal mudflats and sandy beaches. I do? The northern shore of French Island has one of the most extensive Recreational activities areas of saltmarsh and mangrove communities in Victoria and the mudflats are of State geomorphological significance. The · nature observation and sightseeing yes seagrass beds are nursery areas for fish, including commercially · snorkelling and scuba diving yes and recreationally important species such as King George Whiting, · swimming, surfing yes Bream and Mullet. · windsurfing, sailing, boating yes (1) · filming and photography yes The area is especially significant as a feeding habitat for the 32 species of migratory waders found in Western Port. The waters Recreational fishing and harvesting around Barralier Island, one of the bays 13 high tide roost sites, · all forms of fishing - line, spear, netting, traps no are particularly sensitive to disturbance. · shellfish collection, including abalone no and rock lobster collection · bait collection no Churchill Marine National Park (670 ha) protects seagrass · catch and release fishing no beds, mangroves, sheltered intertidal mudflats and sandy beaches, with a raised beach in the Marine National Park of State geological Commercial fishing and marine aquaculture and geomorphological significance. The intertidal mudflats extending from Rhyll to Newhaven also support seagrasses and · abalone fishing no vast numbers of bivalve molluscs, worms and creatures that · rock lobster fishing no provide a rich food source for birds and fish. · netting, line fishing and trapping no · marine aquaculture no The area around Rhyll, the nearest town, is popular for boat- based activities, shore-based sightseeing, birdwatching and other Education and research natural history activities.