Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters) Literature Review Prepared for Environment Australia Level 3, Hyatt Centre, 20 Terrace Road East Perth, Western Australia 6004 Job No.: 44817-001-071 Tel: (08) 9221 1850 Report No. R726 Fax: (08) 9221 1639 Ref: DK:LDM1033/PER E-mail: [email protected] 26 May 2000 ACN 003 293 696 Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................. 1 1.1 BACKGROUND............................................................................................. 1 1.2 SYNOPSIS...................................................................................................... 1 1.3 INFORMATION SOURCES.......................................................................... 2 1.4 THIS DOCUMENT........................................................................................ 3 2. LOCATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF NINGALOO MARINE PARK......... 4 2.1 LOCATION AND BOUNDARIES................................................................ 4 2.2 MARINE PARK CLASSIFICATION ............................................................ 4 2.3 STATUS AS A PROTECTED AREA............................................................ 5 3. OVERVIEW OF LEGISLATION AND AGREEMENTS AFFECTING THE NINGALOO MARINE PARK .................................................................. 6 3.1 COMMONWEALTH LEGISLATION...........................................................6 3.2 STATE LEGISLATION............................................................................... 10 3.3 STATE GOVERNMENT POLICY.............................................................. 12 3.4 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS AND CONVENTIONS.................... 13 4. LAND TENURE AND LEASES .................................................................... 16 4.1 NINGALOO MARINE PARK - COMMONWEALTH WATERS.............. 16 4.2 NINGALOO MARINE PARK – STATE PORTION................................... 16 4.3 CAPE RANGE NATIONAL PARK............................................................. 16 4.4 DEFENCE ESTATE ..................................................................................... 16 4.5 TOWNSITES ................................................................................................ 17 4.6 PASTORAL LEASES................................................................................... 17 4.7 PETROLEUM LEASES............................................................................... 17 4.8 NATIVE TITLE CLAIM .............................................................................. 18 5. DESCRIPTION OF THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT................................. 20 5.1 CLIMATE ..................................................................................................... 20 5.1.1 Rainfall and Evaporation.................................................................. 20 5.1.2 Humidity .......................................................................................... 20 5.1.3 Temperature ..................................................................................... 20 5.1.4 Wind/Cyclones................................................................................. 21 Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters) Literature Review LEPROVOST DAMES & MOORE Ref. 44817-001-071/R726 : 26 May 2000 Page i Table of Contents 5.2 OCEANOGRAPHY...................................................................................... 21 5.2.1 Astronomical (Lunar) Tides and Currents........................................ 21 5.2.2 Barometric Tides and Currents......................................................... 22 5.2.3 Wind-driven Currents....................................................................... 22 5.2.4 Drift or Residual Currents ................................................................ 22 5.2.5 Waves............................................................................................... 23 5.2.6 Sea Temperatures ............................................................................. 23 5.2.7 Salinity ............................................................................................. 23 5.2.8 Turbidity........................................................................................... 24 5.2.9 Nutrients........................................................................................... 24 5.2.10 Contaminants.................................................................................... 24 5.3 BATHYMETRY AND TOPOGRAPHY...................................................... 24 5.3.1 Bathymetry....................................................................................... 24 5.3.2 Topography ...................................................................................... 25 5.4 GEOLOGY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY..................................................... 26 6. DESCRIPTION OF THE BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT ............................ 28 6.1 BIOGEOGRAPHY ....................................................................................... 28 6.1.1 Interim Marine and Coastal Regionalisation Classification............. 29 6.1.1.1 Meso-scale regionalisation.................................................. 29 6.1.1.2 Demersal provinces and biotones........................................ 29 6.1.1.3 Pelagic provinces and biotones ........................................... 29 6.2 MARINE ECOSYSTEMS............................................................................ 30 6.2.1 Open Ocean Ecosystem.................................................................... 30 6.2.2 Seabed – Continental Slope and Shelf Ecosystems.......................... 30 6.2.3 Coral Reef Ecosystem ...................................................................... 30 6.2.4 Intertidal Ecosystem......................................................................... 31 6.3 MARINE HABITATS.................................................................................. 31 6.3.1 Open Water...................................................................................... 31 6.3.2 Continental Slope ............................................................................. 31 6.3.3 Continental Shelf.............................................................................. 32 6.3.4 Reef .................................................................................................. 33 6.3.4.1 Outer reef slope ................................................................... 33 6.3.4.2 Reef crest............................................................................. 33 6.3.4.3 Reef flat............................................................................... 33 6.3.5 Lagoon.............................................................................................. 33 6.3.5.1 Shallow sands...................................................................... 33 6.3.5.2 Exposed Rock...................................................................... 33 6.3.5.3 Coral bommies and pavements ........................................... 34 6.3.5.4 Deep holes........................................................................... 34 Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters) Literature Review LEPROVOST DAMES & MOORE Ref. 44817-001-071/R726 : 26 May 2000 Page ii Table of Contents 6.3.6 Intertidal Habitats............................................................................. 34 6.3.6.1 Rocky shores....................................................................... 34 6.3.6.2 Sandy beaches..................................................................... 34 6.3.6.3 Mangrove-lined embayments and creeks............................ 34 6.4 MARINE FLORA AND FAUNA................................................................. 34 6.4.1 Mangroves........................................................................................ 34 6.4.2 Marine Micro Flora and Fauna......................................................... 35 6.4.3 Macroalgae....................................................................................... 35 6.4.4 Seagrasses......................................................................................... 35 6.4.5 Sponges ............................................................................................ 36 6.4.6 Corals ............................................................................................... 36 6.4.7 Crustaceans....................................................................................... 37 6.4.7.1 Spiny lobsters (rock lobsters or crayfish)............................ 37 6.4.7.2 Prawns................................................................................. 38 6.4.7.3 Scampi and other deepwater crustaceans ............................ 38 6.4.8 Echinoderms..................................................................................... 38 6.4.9 Molluscs ........................................................................................... 38 6.4.10 Fish................................................................................................... 39 6.4.10.1 Scale fish............................................................................ 39 6.4.10.2 Sharks and rays................................................................... 39 6.4.11 Marine Reptiles................................................................................ 40 6.4.11.1 Sea snakes.......................................................................... 40 6.4.11.2 Sea turtles..........................................................................