Flinders Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Flinders Commonwealth Marine Reserve is a 27,043km2 marine protected area within Australian waters located off the coast of north-east Tasmania. It extends to the outer limits of the Australian exclusive economic zone in the Tasman Sea. The reserve was established in 2007[2] and is part of the South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network.

Flinders Commonwealth Marine Reserve
IUCN category II (national park)
Map showing the Flinders Commonwealth Marine Reserve
LocationTasman Sea, Australia
Nearest townAnsons Bay, Tasmania
Coordinates40.00°S 151.56°E / -40.00; 151.56[1]
Area27,043 km2 (10,441 sq mi)
EstablishedAugust 31, 2007 (2007-08-31)
Governing bodyParks Australia (Commonwealth of Australia)
environment.gov.au/topics/marine/marine-reserves/south-east/flinders

The reserve area contains habitat for lace corals, sea sponges and giant crabs. A prominent feature is a large offshore seamount believed to be too deep to have been fished. Seamounts generally host a wide variety of habitats that support deep ocean biodiversity, the large seamounts to the east of Tasmania are individually important, as they are expected to include endemic species.[3]

Protection

Most of the Flinders marine reserve area is IUCN protected area category II and zoned as 'Marine National Park'. A small portion near the coast is zoned as 'Multiple Use' (IUCN VI).[3]

Zone IUCN Activities permitted Area
(km2)
Recreational fishing Commercial fishing Mining
Marine National Park II No No No 25,812
Multiple Use VI Yes with approval with approval 1,231
[Note 1]

See also

Notes
  1. Summary of permitted activities only, see source for details[4]

References
  1. "Flinders Commonwealth Marine Reserve on OpenStreetMap". openstreetmap.org. © OpenStreetMap contributors. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  2. "Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database (CAPAD) 2014 - Marine". environment.gov.au. © Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  3. "Flinders Commonwealth Marine Reserve". environment.gov.au. © Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  4. "South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network - Zoning and activities". environment.gov.au. © Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
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