LibGuides: Explore the Outdoors: Victorian Environments: Marine Environments

Marine Environments

Bureau of Meteorology - Victoria Marine and Ocean
Information on tides, winds and currents.
Marine Protected Areas
In 2002, Victoria established one of the world’s first representative system of fully protected 13 large marine national parks and 11 smaller marine sanctuaries. Parks Victoria was appointed as the managers of these parks.
Cape Howe National Marine Park
The marine animals and plants in the park reflect its location and include many species associated with both the warmer waters of the East Australian Current as well as as cooler waters from the west. As such there are a number of species of fish including sharks and rays that are not often seen in other parts of Victoria.
Bunurong Marine National Park
Bunurong Marine National Park (2,046 ha) is located on the Bass Strait coastline between Inverloch and Wonthaggi.
Even temporary global warming above 2℃ will affect life in the oceans for centuries
Research from the CSIRO investigates how changes in water temperatures and oxygen levels associated with climate change will decrease viable ocean habitats.

Marine Flora and Fauna

Victoria's Unique Marine Life: Parks Victoria
The Weedy Sea Dragon, Australian Fur Seal, Neptune's Necklace and Giant Spider Crab are just some of the unique flora and fauna found in Victoria's marine environments.
The ‘Great Southern Reef’: social, ecological and economic value of Australia’s neglected kelp forests (Scientific jounal article)
The Great Southern Reef is a global biodiversity hotspot for multiple taxa including seaweeds, sponges, crustaceans, chordates, bryozoans, echinoderms and molluscs.

Marine environements

"Marine biomes include a wide variety of ecosystems such as subtidal and intertidal rocky reefs, sponge gardens, kelp forests, mangroves, mudflats, open water, sandy plains, and seagrass beds. Victoria’s marine biomes are among the most biologically diverse in the world, with over 90% of Victoria’s marine organisms found nowhere else on Earth. This high biodiversity is a result of the relatively low level of nutrients in the water compared with other areas of the world."

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Click on the map above to open Parks Victoria's searchable map.

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Human Interactions with Victorian Marine Environments

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Scuba Diving
Parks Victoria page with links to popular and significant scuba diving locations within Victoria's Marine Parks netwrok.
Victorian Fisheries Authority
The Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) is an independent statutory authority established to effectively manage Victoria's fisheries resources. We work closely with many stakeholders to deliver three core outcomes:
- Sustainable fishing and aquaculture
- Clear resource access and sharing arrangements
- Increased economic, social and cultural value.
Surfing Victoria
Surfing is a popular recreational activity in Victorian Marine Environments. This page brings togather tourism, recreational and environmental groups and interests associated with surfing.