MORNINGTON PENINSULA Marine Parks
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| The marine parks in
this region have been established to protect important undersea and
intertidal areas in Port Phillip Bay. They safeguard valuable marine
habitats and species and many contain important fish breeding and nursery
areas.
The parks offer opportunities for diving, snorkelling, swimming, boating and sightseeing. Fishing is not permitted. For further information contact Parks Victoria on (in Australia only) 131 963. |
| Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park | ||
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The Port Phillip
Heads Marine National Park is located at the southern end of Port Phillip
Bay. It includes the entrance to the bay at Port Phillip Heads, and is made
up of six separate areas including Swan Bay, Great Sands (Mud Islands),
Point Lonsdale, Point Nepean, Popes Eye and Portsea Hole incorporating a
total of 3,580 hectares. Habitat types found within the park include seagrass beds, sheltered intertidal mudflats, intertidal sandy beaches and rocky shores, sub-tidal soft substrata and rocky reefs, as well as the open water environment. The diversity and abundance of marine flora and fauna in this region are greater than many comparable habitats elsewhere in the world. |
| French Island Marine Park | ||
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The French Island Marine National Park is located about 10 kilometres south of Tooradin, and is adjacent to the northern shoreline of French Island National Park in Western Port Bay. The northern shore of French Island has one of the most extensive areas of salt marsh and mangrove communities in Victoria and the mudflats are of State geomorphological significance. |
| Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary | ||
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Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary is located at the mouth of the Barwon River at Barwon Heads, about 20 kilometres to the west of the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. The sanctuary covers 17 hectares. The intertidal and shallow sub-tidal sandstone and basalt reefs of the marine sanctuary provide habitat for a diverse range of marine flora and fauna. |