| Tasman Fracture Commonwealth Marine Reserve | |
| Iucn Category: | VI |
| Location: | Indian Ocean, Australia |
| Coordinates: | -44.83°N 144.81°W |
| Coords Ref: | [1] |
| Nearest Town: | Melaleuca, Tasmania |
| Area Km2: | 42501 |
| Governing Body: | Parks Australia (Commonwealth of Australia) |
| Url: | http://environment.gov.au/topics/marine/marine-reserves/south-east/tasman-fracture |
Tasman Fracture Commonwealth Marine Reserve is a 42,502 km2 marine protected area within Australian waters located off the coast of south-west Tasmania. It extends to the southerly limits of the Australian exclusive economic zone in the Indian Ocean and encompasses the Tasman Fracture. The reserve was established in 2007[2] and is part of the South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network.
The reserve includes a number of undersea peaks rising to less than 1500m (4,900feet) below the sea surface that provide habitat to deepwater hard corals. The reserve is also habitat to many seabirds, seals and cetaceans, such as dolphins and killer whales. The fauna of this reserve includes subantarctic fishes and seabed invertebrates. Biodiversity within the reserve is influenced by the most easterly extent of the Zeehan Current.[3]
Most of the Tasman Fracture marine reserve area is IUCN protected area category VI, however there are multiple zoned areas within the reserve with different protection classifications.[3]
| Zone | IUCN | Activities permitted | Area (km2) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recreational fishing | Commercial fishing | Mining | |||
| Marine National Park | II | 692 | |||
| Special Purpose | VI | 21,313 | |||
| Multiple Use | VI | 20 496 | |||