Nelson Commonwealth Marine Reserve is a 6,123 km2 marine protected area within Australian waters located in the Southern Ocean[2] near the South Australia-Victoria border. The reserve was established in 2007[3] and is part of the South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network.
Nelson Commonwealth Marine Reserve | |
---|---|
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources) | |
Location | Indian Ocean, Australia |
Nearest town | Port Macdonnell, South Australia |
Coordinates | 39°19′S 139°51′E / 39.31°S 139.85°E[1] |
Area | 6,123 km2 (2,364 sq mi) |
Established | August 31, 2007 |
Governing body | Parks Australia (Commonwealth of Australia) |
environment |
The reserve spans deepwater ecosystems (below 3,000 m (9,800 ft)) and encloses geological features including plateaus, knolls, canyons and the abyssal plain. It is an important migration area for humpback, blue, fin and possibly sei whales.[4]
The entirety of the Nelson marine reserve area is IUCN protected area category VI and is zoned as 'Special Purpose'.[4]
Zone | IUCN | Activities permitted | Area (km2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Recreational fishing | Commercial fishing | Mining | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Special Purpose | VI | Yes | No | with approval | 6,123 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[Note 1] |