Marine Sanctuaries

Marine sanctuaries are smaller highly protected areas designed for the protection of their special natural values, in which no fishing, extractive or damaging activities are allowed. These areas also complement the larger Marine National Parks.

A description and location of Victoria's eleven Marine Sanctuaries are listed below.

Numbers correspond to the map above.

1. Merri Marine Sanctuary
Located at Warrnambool offshore from the mouth of Merri River, Merri Marine Sanctuary covers 25 hectares of coastline. Further information on the Merri Marine Sanctuary is available from the Parks Victoria website.

2. The Arches Marine Sanctuary
Located to the south of Port Campbell, the Arches Marine Sanctuary contains impressive limestone formations with canyons and rocky arches covered in kelp and seaweed providing important habitat for marine animal species. Further information on the Arches Marine Sanctuary is available from the Parks Victoria website.

3. Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary
Located near Apollo Bay close to the shore at Marengo, this sanctuary covers 12 hectares, comprising two small reefs that provide a wide variety of microhabitats. Further information on the Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary is available from the Parks Victoria website.

4. Eagle Rock Marine Sanctuary
Eagle Rock Marine Sanctuary is located at Airey's Inlet, covering 17 hectares between Painkalac Creek mouth and Castle Rock and extending about 300 metres offshore. The Marine Sanctuary is noted for its wide diversity of marine invertebrates, particularly molluscs. Further information on the Eagle Rock Marine Sanctuary is available from the Parks Victoria website.

5. Point Danger Marine Sanctuary
Point Danger at Torquay is found at the meeting point of the surf and front beaches. It features a high invertebrate diversity, including a number of significant species of sea slugs. Further information on the Point Danger Marine Sanctuary is available from the Parks Victoria website.

6. Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary
Located at the mouth of the Barwon River at Barwon Heads, about 20 km to the west of the entrance to Port Phillip Bay, Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary features sandstone and basalt reefs, thick patches of kelp and the wrecks of two ships. Further information on the Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary is available from the Parks Victoria website.

7. Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary
Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary covers 290 hectares and is located 10 kilometres east of Werribee, adjoining Point Cook Coastal Park and including the existing Point Cooke Marine Reserve. Further information on the Point Cook Marine Sanctuary is available from the Parks Victoria website.

8. Jawbone Marine Sanctuary
Located at Williamstown, the area covers 30 hectares and supports several habitats. These include rock basalt reef, seagrass beds, intertidal flats, saltmarsh and the largest occurrence of mangroves in Port Phillip Bay. Further information on the Jawbone Marine Sanctuary is available from the Parks Victoria website.

9. Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary
This 115 hectare sanctuary is located off Beaumaris in Melbourne's southeast. The series of sandstone rock platforms extending from the shore creates a diverse marine environment. Further information on the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary is available from the Parks Victoria website.

10. Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary
Located on the open coast at Flinders on the Mornington Peninsula and covering 80 hectares in area, Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary supports the most diverse intertidal rocky reef community in Victoria. Further information on the Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary is available from the Parks Victoria website.

11. Beware Reef Marine Sanctuary
Located south east of Cape Conran in East Gippsland, Beware Reef Marine Sanctuary covers 220 hectares, and features a granite reef which is covered by forests of bull kelp and shipwreck remains. Further information on the Beware Reef Marine Sanctuary is available from the Parks Victoria website.