Cape Byron Marine Park was declared in 2002 and the current zoning plan was implemented in 2006. The Marine Park is approximately 22,000 hectares in size and encompasses coastal waters up to 3 nautical miles seaward from Lennox Head in the south up to and including the Brunswick River in the north.

The Cape Byron Marine Park contains a diverse range of habitats including estuarine communities, sandy beaches, rocky shores, sub tidal reefs, island fringing reefs and soft substrate sediments. The major island within the Marine Park is Julian Rocks which is located approximately two kilometres offshore. The topography around Julian Rocks is comprised of rocky outcrops, rocky cliffs, rocky rubble and sand at depths from three to over 20 metres deep.

Julian Rocks is a popular dive site that attracts divers from all parts of the world to see the rich diversity of marine life including over 500 species of fish, 114 species of molluscs, 100 species of marine algae, and 30 species of corals. Threatened and protected species which may be seen by divers at dive sites around Julian Rocks include grey nurse sharks, the allusive black cod, the sleepy loggerhead turtle, the giant Queensland groper which can grow up to 2 metres in length and the elegant wrasse.

Cape Bryon Marine Park also includes estuaries and intermittently closed or open lagoon systems that are rich in biodiversity. Sections of the Brunswick River estuary are protected by sanctuary zones that allow protection of crucial breeding and nursery areas for many commercially and recreationally targeted fish species such as mulloway, bream, flathead, whiting, mullet, luderick, mangrove jack, and invertebrates such as prawns, mud crabs and oysters.

Cape Byron Marine Park Education Kit Downloads

Introduction 1.15 MB

Module 1: Marine Parks 2.34 MB
Stage 1 Video - titled 1.78 MB
Stage 1 Video - non-titled 1.74 MB
Stage 2 PowerPoint 2.09 MB
Stage 3 Zoning Guide 1.35 MB

Module 2: Rocky Shores 3.95 MB
Stage 1 PowerPoint 3.82 MB

Module 3: Estuaries 2.34 MB

Module 4: Sea Country 2.64 MB

Contact

Please contact us to request a copy of the education kit on CD-Rom or for further information about taking your students on a marine parks school excursion. The CD-Rom includes resources for all six marine parks.

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