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Marine Species
Australian Fur-seal -Black-browed Albatross - Shy Albatross - Sooty Tern - Gould’s Petrel - Southern Right Whale - Humpback Whale - Green Turtle - Leathery Turtle
Conservation Status
All the listed marine species are classified as Vulnerable in New South Wales on the Threatened Species Conservation Act. Nationally the Southern Right Whale is also listed as Endangered and Migratory, and the Humpback Whale, Black-browed Albatross, Green Turtle and Leathery Turtle - Vulnerable and Migratory on the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
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Australian Fur-seal: Occurs in south-eastern Australian waters from central New South Wales to Southern Tasmania. The only known current breeding sites are in Bass Strait. This seal forages on squid, school fish, octopus and rock-dwellers.
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Black-browed Albatross: A marine bird inhabiting oceans of Australia’s southern coasts from southern Queensland to southwest Western Australia.
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Shy Albatross: A marine bird inhabiting oceans and coastline around the southern half of Australia.
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Sooty Tern: An oceanic species occurring in tropical and subtropical Indian and Pacific Oceans that only returns to land to breed or escape rough weather. This Tern nests in a scrape on the ground in sandy cays. They often breed in large colonies along with the Common Noddy and other Terns.
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Gould’s Petrel: An oceanic species occurring on the south east coasts of Australia. This species is known to breed on Cabbage Tree Island in New South Wales.
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Southern Right Whale: Occupies temperate and sub-polar oceans of the Southern Hemisphere. This species migrates, feeding in Antarctica in summer and breeding around the coasts of southern Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America in winter. This 18m whale feeds on krill and copepods.
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Humpback Whale: Occurs in oceans throughout the world. Individuals migrating from summer feeding ground in subantarctic waters to central Great Barrier Reef for breeding pass long the coast of NSW, heading North in June/July and South in October/November.
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Green Turtle: Occurs in tropical and warm temperate waters worldwide. This Turtle is carnivorous, with adults also foraging on seaweed and seagrasses. In some parts of its range, this species is highly sought after for meat and eggs. This species has been recorded along the coast as well as in Pittwater, near Elvina Bay.
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Leathery Turtle: It is the worlds most widespread reptile using open ocean and coastlines from north of the arctic circle to south of New Zealand, including most of the Australian coast, with the exception of coral reefs. This species nests in the tropics, with breeding in Australia limited to mid-eastern Queensland. This turtle forages only on jellyfish and other gelatinous invertebrates. This species was recorded south of Refuge Bay in Cowan Creek.
Updated: 25 Jul 2011