As the centerpiece of one of the largest marine reserves in the world, Macquarie Island supports a variety of ocean wildlife, while its unique geography makes it an important site for studying climate change. The only place on earth where oceanic crust has been lifted above sea level, the island draws geologists as well as marine biologists.
History of Protection for Macquarie Island Marine Protected Area
The Tasmanian government created the Macquarie Island Nature Reserve in1970, thus providing the first protection for the area’s marine wildlife. Macquarie Island and much of the surrounding waters have also been listed as a World Heritage Site since 1997. But World Heritage Site designation does not ensure protection.
The Australian government has taken further steps to safeguard this special habitat. In 1999, the Macquarie Island Marine Park was created, covering more than 16 million hectares, making it the second largest marine reserve in the world, exceeded only by Kiribati’s Phoenix Islands Protected Area.
Australia has also listed the marine reserve on the Register of the National Estate and as an International Biosphere Reserve. As further indication of its importance in global marine conservation, the Macquarie Island Marine Reserve has been nominated as a Ramsar Wetland of International Significance.
Macquarie Island Marine Protected Area Hosts Multiple Threatened Wildlife Species
Formally known as the Macquarie Island Commonwealth Marine Park, the marine protected area provides food for wildlife that breeds and nests on the island. Eleven wildlife species considered threatened either locally or internationally – five albatross including the wandering albatross, four penguin and two seal species – are found on Macquarie Island.
In addition to the threatened species, two additional seal species and numerous seabirds either breed or stopover on the island. Nesting populations can number as high as 3.5 million birds at certain times of the year. Creating the marine reserve helps ensure a food source for this variety of marine wildlife.
Management of Human Impact on Macquarie Island Marine Reserve
On land, efforts are focusing on removing invasive, non-native species including domestic cats, rabbits, rats and mice. Macquarie Island is being divided into management areas to balance the need to have researchers in the marine reserve to monitor climate change without having a significant impact on the seals and seabirds.
Offshore, marine conservation efforts focus on carefully managed fisheries, which reduce impact on food sources for the area’s wildlife. Although tourism is not encouraged, a limited number of educational tourism activities are allowed. Educational outreach programs throughout the rest of Australia keep the importance of the marine reserve in the public eye while limiting disturbance to its marine wildlife.
Macquarie Island Biodiversity and Climate Change Study
As part of the RiSCC (Regional Sensitivity to Climate Change in Terrestrial Ecosystems) study, Macquarie Island and Heard Island, which is closer to the Antarctic, are being monitored and compared for alterations in biodiversity. The hope is to predict how the different regions will react to the impacts of climate change, while assessing the functioning of Antarctic ecosystems.
While this work requires the presence of scientists on Macquarie Island and at other points within the marine reserve, careful management of the island and the ocean environment should allow the researchers to conduct their work without significant impact on the area’s marine wildlife.
Dawn M. Smith - A vet nurse, Dawn has worked in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation around the world in addition to her veterinary hospital ...
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