Report
Arafura Marine Park is Australia’s most northerly marine park. Within its boundaries lie multiple tributary canyons of the Arafura Depression – remnants of an ancient drowned river system. These steep-walled canyons create a diversity of substrate types, and funnel nutrient-rich waters upward from the deep ocean which enhance productivity and support complex ecosystems, including populations of large predatory fish, whale sharks, deep sea sponges, seabirds and marine turtles.
The park is located 256 kilometres north-west of Darwin, abutting Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone boundary near Indonesia, with which Australia has signed a Joint Declaration on Maritime Cooperation. It covers 22,924 square kilometres and has Multiple Use, Special Purpose and Special Purpose (Trawl) zones. – Parks Australia
Arafura ranges from less than 5 to 277 metres depth, with an average depth of 120 metres. The majority of the park (87%) falls within the rariphotic zone (70-200 metres). [View on map]
What's known about the Arafura marine park?
Habitat and bathymetry summaries last refreshed May 2023. Habitat observations are refreshed weekly from data providers.
Habitat
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Bathymetry
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Habitat Observations
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0 imagery deployments
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