|
Located at Williamstown, adjacent to the former Williamstown Rifle Range, the area covers 30 ha and supports several habitats. These include rock basalt reef, seagrass beds, intertidal flats, saltmarsh and the largest occurrence of mangroves in Port Phillip Bay. The reef is unusually unmodified and holds a diverse algal community and associated fauna. The basalt platform is a roosting site for migratory waders.
The little promontory, west of the beach at Williamstown, is known as 'The Jawbone'. Fenced off from the rest of the world for over eighty years by a coastal rifle range, this forgotten and unspoilt place is now considered a haven for coastal and marine life right next to Melbourne.
Patches of all marine habitats from northern Port Phillip Bay are packed into this small area. On the west of the promontory, there is saltmarsh and a stand of White Mangroves along the shore, facing offshore areas of fine clayey sand and patches of seagrass. The eastern side has a complete set of rocky environments. There are areas high up on the shore that only occasionally get wet from storm waves and submerged boulders and ledges that lie below the lowest tides. The soft basalt rock has weathered into smaller rocks and pools that support a full range of tidal life. In between the clay and rock lie some small sandy beaches.
The relatively untouched rocky shores support a diverse and abundant range of animal life rarely seen elsewhere in the bay. The presence of large turban shells, limpets and snails is striking. The rock pools boast pretty gardens of green or pink coralline algae. Numerous seastars and crabs inhabit the crevices, while shrimps and small fish dart amongst the weed.
|
|
Looking After the Park
For the protection of the marine environment, a number of activities are prohibited within the boundaries of Victoria's marine national parks and marine sanctuaries. No fishing, netting, spearing, taking or killing of marine life. All methods of fishing, from the shore or the sea, are prohibited.
|
|
