BATHURST HARBOUR, TASMANIA

2 minute movie

Bathurst Harbour in remote south west Tasmania is one of the world’s few remaining temperate wildernesses. While the World Heritage listed landscape is spectacular, it is the underwater environs that are truly unique. This is due to a layer of dark tannin-rich freshwater run-off from surrounding forests. This dark freshwater sits on top of tidal seawater and restricts sunlight penetration to the top few metres. This limits the growth of marine plants and provides ideal conditions for a proliferation of marine invertebrates.

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Bathurst Harbour is home to soft corals, sponges, tube worms, sea pens and sea whips. Many are unknown to science and many also are usually only seen in much deeper water however due to the low light levels we find these deep sea creatures in water as shallow as 10 metres.

In 2004 the area was declared a marine protected area which will ensure the survival of this extraordinary underwater ecosystem.