Scientific reports

On this page you'll find links to a selection of fact sheets and reports on topics including the science behind marine parks, their benefits and their history. The reports provided on this page do not represent a definitive collection of those on the subject, but do help create a snapshot of some of the science used by DEW in planning for our marine parks.

Benefits of marine parks

Marine parks are recognised around the world for their conservation values, but did you know they bring many additional benefits to the marine environment? Here is a summary of relevant research, prepared by DEW in February 2011.

• Science shows marine parks benefits.

Fact sheets

• The science of marine parks - June 2010
• Gathering scientific knowledge about the marine environment - April 2010
• Summary of Submissions Report into South Australia's marine park boundaries - February 2010.
• Design principles guiding the development of South Australia's marine park boundaries - June 2008
• Blueprint for the South Australian representative system of Marine Protected Areas - November 2004
• Guide to marine protected areas in South Australia - April 2000
• Conserving marine biodiversity in South Australia - May 1999

Science used in our marine parks

A great deal of scientific research goes in to developing marine parks. Here is a collection of the research the State Government has used to help inform the process of designing marine park boundaries and zones.

• List of scientific papers used by DEW
• The vulnerability of coastal and marine habitats in South Australia

Reference/technical reports

The outer boundaries of South Australia's marine parks network are based on robust science. Download a technical report on the outer boundaries of South Australia's marine parks network:

• Technical report

Marine parks are about preserving good examples of marine habitats. The following report reveals the details of how the South Australian Government plans to do this.

• Towards a system of ecologically representative marine protected areas in South Australian marine bioregions - technical report:
  • Part 1 - contents, foreword, acknowledgements, executive summary and sections 1 - 7
  • Part 2 - section 8
  • Part 3 - section 9
  • Part 4 - sections 10, 11 and 12, references, environmental and geographic index and appendices 1 - 5

Estuaries information

Protecting South Australia’s estuaries is also an important part of marine park planning. Read the reports prepared by South Australia’s Natural Resource Management Boards.

• Working Towards a Statewide Inventory of Estuaries: Advancing the Inventory of Estuaries in Five NRM Regions of South Australia

Estuaries information packages:

• Adelaide & Mt Lofty Natural Resources Management Region
• Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Region
• Kangaroo Island
• Northern and Yorke
• South East