Mapping of inshore marine habitats from Schouten Island to Bicheno on the East Coast of Tasmania

In 2001 a baseline survey of marine habitats was conducted within the Bruny Bioregion, from Southport (on the south east coast) to Hellfire Bluff (on the east coast). The study presented the first detailed inventory of maps of marine habitats in Tasmanian waters. While there are nine bioregions in Tasmanian coastal waters, the Bruny region was identified as a priority for mapping due to it high degree of marine endemism, high habitat diversity and the more urgent need for protection given the high population density of the region in close association with the capital city, Hobart. This study builds onto the knowledge of this initial mapping completed by SEAMAP Tasmania, providing information on marine benthic habitat distribution and extent in the southern half of the Freycinet Bioregion, which falls within NRM South region. The area captured in this mapping research report completes 15, 298 ha to the northern boundary of the NRM South region from Schouten Island to Bicheno. The maps presented in this report however have been expanded to include Great Oyster Bay and the coastline to Hellfire Bluff south of Maria Island. These maps to this point have not been presented in hardcopy and the publication of this report has provided an opportunity to present these results together. The mapping of Great Oyster Bay was completed in 2005 and Mercury Passage and Maria Island was mapped in 2003.