Great Barrier Reef may have a colorful rival
It would seem almost impossible for anything else in Australia to match the Great Barrier Reef for underwater beauty and ecological diversity.
But a new study has found that the legendary site may have a rival: the Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park.
Using a remotely operated underwater vehicle, scientists have been able to take a closer look than ever before at this marine park in deep waters off Australia's southeast coast. They have concluded that colorful sponge gardens, corals, and abundant fish species are comparable to those found in the Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
They also discovered massive coral fans, large sea whips and boulders the size of houses. Underwater dune systems include one about 100 feet high and more than a mile long. About 300 feet down, they discovered huge schools of deep sea perch.
Among the fish species found were several considered rare in the region and important for conservation, including the Australian barracuda (Sphyraena novaehollandiae) and Longsnout Boarfish (Pentaceropsis recurvirostris).
"The resulting footage shows that the deep reef habitats are teeming with life and are home to rich and abundant marine ecosystems that are comparable to Australia's better-known tropical reef areas," Parks Victoria marine science manager Steffan Howe said. "The extent and abundance of spectacular sponge gardens and corals is a particularly exciting find."
How said the discoveries followed earlier efforts to map the park's sea floor in detail.
"The maps identified some amazing underwater structures very deep beneath the ocean, but we did not know what sort of marine life was there," Howe said. "These latest expeditions used cutting-edge technology including underwater video cameras and a robotic vehicle to record the spectacular marine life found in many of the deeper areas of the park for the first time."
Howe said the discoveries are a testament to the park's biodiversity, giving scientists a "comprehensive understanding of the habitats," which should help determine "how we manage this important area in the future."