Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs

* About the images

We took care to attach appropriate images that are as close to representative of each species as our resources and the availability of images allowed. however, we could not ensure perfect accuaracy in every case. Some images show species that share the same genus but not at the species or subspecies level.

Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve is located in the northern Tasman Sea, in Australia’s East Marine Region. It is 630 km east of Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, and 690 km east-south-east of Brisbane, Queensland. Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs are remote coral reef atolls that occur atop isolated, oceanic sea mounts, 50 km apart from each other. They are the most southerly open ocean platform reefs in the world and their coral reef communities are influenced both by tropical and temperate ocean currents. As isolated oceanic wetlands with no permanent dry land, the Reef perimeters provide the only buffer to high-energy impacts of ocean swells and waves, and thus provide for remote sheltered wetland habitats within a vast region of oceanic waters of the western Pacific Ocean. Reef building corals and algae form the dominant components of habitat complexity and ecological features of the site. Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs support several coral species at or near their northern or southern limits of distribution, and species which can self-recruit to the same reef. Seagrass occurs only as scattered plants on the sheltered sandy lagoons at both reefs. The fish communities include seven undescribed fishes and a number of species with specialised habitats and relatively restricted geographic distributions. The Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs populations of the Galapagos Reef Shark form a single genetic stock, which is distinct from the only other Australian population, 173km further south at Lord Howe Island. Threatened species known to utilise the site include the Humpback Whale, Green Turtle, Leatherback Turtle, and Wandering Albatross. At least 30 ships have been recorded wrecked on the Reefs, dating back to the late 18th Century, making the area of considerable marine archaeological significance. Except for the remains of more recent wrecks, which are a conspicuous feature of the Ramsar site, the majority of wrecks have not been accurately located. The wreck Fuku Maru on Middleton Reef supports a small breeding colony of Sea Terns, which due to lack of suitable dry land, otherwise would not occur at the Ramsar site. Currently, Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs are mainly use for nature conservation and scientific research, with limited recreational diving and fishing also occurri

Government evidence of impact of climate change:

Expand all Close all
  • Australian Government, Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Ramsar Site, Ecological Character Description

    Climate The effect of climate on water temperature; light and therefore; food availability (see above); influences the timing and number of turtles present at the site. see Section Critical ecosystem components and processes The critical parameter for this ecosystem service is the availability of feeding habitat coupled with the geomorphology.
    The effect of climate on water temperature; light and therefore; food availability (see above); influences the availability and suitability of habitats.
    Climate The effect of climate on water temperature; light and therefore; food availability (see above); influences the availability and suitability of habitats. see Section Critical ecosystem components and processes For this ecosystem service; the diversity of habitats coupled with their geomorphology is the critical parameter this is followed by food sources.
    Climate The effect of climate on water temperature; light and therefore; food availability (see above); influences the availability and suitability of habitats. see Section Critical ecosystem components and processes For this ecosystem service; the diversity of (shallow water) habitats coupled with the substrate is the critical parameter this being followed by food sources.