Did you know, the NSW marine estate has a spectacular diversity of living things?
Tropical and temperate animal and plant species live in NSW. Many of the temperate species found in NSW are globally important because they are unique to southern Australia – they don’t occur anywhere else in the world!
Migratory animals, including several threatened and protected species, are also regular visitors to the NSW marine estate.
Throughout NSW, there are significant areas where these animals feed, rest, breed, and use as nurseries.
This diversity of life, or biodiversity, is due to many factors including the NSW marine estate’s geological and climate history, range of water temperatures (warm sub-tropical to cool temperate), habitat diversity and the influence of the East Australian Current.
Explore the marine life videos below to see a selection of animals and plants unique to the southern half of Australia.
(Underwater photo and video content courtesy of @williamgladstonephotography, used with permission.)