- NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR THE NORTHERN AGRICULTURAL REGION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
The Houtman Abrolhos Islands are an archipelago of 210 islands, islets and rocks surrounded by extensive coral reefs and other marine habitats. The islands are divided into three main groups — the Wallabi, Easter and Pelsaert groups — and support exceptionally important marine, coastal and island ecosystems. The Abrolhos lie near the meeting point of tropical and temperate marine environments. Coral reefs, seagrass and macroalgal habitats, lagoons, reef platforms and deeper waters support diverse fish and invertebrate communities. The islands and surrounding waters also provide important habitat for seabirds, migratory shorebirds and Australian sea lions. The State waters surrounding the islands are protected within the Houtman Abrolhos Islands Fish Habitat Protection Area. The area supports commercial and recreational fishing, aquaculture, tourism, boating, diving and scientific research, with management intended to protect fish, habitats and the wider aquatic ecosystem. The marine environment is closely connected to the islands themselves. Seabird nesting and Australian sea lion breeding occur on a number of islands, while reefs and other sensitive marine habitats can be affected by anchoring, visitation, introduced species and other human activities. Management therefore integrates protection of terrestrial and marine values across the archipelago.
The Houtman Abrolhos Islands are an archipelago of 210 islands, islets and rocks surrounded by extensive coral reefs and other marine habitats. The islands are divided into three main groups — the Wallabi, Easter and Pelsaert groups — and support exceptionally important marine, coastal and island ecosystems. The Abrolhos lie near the meeting point of tropical and temperate marine environments. Coral reefs, seagrass and macroalgal habitats, lagoons, reef platforms and deeper waters support diverse fish and invertebrate communities. The islands and surrounding waters also provide important habitat for seabirds, migratory shorebirds and Australian sea lions. The State waters surrounding the islands are protected within the Houtman Abrolhos Islands Fish Habitat Protection Area. The area supports commercial and recreational fishing, aquaculture, tourism, boating, diving and scientific research, with management intended to protect fish, habitats and the wider aquatic ecosystem. The marine environment is closely connected to the islands themselves. Seabird nesting and Australian sea lion breeding occur on a number of islands, while reefs and other sensitive marine habitats can be affected by anchoring, visitation, introduced species and other human activities. Management therefore integrates protection of terrestrial and marine values across the archipelago.
Economic activity at the Houtman Abrolhos Islands is closely connected to the surrounding marine environment. Commercial fishing, aquaculture and tourism are the principal industries operating within and around the archipelago.
Commercial fishing has a long history at the Abrolhos, particularly the Western Rock Lobster industry. The surrounding waters are an important part of the Western Rock Lobster fishery, and fishing camps, jetties and other infrastructure occur on occupied parts of the islands. Other commercial fisheries also operate within the Houtman Abrolhos Islands Fish Habitat Protection Area.
Aquaculture is another important marine industry. Aquaculture leases occur within the Fish Habitat Protection Area, and the Mid West Aquaculture Development Zone between the Easter and Pelsaert groups has been established to support larger-scale commercial aquaculture development.
Tourism is increasingly important, with visitors attracted by the islands’ coral reefs, marine wildlife, fishing, diving, seabirds, maritime history and remote island landscapes. Tourism and other commercial activities are managed to balance economic opportunities with protection of the Abrolhos’ exceptional natural and cultural values.
The Houtman Abrolhos is an archipelago of low-lying islands and reefs situated approximately 60–80 km off the Mid West coast. The islands occur on ancient limestone reef platforms that began forming around 120,000–130,000 years ago, when sea levels were considerably lower than today.
The islands are predominantly composed of limestone overlain by varying amounts of sand, cemented coral rubble and shingle. Their present landforms have developed through a combination of reef growth, erosion and the movement and deposition of sediments by wind, waves and currents. As sea levels rose, coral growth continued over the older limestone platforms, producing the extensive reef systems that surround the islands today.
The archipelago is divided into three main island groups, Wallabi, Easter and Pelsaert, separated by deep-water channels. Soils are generally shallow and strongly influenced by their limestone, coral and marine origins.
The Houtman Abrolhos is internationally significant for its marine and terrestrial biodiversity. The archipelago contains extensive coral reefs, seagrass and macroalgal habitats, mangroves, saltbush flats and other coastal habitats. Its location within the influence of the warm Leeuwin Current supports an unusual mixture of tropical and temperate marine species.
The islands support nationally and internationally significant populations of seabirds and provide breeding, feeding and roosting habitat for numerous resident and migratory species. They are the only nesting location of the Australian Lesser Noddy (Anous tenuirostris melanops), which is listed as Vulnerable under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Important breeding seabirds also include Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (Ardenna pacifica), Roseate Terns (Sterna dougallii) and Australian Fairy Terns (Sternula nereis nereis), the latter also listed as Vulnerable under the EPBC Act.
The archipelago supports several animals found nowhere else, including the Abrolhos Painted Button-quail (Turnix varius scintillans), Houtman Abrolhos spiny-tailed skink and Abrolhos dwarf bearded dragon. These endemic island fauna contribute to the exceptional conservation significance of the archipelago.
The Houtman Abrolhos is also an important breeding and haul-out area for the Australian Sea Lion (Neophoca cinerea) and represents the northern limit of the species’ breeding range. The Australian Sea Lion is listed as Endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The terrestrial vegetation of the islands is generally low and adapted to exposed, saline conditions. Vegetation communities include saltbush and other low shrublands, mangroves and coastal vegetation associated with sandy, limestone and coral-derived substrates. Despite their small size and exposed environment, the islands support a distinctive native flora, including several plant species of conservation significance.
Land use across the Houtman Abrolhos Islands is primarily associated with nature conservation, commercial fishing and aquaculture, tourism, recreation, research and essential infrastructure. Unlike mainland areas of the Northern Agricultural Region, the islands have no conventional agricultural or urban land-use pattern.
Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park protects approximately 97% of the total land area of the archipelago to the high-water mark. The National Park includes 184 unoccupied islands and parts of five occupied islands and is managed primarily for conservation, cultural heritage, recreation and nature-based tourism.
Other occupied areas form part of the Abrolhos Reserve, managed by the Western Australian Government for conservation, tourism and purposes associated with fishing and aquaculture. Commercial fishers and aquaculture operators occupy leased areas containing fishing camps, jetties and associated infrastructure.
Infrastructure elsewhere across the islands includes airstrips, jetties, navigation and communications facilities and other infrastructure required for island access, management and safety. Careful management of development and visitor use is particularly important because of the islands’ sensitive terrestrial and marine environments and significant natural and cultural heritage values.
The Houtman Abrolhos Islands do not have a conventional permanent population or townships. Instead, the islands support a small working community associated primarily with commercial fishing and aquaculture, together with tourism operators, researchers, government personnel and visitors.
Commercial rock lobster fishers and aquaculture operators occupy camps on parts of the islands, with generations of fishing families maintaining strong social and cultural connections to the Abrolhos. Fishing camps, jetties and associated infrastructure on leased areas are private property.
The number of people at the islands varies considerably according to fishing and aquaculture activities, tourism, research and recreational visitation. Visitors travel to the Abrolhos for fishing, diving, wildlife viewing, maritime heritage and other nature-based experiences.
The remote location and limited services require careful planning by residents, workers and visitors. Access, public safety, waste, water, emergency response and protection of the islands’ sensitive natural and cultural values are important considerations for the Abrolhos community.
Freshwater is naturally scarce on the Houtman Abrolhos Islands. There are no permanent rivers or streams, although freshwater seeps, ponds and limestone sinkholes occur on several islands where rainfall collects or drains into shallow limestone formations. Some of these freshwater features also have important cultural and maritime heritage values. Water supply for occupied fishing and aquaculture camps is largely dependent on locally collected rainwater, with camp operators responsible for maintaining their own water supplies. Natural freshwater seeps and ponds within Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park are protected and are not available for extraction as a water source. Careful management of wastewater and other potential sources of pollution is particularly important because of the small size of the islands and their close connection with the surrounding marine environment. Wastewater, fuel, chemicals and other contaminants have the potential to affect sensitive terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Protecting freshwater features and surrounding marine water quality is therefore an important component of management of the Abrolhos, alongside sustainable water use, appropriate wastewater treatment and minimising the environmental impacts of island infrastructure and visitation.
