Narrabeen Head Aquatic Reserve

Objectives

• conserve the biodiversity of fish and marine vegetation
• protect fish habitat
• facilitate educational activities
• facilitate scientific research.

This site was an Intertidal Protected Area from 1993 to 2002.

Features

Narrabeen Head Aquatic Reserve was declared primarily to facilitate educational activities on the rocky shore at this site. It complements the nearby Long Reef Aquatic Reserve which is also often visited by school groups. Also nearby, Narrabeen Lagoon provides opportunities to educate students about catchment conservation in this area.

The Coastal Environment Centre at Narrabeen, a facility of Northern Beaches Council, conducts environmental education activities in the local area.

What can I do in the Aquatic Reserve?

You can line fish and spearfish and collect blacklip abalone (Haliotis rubra rubra), rock lobster (eastern rock lobster Sagmariasus verreauxi and southern rock lobster Jasus edwardsii), sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) and bait weed (Enteromorpha intestinalis) in the reserve, subject to other NSW fishing rules and regulations.

In this reserve it is prohibited to collect cunjevoi or any marine invertebrates except abalone and rock lobster. For example you cannot collect anemones, barnacles, chitons, cockles, crabs, mussels, octopus, oysters, pipis, sea urchins, starfish, snails and worms, whether they are dead or alive. Empty shells cannot be collected in the reserve because they provide homes for living organisms. Marine vegetation cannot be collected except for sea lettuce and bait weed.

Be the eyes, ears and voice for aquatic reserves and report:

• Illegal or suspect fishing or collecting activities, or damage aquatic habitats, to the Fishers Watch Phoneline on 1800 043 536 or online
• Water pollution or fish kills to the Environment Line 131 555.
• Suspected aquatic pests or diseases to the Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) Hotline: 1800 675 888 or email aquatic.biosecurity@dpi.nsw.gov.au
• Injured or sick marine mammals, reptiles or seabirds to a licensed wildlife rehabilitation group or National Parks and Wildlife on 1300 072 757.

Explore the Aquatic Reserve

Narrabeen Headland lies between Turimetta Beach and Narrabeen Lagoon. Photo: Renata Pronk.

The rocky shore is broad and flat, and the rock pools, cracks and crevices provide a variety of habitats for algae, invertebrates and small fish. Photo: Renata Pronk.

Narrabeen Head is an important area for shorebirds, pictured here is a little pied cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris), a crested tern (Thalasseus bergii) and two sooty oystercatchers (Haematopus fuliginosus) basking in the midday sun. Long Reef headland can be seen in the distance. Photo: Renata Pronk.

A sea hare (Aplysia dactylomela) forages amongst the rock pools at Narrabeen Head which are inhabited by various different kinds of marine snails and algae. Photo: Renata Pronk.

Getting there

You can get to the reserve via Anzac Avenue and the Narrabeen Head Surf Life Saving Club car park on Pittwater Rd, and on foot via the Greenlink and Bicentennial walkways.

Further information

Please contact us at marine.environment@dpi.nsw.gov.au.