Importance of the Fly Point - Corrie Island sanctuary zone

The Fly Point – Halifax Park no-take marine protected area has been protected since 1983, firstly as part of the Fly Point – Halifax Park Aquatic Reserve and now as part of the Fly Point – Corrie Island sanctuary zone. In 2007, the reserve boundary was expanded across the Port Stephens estuary to the northern shoreline, when the aquatic reserve was incorporated into the Port Stephens – Great Lakes Marine Park. On the northern side of the zone, Corrie Island represents a high diversity of habitats, is a declared Ramsar site (wetland of international significance) and is an important feeding area for migratory birds protected under the international CAMBA/JAMBA agreements with Japan and China. The two important conservation areas are linked to create a sanctuary zone of higher integrity which also protects an area of seagrass and a documented dolphin resting area. The boundaries align with easily identifiable navigation markers.

Fly Point – Halifax Park is an area rich in marine life and history.  It includes an extensive rocky reef system that is covered in an extensive array of sponges, algae, and corals down to depths of 30 metres. These reefs include a series of large rocky outcrops (bommies) and rocky overhangs and extend offshore to a sandy channel occupied by stretches of seagrass beds.

Within the sanctuary zone, there is a huge diversity of fishes with iconic species such as seahorses, pipefish, gurnards and anglerfishes found hiding among the various different habitats. Large schools of important fishery species such as snapper, bream, luderick and kingfish can be found in different areas of the reserve. The location is a known hotspot for nudibranchs (colourful sea slugs) which can be found living on sponges, bryozoans, algae, and corals.

Each summer, as the water warms up and the region is influenced by the East Australian Current, juvenile tropical fish and invertebrates appear.  These include fishes such as butterfly fish, damsel fish, grasses, and tropical invertebrates such as squat lobsters and cowrie shells.