The North-west Bioregional Profile identifies a number of ecological features that are of conservation value because of the role they play in the environment of the North-west Marine Region. Key ecological features (KEFs) meet one or more of the following criteria: a species, group of species, or a community with a regionally important ecological role (e.g. a predator, prey that affects a large biomass or number of other marine species); a species, group of species, or a community that is nationally or regionally important for biodiversity; an area or habitat that is nationally or regionally important for: a) enhanced or high productivity (such as predictable upwellings - an upwelling occurs when cold nutrient-rich waters from the bottom of the ocean rise to the surface); b) aggregations of marine life (such as feeding, resting, breeding or nursery areas); c) biodiversity and endemism (species which only occur in a specific area); or a unique seafloor feature, with known or presumed ecological properties of regional significance. KEFs have been identified by the Australian Government on the basis of advice from scientists about the ecological processes and characteristics of the area. A workshop held in Perth in September 2007 also contributed to this scientific advice and helped to underpin the identification of key ecological features. Thirteen KEFs have been identified in the North-west Marine Region: Ancient coastline at 125 m depth contour Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island and surrounding Commonwealth waters Canyons linking the Argo Abyssal Plain and Scott Plateau Canyons linking the Cuvier Abyssal Plain and the Cape Range Peninsula Carbonate bank and terrace system of the Sahul Shelf Commonwealth waters adjacent to Ningaloo Reef Continental Slope Demersal Fish Communities Exmouth Plateau Glomar Shoals Mermaid Reed and Commonwealth waters surrounding the Rowley Shoals Pinnacles of the Bonaparte Basin Seringapatam Reef and Commonwealth waters in the Scott Reef Complex Wallaby Saddle In order to create a spatial representation of KEFs for the North-west Marine Region, some interpretation of the information was required. DoE has made every effort to use the best available spatial information, and best judgement on how to spatially represent the features based on the scientific advice provided. This does not preclude others from making their own interpretation of available information.

The Bioregional Profile identifies a number of ecological features that are of conservation value because of the role they play in the environment of the South-west Marine Region. Key ecological features meet one or more of the following criteria: a species, group of species, or a community with a regionally important ecological role (e.g. a predator, prey that affects a large biomass or number of other marine species); a species, group of species, or a community that is nationally or regionally important for biodiversity; an area or habitat that is nationally or regionally important for: a) enhanced or high productivity (such as predictable upwellings - an upwelling occurs when cold nutrient-rich waters from the bottom of the ocean rise to the surface); b) aggregations of marine life (such as feeding, resting, breeding or nursery areas); c) biodiversity and endemism (species which only occur in a specific area); or a unique seafloor feature, with known or presumed ecological properties of regional significance. Key ecological features have been identified by the Australian Government on the basis of advice from scientists about the ecological processes and characteristics of the area. A workshop held in Perth in September 2006 also contributed to this scientific advice and helped to underpin the identification of key ecological features. Sixteen KEFs have been identified in the South-west Marine Region: Commonwealth marine environment surrounding the Houtman Abrolhos Islands Perth Canyon and adjacent shelf break, and other west coast canyons Commonwealth marine environment within and adjacent to the west coast inshore lagoons Commonwealth marine environment within and adjacent to Geographe Bay Cape Mentelle upwelling Naturaliste Plateau Diamantina Fracture Zone Albany Canyons group and adjacent shelf break Commonwealth marine environment surrounding the Recherche Archipelago Ancient coastline at 90-120 m depth Kangaroo Island Pool, canyons and adjacent shelf break, and Eyre Peninsula upwellings. Meso-scale eddies (points). Western demersal slope and associated fish communities. Western rock lobster. Benthic invertebrate communities of the eastern Great Australian Bight. No spatial representation available. Small pelagic fish of the South-west Marine Region. No spatial representation available. In order to create a spatial representation of KEFs for the South-west Marine Region, some interpretation of the information was required. DoE has made every effort to use the best available spatial information, and best judgement on how to spatially represent the features based on the scientific advice provided. This does not preclude others from making their own interpretation of available information.

The Bioregional Profile identifies a number of ecological features that are of conservation value because of the role they play in the environment of the South-west Marine Region. Key ecological features meet one or more of the following criteria: a species, group of species, or a community with a regionally important ecological role (e.g. a predator, prey that affects a large biomass or number of other marine species); a species, group of species, or a community that is nationally or regionally important for biodiversity; an area or habitat that is nationally or regionally important for: a) enhanced or high productivity (such as predictable upwellings - an upwelling occurs when cold nutrient-rich waters from the bottom of the ocean rise to the surface); b) aggregations of marine life (such as feeding, resting, breeding or nursery areas); c) biodiversity and endemism (species which only occur in a specific area); or a unique seafloor feature, with known or presumed ecological properties of regional significance. Key ecological features have been identified by the Australian Government on the basis of advice from scientists about the ecological processes and characteristics of the area. A workshop held in Perth in September 2006 also contributed to this scientific advice and helped to underpin the identification of key ecological features. Sixteen KEFs have been identified in the South-west Marine Region: Commonwealth marine environment surrounding the Houtman Abrolhos Islands Perth Canyon and adjacent shelf break, and other west coast canyons Commonwealth marine environment within and adjacent to the west coast inshore lagoons Commonwealth marine environment within and adjacent to Geographe Bay Cape Mentelle upwelling Naturaliste Plateau Diamantina Fracture Zone Albany Canyons group and adjacent shelf break Commonwealth marine environment surrounding the Recherche Archipelago Ancient coastline at 90-120 m depth Kangaroo Island Pool, canyons and adjacent shelf break, and Eyre Peninsula upwellings. Meso-scale eddies (points). Western demersal slope and associated fish communities. Western rock lobster. Benthic invertebrate communities of the eastern Great Australian Bight. No spatial representation available. Small pelagic fish of the South-west Marine Region. No spatial representation available. In order to create a spatial representation of KEFs for the South-west Marine Region, some interpretation of the information was required. DoE has made every effort to use the best available spatial information, and best judgement on how to spatially represent the features based on the scientific advice provided. This does not preclude others from making their own interpretation of available information.

The East Bioregional Profile identified a number of ecological features that are of conservation value because of the role they play in the environment of theTemperate East Marine Region. Key ecological features (KEFs) meet one or more of the following criteria: 1. a species, group of species or a community with a regionally important ecological role (e.g. a predator, prey that affects a large biomass or a number of marine species); 2. a species, group of species or a community that is nationally or regionally important for biodiversity; 3. an area or habitat that is nationally or regionally important for: a) enhanced or high productivity (such as predictable upwellings - an upwelling occurs when cold nutrient rich waters from the bottom of the ocean rise to the surface); b) aggregations of marine life (such as feeding, resting, breeding or nursery areas); c) biodiversity and endemism (species which only occur in a specific area); or 4. a unique seafloor feature, with known or presumed ecological properties of regional significance. KEFs have been identified by the Australian Government on the basis of advice from scientists about the ecological processes and characteristics of the area. A workshop held in Perth in September 2006 also contributed to this scientific advice and helped to underpin the identification of key ecological features. 8 KEFs were identified in the Temperate East marine Region: Tasmantid seamount chain Lord Howe seamount chain Norfolk Ridge Canyons on the eastern continental slope Shelf rocky reefs Elizabeth and Middleton reefs Upwelling off Fraser Island Tasman Front and eddy field In order to create a spatial representation of KEFs for the Temperate East Marine Region, some interpretation of the information was required. DoE has made every effort to use the best available spatial information and best judgement on how to spatially represent the features based on the scientific advice provided. This does not preclude others from making their own interpretation of available information.

A number of ecological features that are of conservation value because of the role they play in the environment of the Coral Sea have been identified and mapped. Key ecological features (KEFs) meet one or more of the following criteria: 1. a species, group of species or a community with a regionally important ecological role (e.g. a predator, prey that affects a large biomass or a number of marine species); 2. a species, group of species or a community that is nationally or regionally important for biodiversity; 3. an area or habitat that is nationally or regionally important for: a) enhanced or high productivity (such as predictable upwellings - an upwelling occurs when cold nutrient rich waters from the bottom of the ocean rise to the surface); b) aggregations of marine life (such as feeding, resting, breeding or nursery areas); c) biodiversity and endemism (species which only occur in a specific area); or 4. a unique seafloor feature, with known or presumed ecological properties of regional significance. KEFs have been identified by the Australian Government on the basis of advice from scientists about the ecological processes and characteristics of the area. A workshop held in Perth in September 2006 also contributed to this scientific advice and helped to underpin the identification of key ecological features. Three KEFs have been identified in the Coral Sea: Tasmantid seamount chain Reefs, cays and hebivorous fish of the Queensland Plateau Reefs, cays and hebivorous fish of the Marion Plateau In order to create a spatial representation of KEFs for the Coral Sea, some interpretation of the information was required. DoEhas made every effort to use the best available spatial information and best judgement on how to spatially represent the features based on the scientific advice provided. This does not preclude others from making their own interpretation of available information.

Key ecological features are the parts of the marine ecosystem that are considered to be of importance for a marine region's biodiversity or ecosystem function and integrity. Key ecological features (KEFs) meet one or more of the following criteria: a species, group of species, or a community with a regionally important ecological role (e.g. a predator, prey that affects a large biomass or number of other marine species); a species, group of species, or a community that is nationally or regionally important for biodiversity; an area or habitat that is nationally or regionally important for: a) enhanced or high productivity (such as predictable upwellings - an upwelling occurs when cold nutrient-rich waters from the bottom of the ocean rise to the surface); b) aggregations of marine life (such as feeding, resting, breeding or nursery areas); c) biodiversity and endemism (species which only occur in a specific area); or a unique seafloor feature, with known or presumed ecological properties of regional significance. KEFs have been identified by the Australian Government on the basis of advice from scientists about the ecological processes and characteristics of the area. A workshop held in Darwin in 2007 also contributed to this scientific advice and helped to underpin the identification of key ecological features. As new information becomes available, the spatial representations of identified key ecological features will continue to be refined and updated. Sixteen KEFs have been identified in the South-west Marine Region: Commonwealth marine environment surrounding the Houtman Abrolhos Islands Perth Canyon and adjacent shelf break, and other west coast canyons Commonwealth marine environment within and adjacent to the west coast inshore lagoons Commonwealth marine environment within and adjacent to Geographe Bay Cape Mentelle upwelling Naturaliste Plateau Diamantina Fracture Zone Albany Canyons group and adjacent shelf break Commonwealth marine environment surrounding the Recherche Archipelago Ancient coastline at 90-120 m depth Kangaroo Island Pool, canyons and adjacent shelf break, and Eyre Peninsula upwellings. Meso-scale eddies (points). Western demersal slope and associated fish communities. Western rock lobster. Benthic invertebrate communities of the eastern Great Australian Bight. No spatial representation available. Small pelagic fish of the South-west Marine Region. No spatial representation available. Thirteen KEFs have been identified in the North-west Marine Region: Ancient coastline at 125 m depth contour Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island and surrounding Commonwealth waters Canyons linking the Argo Abyssal Plain and Scott Plateau Canyons linking the Cuvier Abyssal Plain and the Cape Range Peninsula Carbonate bank and terrace system of the Sahul Shelf Commonwealth waters adjacent to Ningaloo Reef Continental Slope Demersal Fish Communities Exmouth Plateau Glomar Shoals Mermaid Reed and Commonwealth waters surrounding the Rowley Shoals Pinnacles of the Bonaparte Basin Seringapatam Reef and Commonwealth waters in the Scott Reef Complex Wallaby Saddle Eight KEFs have been identified in the North Marine Region: Carbonate bank and terrace system of the Van Diemen Rise Shelf break and slope of the Arafura Shelf Tributary canyons of the Arafura Depression Gulf of Carpentaria basin Gulf of Carpentaria coastal zone Plateaux and saddle north-west of the Wellesley Islands Pinnacles of the Bonaparte Basin Submerged coral reefs of the Gulf of Carpentaria Three KEFs have been identified in the Coral Sea: Tasmantid seamount chain Reefs, cays and hebivorous fish of the Queensland Plateau Reefs, cays and hebivorous fish of the Marion Plateau Eight KEFs were identified in the Temperate East marine Region: Tasmantid seamount chain Lord Howe seamount chain Norfolk Ridge Canyons on the eastern continental slope Shelf rocky reefs Elizabeth and Middleton reefs Upwelling off Fraser Island Tasman Front and eddy field Eight KEFs were

The Marine Key Ecological Features dataset is a digital dataset representing parts of the marine ecosystem that are considered to be of importance for a marine region's biodiversity or ecosystem function and integrity. The Marine Key Ecological Features is owned and managed by the Commonwealth of Australia, Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, 2015. Key ecological features (KEFs) meet one or more of the following criteria: a species, group of species, or a community with a regionally important ecological role (e.g. a predator, prey that affects a large biomass or number of other marine species); a species, group of species, or a community that is nationally or regionally important for biodiversity; an area or habitat that is nationally or regionally important for: a) enhanced or high productivity (such as predictable upwellings - an upwelling occurs when cold nutrient-rich waters from the bottom of the ocean rise to the surface); b) aggregations of marine life (such as feeding, resting, breeding or nursery areas); c) biodiversity and endemism (species which only occur in a specific area); or a unique seafloor feature, with known or presumed ecological properties of regional significance. KEFs have been identified by the Australian Government on the basis of advice from scientists about the ecological processes and characteristics of the area. A workshop held in Darwin in 2007 also contributed to this scientific advice and helped to underpin the identification of key ecological features. As new information becomes available, the spatial representations of identified key ecological features will continue to be refined and updated.

The Biodiversity Conservation Lands dataset has been compiled for the Mid North Coast and interpreted as presenting planning constraints at three scales; State: Areas identified as of state significance in recognition of a related state or federal conservation policy or program; Regional : Areas identified as of regional significance generally in recognition of a related state policy or program or as providing buffers to state significant lands; Local : Areas recognised through local conservation zoning and including all remnant vegetation. Principles for deriving conservation constraints: A twenty five-year planning horizon was adopted for identifying Biodiversity Conservation Lands and opportunities. State, regional and local significance classes for conservation constraints were adopted and spatially delineated. Biodiversity features are presented as constraints with limited or no transferability. Irreplaceability of significant features is generally low and in situ conservation is generally required. The level of irreplaceability for each feature is noted in the metadata proformas. Biodiversity Conservation Lands will generally be identified across the landscape regardless of current tenure or zoning. Whilst back-zoning of existing development zones is not envisaged, protection of high conservation value features occurring in existing development zones will be encouraged. The Biodiversity Conservation Lands is complete for all Local Government Areas along the coast from Tweed Heads to Gosford. This metadata statement deals with that portion of the data covering the Local Government Areas of Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, Nambucca, Kempsey, Hastings, Greater Taree and Great Lakes. There are two BioConLands datasets for each Regional Strategy area - a simplified one containing only State, Regional and Local categories in the attribute table and a larger, more complex version with "detailed" information on the components that went into the datasets. Note: Certain boundaries within these datasets, eg. NPWS and State Forest Estate, are only current to 2007.

The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) has identified as key ecological features (KEFs) numerous geomorphic features or regionally important species or habitats in the northwest marine region. This process supports the department's establishment of the development of Marine Bioregional Plans and a National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA). A total of ten KEFs are included in this study of which seven lie in the deep-sea where information on biodiversity and ecosystems is scarce. The ten KEFs are: Wallaby Saddle, Cuvier Abyssal Plain, Cape Range Canyons, Exmouth Plateau, Argo Abyssal Plain, Bowers and Oates Canyons, Scott Plateau, Scott Reef, the Holocene Coastline, and Glomar Shoals. Geoscience Australia was engaged to investigate habitat heterogeneity of these KEFs utilising its existing expertise in habitat mapping and surrogacy.