This layer contains divisions of Victorian biounits as classified to CBICs Level 4 biotope complexes as points. At this level of the hierarchy, biotopes are grouped into sets with similar physical and biological characteristics.

This polygon layer identifies shoreline types and habitats in the coastal and shallow subtidal region. The polygon extents are defined by a buffer of the coastline. The layer is based on a map created by Natural Resource Systems for the Land Conservation Council as part of its Marine and Coastal Special Investigation. Shoreline classifications and boundaries in the LCC map were further refined through a comparison with other data sources for the coast. Shoreline categories were defined on the basis of the information requirements of oil spill contingency planning and response personnel.

This layer contains marine and coastal features across Victoria. This data consists of conservation and protection zones, cultural and heritage areas, energy and resource extraction sites, defence and national security areas, locations of ports and shipping channels, fishing and aquaculture areas, and areas of natural environment and biodiversity importance.

This layer identifies bird habitats in the Victorian coastal region. The layer is a polygon coverage with the polygon areas representing the main area of the respective bird habitats. Sites were identified from a broad range of published and unpublished sources of information and from personal communications made by experts in the field. In 2015 some additional locations were added with data from Birdlife Australia Shorebird 2020 Data. This dataset was formerly know as SHOREBIRD HABITAT but was renamed as it contains sites for seabirds and other birds.

Benthic habitat maps were developed for the CACO study areas following the top-down mapping approach, for which habitat map units are geologically defined based on the presumption that geologic environments or features contain distinct biological assemblages. The resulting habitats are classified according to the CMECS framework and are referred to as “biotopes.” The term “biotope” is specific in that it integrates biotic-abiotic characteristics to offer more ecologically meaningful information. In this study, biotopes reflect the relationship between macrofaunal communities and geological features of their associated environments within the defined map units. The resulting biotopes are considered preliminary because the relationships identified have not been repeatedly demonstrated over time.