Beagle Commonwealth Marine Reserve facts for kids

The Beagle Commonwealth Marine Reserve is a special ocean area in Australia. It's like a big underwater park! This reserve covers 2,928 square kilometers (about 1,131 square miles) of ocean. It's located in the Bass Strait, which is the sea between Victoria and Tasmania's Flinders Island.

This marine reserve was created in 2007. It's part of a bigger group of protected areas called the South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network. The reserve includes the Kent Group National Park and the Hogan and Curtis Island groups. Close by, to the north-east, is the Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park.

The ocean floor in this reserve is quite shallow, about 50 to 70 meters (164 to 230 feet) deep. Long, long ago, about 10,000 years ago during the last ice age, this area was actually dry land! It formed a land bridge that connected Tasmania to mainland Australia.

Protecting Our Ocean

The Beagle Marine Reserve is a protected area. It falls under a special category called IUCN protected area category VI, which means it's a 'Multiple Use' zone. This category allows some activities to happen, but they are carefully managed to protect the environment.

What 'Multiple Use' Means

In a 'Multiple Use' zone like the Beagle Marine Reserve, people can enjoy the ocean in many ways.

• Recreational fishing is allowed. This means you can fish for fun, like when you go out on a boat with your family.
• Commercial fishing is also allowed, but with special approval. This is when people fish to sell what they catch. They need to follow strict rules to make sure they don't take too many fish.
• Mining can also happen, but only with special approval. This means looking for things like oil or gas under the seabed. Again, there are very strict rules to protect the ocean environment.

The main idea behind 'Multiple Use' is to balance protecting the ocean with allowing people to use its resources in a sustainable way.

Shipwrecks in the Reserve

The Beagle Marine Reserve is also home to some interesting history! There are two old shipwrecks located within its boundaries, both east of Wilson's Promontory.

• One is the SS Cambridge. This ship sank during World War II because it hit a German mine.
• The other shipwreck is called Eliza Davis.

These shipwrecks are like underwater museums, telling stories of the past.

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