Ninepin Point Marine Reserve

The Underwater Landscape

Ninepin Point gets its name from a series of large boulders, 2-3 metres in diameter, which are visible from the shore during low tides. These form part of a large, spectacular rocky reef that extends offshore 150 metres to the sandy seafloor at depths of 7 to 10 metres. The reef is dissected by numerous gutters 1-2 metres deep.

Flora - the Seaweeds and Sea-grasses

The reserve contains a highly localised algal flora, including a number of species not recorded outside the region, such as the red algae Schizoseris tasmanica. Brown kelps such as bull kelp (Durvillaea potatorum), strap weed (Philospora comosa) and common kelp (Ecklonia radiata) dominate in exposed areas, while in more sheltered waters, neptune's necklace (Hormosira banksii), green sea-lettuce (Ulva spp.) and sticky weed (Sargassum spp.) are common. The red seaweeds dominate on the reefs and Sonderopelta coriaceae and Thamnoclonium dichotomum are two particularly abundant species.

Fauna - Invertebrates and Fish

In the absence of light-loving seaweeds, invertebrate animal and fish communities that would normally be found below 20 metres proliferate in the shallow waters. Fish species commonly encountered in the reserve include the blue-throated wrasse (Notolabrus tetricus), butterfly perch (Caesioperca lepidoptera), barber perch (Caesioperca razor), little rock whiting (Neoodax balteatus), toothbrush leatherjacket (Acanthaluteres vittiger), jackass morwong (Nemadactylus macropterus) and southern hula fish (Trachinops caudimaculatus). The red-velvet fish (Gnathancanthus goetzii), a rare and unusual creature with venomous spines, is also known to inhabit the reef.