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Offshore atolls
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Life on the edge
There are three groups of spectacular shelf-edge Indian Ocean atolls off north west Australia: the Rowley Shoals, the Scott Reef group and Ashmore and Cartier Islands. Hundreds of kilometres apart, these offshore reefs serve as stepping stones connecting the diverse biological reef communities of Indonesia to the coastal reefs here in Western Australia – reefs off the Pilbara, Ningaloo and coral reefs further south. These atolls are epicentres for life, attracting migratory whales, including sperm, blue and small toothed whales, and dolphins; as well as other surface dwelling species like tuna, billfish and sharks. Each group of atolls has its own distinct features, including its unique communities of sponges.
All three atoll groups provide vital resting and feeding areas for migratory shorebirds. Rowley Shoals The Rowley Shoals are a collection of three atoll reefs: Mermaid, Clerke, Imperieuse, and a little known fourth