Archipelago of the Recherche
Encyclopedia
Archipelago of the Recherche is a group of 105 islands, and over 1200 "obstacles to shipping", off the southern coast of Western Australia
. The islands, also known as the Recherche Archipelago, stretch 230 kilometres (143 mi) from East to West and to 50 kilometres (31 mi) off-shore.
The western group is near Esperance
and the eastern group at Israelite Bay
. They are located in coastal and inland waters, part of which is referred to as the Recherche Archipelago Nature Reserve.
and Pieter Nuyts
, sailing on Gulden Zeepaert, sighted and explored the area in 1627. George Vancouver
also passed through the archipelago as part of his expedition in HMS Discovery
in 1791..
The area was named the Archipelago of the Recherche by Bruni d'Entrecasteaux
during a French expedition in 1792. This name was taken from one of the Rear Admiral's ships, Le Recherche, the town of Esperance is named from the other ship of the expedition. They also came to be known as the D'Entrecasteaux Islands.
Matthew Flinders
was the first to explore and chart the islands of the archipelago in 1802 as part of his voyage in the Investigator.
Australia's only recorded pirate, Black Jack Anderson, frequented the archipelago in the 1830s. A former whaler he turned to piracy and wreaked havoc in the area until being murdered by his crew.
Flinders lost two important anchors when leaving the area in 1802. In 1972 these were recovered and moved to the South Australian Maritime Museum.
Uses of the area now include recreational and commercial fishing, and shipping from the Port of Esperance. Commercial fishing is primarily for abalone
, southern rock lobsters, pilchards, and shark
s, and fishing tourism is an established industry. The area is proposed for other applications of aquaculture
, including farming trials of Bluefin Tuna.
and an eastern group at Israelite Bay. These form an Archipelago
of 105 features classed as islands, and more than 1500 islets. The islands of the archipelago have a combined area of 97.2 square kilometres (24,019 acre).
The islands are generally composed of granite outcrops; these have steep slopes and often lack beaches. A large number of features are submerged, some becoming exposed by tides.
Part of the area is included in the bioregion described as Esperance 2 (ESP2), the 'Recherche subregion', which contains Cape Le Grand National Park
at its western end, and the Cape Arid National Park
at the eastern end. This area is named the Recherche Archipelago Nature Reserve.
that supports vegetation, nesting birds, and other animals. A complex marine environment is found in the surrounding waters, the benthic habitat is various densities of seagrass meadows, reefs, or bare sand.
s, form beds which support marine species of spiders, snails, and worms, also acting as a creche for scallop
s. Marine mammals associated with the islands include two species of seal
, large groups of common dolphin
s (Delphinus delphis), and Minke whale
s (Balaenoptera acutorostrata).
Seagrasses found at the island include: Amphibolis antarctica
, Amphibolis griffithii
, Halophila decipiens, Halophila ovalis
, Posidonia angustifolia, Posidonia australis
, Posidonia coriacea
, Posidonia denhartogii, Posidonia kirkmani, Posidonia ostenfeldii
, Posidonia sinuosa, Syringodium isoetifolium, and Thalassodendron pachyrhizum.
New Zealand Fur Seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) and Australian Sea-lion (Neophoca cinerea) breeding colonies are found on some islands. Marsupials include Tammars (Macropus eugenii derbianus), a species of Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus), two subspecies of Rock Wallabies (Petrogale lateralis lateralis and Petrogale lateralis hacketti). Snakes include the Recherche Island Dugite (Pseudonaja affinis tanneri) on Cull Island, and the python Morelia spilota imbricata
. Other reptiles include the Barking gecko (Underwoodisaurus milii
), Ornate Dragon (Ctenophorus ornatus
), and the Southern Heath Monitor (Varanus rosenbergi). Two species of frog are also found on the islands; the Quacking Frog Crinia georgiana and Spotted-thighed Frog Litoria cyclorhyncha
.:
Many of the animals and plants are in refugia
, where they are remote from factors that threaten mainland populations.
as an Important Bird Area
(IBA) because it is the only breeding site for the western subspecies of Cape Barren Goose known as the Recherche Cape Barren Goose
. It also supports over 1% of the world populations of Flesh-footed Shearwater
s, Sooty Oystercatcher
s, Fairy Tern
s and, probably, White-faced Storm-Petrel
s. Rock Parrot
s and Red-eared Firetail
s have also been recorded.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. The islands, also known as the Recherche Archipelago, stretch 230 kilometres (143 mi) from East to West and to 50 kilometres (31 mi) off-shore.
The western group is near Esperance
Esperance, Western Australia
Esperance is a large town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, located on the Southern Ocean coastline approximately east-southeast of the state capital, Perth. The shire of Esperance is home to 9,536 people as of the 2006 census, its major industries are tourism, agriculture,...
and the eastern group at Israelite Bay
Israelite Bay, Western Australia
Israelite Bay is a bay and locality at Location on the south coast of Western Australia - frequently mentioned in Bureau of Meteorology weather reports as a geographical marker - it does not have a climate record....
. They are located in coastal and inland waters, part of which is referred to as the Recherche Archipelago Nature Reserve.
European discovery and naming
The islands became known to Europeans when Francois ThijssenFrançois Thijssen
François Thijssen or Frans Thijsz was a Dutch explorer who explored the southern coast of Australia.He was the captain of the ship t Gulden Zeepaerdt when sailing from Cape of Good Hope to Batavia...
and Pieter Nuyts
Pieter Nuyts
Pieter Nuyts or Nuijts was a Dutch explorer, diplomat, and politician.He was part of a landmark expedition of the Dutch East India Company in 1626–27, which mapped the southern coast of Australia. He became the Dutch ambassador to Japan in 1627, and he was appointed Governor of Formosa in the same...
, sailing on Gulden Zeepaert, sighted and explored the area in 1627. George Vancouver
George Vancouver
Captain George Vancouver RN was an English officer of the British Royal Navy, best known for his 1791-95 expedition, which explored and charted North America's northwestern Pacific Coast regions, including the coasts of contemporary Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon...
also passed through the archipelago as part of his expedition in HMS Discovery
HMS Discovery (1789)
HMS Discovery was a Royal Navy ship launched in 1789 and best known as the lead ship in George Vancouver's exploration of the west coast of North America in his famous 1791-1795 expedition. She was converted to a bomb vessel in 1798 and participated in the Battle of Copenhagen. Thereafter she...
in 1791..
The area was named the Archipelago of the Recherche by Bruni d'Entrecasteaux
Bruni d'Entrecasteaux
Antoine Raymond Joseph de Bruni d'Entrecasteaux was a French navigator who explored the Australian coast in 1792 while seeking traces of the lost expedition of La Pérouse....
during a French expedition in 1792. This name was taken from one of the Rear Admiral's ships, Le Recherche, the town of Esperance is named from the other ship of the expedition. They also came to be known as the D'Entrecasteaux Islands.
Matthew Flinders
Matthew Flinders
Captain Matthew Flinders RN was one of the most successful navigators and cartographers of his age. In a career that spanned just over twenty years, he sailed with Captain William Bligh, circumnavigated Australia and encouraged the use of that name for the continent, which had previously been...
was the first to explore and chart the islands of the archipelago in 1802 as part of his voyage in the Investigator.
Maritime history
On the 14th February 1991 the Sanko Harvest a bulk carrier of 33,024 tons sank in the archipelago - and it became the second largest wreck that can be dived on in the world. The response to the pollution by wreck was reported upon soon after the wreckAustralia's only recorded pirate, Black Jack Anderson, frequented the archipelago in the 1830s. A former whaler he turned to piracy and wreaked havoc in the area until being murdered by his crew.
Flinders lost two important anchors when leaving the area in 1802. In 1972 these were recovered and moved to the South Australian Maritime Museum.
Uses of the area now include recreational and commercial fishing, and shipping from the Port of Esperance. Commercial fishing is primarily for abalone
Abalone
Abalone , from aulón, are small to very large-sized edible sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Haliotidae and the genus Haliotis...
, southern rock lobsters, pilchards, and shark
Shark
Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
s, and fishing tourism is an established industry. The area is proposed for other applications of aquaculture
Aquaculture
Aquaculture, also known as aquafarming, is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants. Aquaculture involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions, and can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is the...
, including farming trials of Bluefin Tuna.
Geography
An island group at inland and coastal waters near the southwest coast of Australia. The western group is near Esperance, Western AustraliaEsperance, Western Australia
Esperance is a large town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, located on the Southern Ocean coastline approximately east-southeast of the state capital, Perth. The shire of Esperance is home to 9,536 people as of the 2006 census, its major industries are tourism, agriculture,...
and an eastern group at Israelite Bay. These form an Archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
of 105 features classed as islands, and more than 1500 islets. The islands of the archipelago have a combined area of 97.2 square kilometres (24,019 acre).
The islands are generally composed of granite outcrops; these have steep slopes and often lack beaches. A large number of features are submerged, some becoming exposed by tides.
Groups
The islands are usually considered as being either in the western group (near Esperance and Woody Island and Cape Le Grand National Park) or in the eastern group (Middle Island being the most prominent) - near Cape Arid National Park Some surveys of the archipelago go further than the eastern and western distinction and consider groupings around named islandsPart of the area is included in the bioregion described as Esperance 2 (ESP2), the 'Recherche subregion', which contains Cape Le Grand National Park
Cape Le Grand National Park
Cape Le Grand National Park is a national park in Western Australia, south-east of Perth and east of Esperance. The park covers an area of The area is an ancient landscape has above sea level for well over 200 million years and remained unglaciated...
at its western end, and the Cape Arid National Park
Cape Arid National Park
Cape Arid National Park is a national park in Western Australia , south east of Perth. The park is situated east of Esperance and lies on shore from the eastern end of the Recherche Archipelago...
at the eastern end. This area is named the Recherche Archipelago Nature Reserve.
Notable islands
- Ben Island has had scientific research conducted
- Middle Island has had historical activity. It is the largest island in the archipelago at 10.8 square kilometres (2,669 acre) and was named by Matthew Flinders in 1802. Flinders climbed the 185 metres (607 ft) peak (called Flinders Peak) on Middle Island to survey the surrounding islands. The island also contains a pink lake, Lake HillierLake HillierLake Hillier, is a lake on Middle Island, the largest of the islands and islets that make up the Recherche Archipelago, Western Australia. It is the most prominent lacustrine feature on any island of the archipelago and air passengers often take note of it....
, that John Thistle collected some salt samples from. The Pirate, Black Jack Anderson, based himself on this island to launch raids on vessels making their way between Adelaide and AlbanyAlbany, Western AustraliaAlbany is a port city in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, some 418 km SE of Perth, the state capital. As of 2009, Albany's population was estimated at 33,600, making it the 6th-largest city in the state....
34°5′58.08"S 123°11′23.86"E - Woody Island (Western Australia)Woody Island (Western Australia)Woody Island is located from the town of Esperance. The island is part of the Archipelago of the Recherche and is listed as a nature reserve. Woody Island is the only island of the archipelago that is open to visitors, it is accessible by daily island cruises and has accommodation available. The...
is the only island with public access and usage within the reserve. - Anvil Island a haul-out site for the Australian Sea LionAustralian Sea LionThe Australian Sea Lion , also known as the Australian Sea-lion or Australian Sealion, is a species of sea lion that breeds only on the south and west coasts of Australia...
33°44′7.49"S 124°5′52.03"E - Barrier Island a haul-out site for the Australian Sea Lion. 33°58′42.34"S 123°8′21.95"E
- Forrest Island 33°54′59.00"S 122°42′38.59"E
- Taylor Island a breeding site for the Australian Sea Lion. 33°55′15.49"S 122°52′21.59"E
- Cooper Island a breeding site for the Australian Sea Lion and the New Zealand Fur SealNew Zealand Fur SealThe Australian fur seal , or New Zealand fur seal or southern fur seal, is a species of fur seal found around the south coast of Australia, the coast of the South Island of New Zealand, and some of the small islands to the south and east of there...
. 34°13′55.28"S 123°36′22.21"E - Mondrain Island This 8.1 square kilometres (2,002 acre) island supports a population of Recherche Rock-wallabys. The highest point of this island is Baudin Peak with a height of 222 metres (728 ft) 34°8′7.10"S 122°14′45.35"E
- Observatory Island Captain Bruni d’Entrecasteaux and Captain Huon de Kermandec sheltered on the lee side of this island in 1792 during a wild storm. While their ships, Le Recherche and L’Esperance , were at anchor Captain d'Entrecasteaux decided to name the bay after the first ship to enter it – L’Esperance.. 33°55′20.02"S 121°47′37.03"E
- Salisbury Island This 3.2 square kilometres (791 acre) island is a breeding ground for the Australian Fur Seal and the New Zealand Fur Seal. This island also supports a population of Black-flanked Rock-wallabyBlack-flanked Rock-wallabyThe Black-flanked Rock-wallaby , also known as the Black-footed Rock-wallaby or Warru, is a kind of wallaby, one of several rock-wallabies in the genus Petrogale.-Description:...
s.. 34°21′32.49"S 123°33′13.10"E - Westall Island This 70 hectares (173 acre) island supports a population of Recherche Rock-wallabys. 34°4′44.01"S 122°58′3.18"E
- Wilson Island This 90 hectares (222 acre) island supports a population of the Recherche Rock-wallabys.. 34°6′52.50"S 121°59′49.63"E
Flora and fauna
Larger islands have a substrateSubstrate (biology)
In biology a substrate is the surface a plant or animal lives upon and grows on. A substrate can include biotic or abiotic materials and animals. For example, encrusting algae that lives on a rock can be substrate for another animal that lives on top of the algae. See also substrate .-External...
that supports vegetation, nesting birds, and other animals. A complex marine environment is found in the surrounding waters, the benthic habitat is various densities of seagrass meadows, reefs, or bare sand.
Marine
The waters around the islands meet often steep faces of granite, the extensive reefs and other features form habitat which supports a rich diversity of marine life. This includes over 450 types of sponge, sea grasses, and soft corals. A coral-like algae species, rhodolithRhodolith
Rhodoliths are colorful, unattached, branching, crustose benthic marine red algae that resemble coral. Rhodolith beds create biogenic habitat for diverse benthic communities...
s, form beds which support marine species of spiders, snails, and worms, also acting as a creche for scallop
Scallop
A scallop is a marine bivalve mollusk of the family Pectinidae. Scallops are a cosmopolitan family, found in all of the world's oceans. Many scallops are highly prized as a food source...
s. Marine mammals associated with the islands include two species of seal
Pinniped
Pinnipeds or fin-footed mammals are a widely distributed and diverse group of semiaquatic marine mammals comprising the families Odobenidae , Otariidae , and Phocidae .-Overview: Pinnipeds are typically sleek-bodied and barrel-shaped...
, large groups of common dolphin
Common dolphin
The common dolphin is the name given to two species of dolphin making up the genus Delphinus.Prior to the mid-1990s, most taxonomists only recognised one species in this genus, the common dolphin Delphinus delphis...
s (Delphinus delphis), and Minke whale
Minke Whale
Minke whale , or lesser rorqual, is a name given to two species of marine mammal belonging to a clade within the suborder of baleen whales. The minke whale was given its official designation by Lacepède in 1804, who described a dwarf form of Balænoptera acuto-rostrata...
s (Balaenoptera acutorostrata).
Seagrasses found at the island include: Amphibolis antarctica
Amphibolis antarctica
Amphibolis antarctica, commonly known as Wire weed or Sea Nymph, is a seagrass found in coastal waters of southern and western Australia.-Description:...
, Amphibolis griffithii
Amphibolis griffithii
Amphibolis griffithii is a seagrass found in waters along the southwestern coasts of Western Australia. -Description:A common marine herb, the rhizomatous plant forms meadows which stabilise sands; the intertwining roots and leaves protects the substrate from ocean currents...
, Halophila decipiens, Halophila ovalis
Halophila ovalis
Halophila ovalis is a seagrass in the family Hydrocharitaceae, a common name is paddle weed. It is a small herbaceous plant that occurs in sea beds and other saltwater environments....
, Posidonia angustifolia, Posidonia australis
Posidonia australis
Posidonia australis is a species of seagrass that occurs in the southern waters of Australia. It is sometimes referred to as Fibreball Weed. The marine plant forms large meadows that are considered to be of high importance to the environmental conservation of the region...
, Posidonia coriacea
Posidonia coriacea
Posidonia coriacea is a species of seagrass that occurs in the southern waters of Australia.-Description:A species of Posidonia. A perennial rhizomatous herb that appears as stands in marine habitat. This species is found at depths from 1 to 30 metres on white sands, in areas subject to intense...
, Posidonia denhartogii, Posidonia kirkmani, Posidonia ostenfeldii
Posidonia ostenfeldii
Posidonia ostenfeldii is a species of seagrass that occurs in the southern waters of Australia.-Description:A species of Posidonia. A perennial rhizomatous herb that appears as clumps on sand in marine habitat. It is found at depths between 1 and 15 metres. The leaf blades are 6-12 mm...
, Posidonia sinuosa, Syringodium isoetifolium, and Thalassodendron pachyrhizum.
Terrestrial
The islands support populations of terrestrial flora and fauna, some of which are unique to the archipelago.New Zealand Fur Seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) and Australian Sea-lion (Neophoca cinerea) breeding colonies are found on some islands. Marsupials include Tammars (Macropus eugenii derbianus), a species of Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus), two subspecies of Rock Wallabies (Petrogale lateralis lateralis and Petrogale lateralis hacketti). Snakes include the Recherche Island Dugite (Pseudonaja affinis tanneri) on Cull Island, and the python Morelia spilota imbricata
Morelia spilota imbricata
Morelia spilota imbricata is a large snake found in southern regions of Western Australia and western South Australia. A member of the python family, it is commonly known as the Southern Carpet Python.-Description:...
. Other reptiles include the Barking gecko (Underwoodisaurus milii
Underwoodisaurus milii
Underwoodisaurus milii is a species of Gekkonidae also classified as Nephrurus milii. It is commonly known as the thick-tailed or barking gecko. These names come from its distinctive plump tail and sharp, barking defensive call....
), Ornate Dragon (Ctenophorus ornatus
Ctenophorus ornatus
The Ornate Crevice-dragon is a species of lizard in the Agamidae family. It is found on granite outcrops of Western Australia....
), and the Southern Heath Monitor (Varanus rosenbergi). Two species of frog are also found on the islands; the Quacking Frog Crinia georgiana and Spotted-thighed Frog Litoria cyclorhyncha
Litoria cyclorhyncha
Litoria cyclorhyncha is a Western Australian tree frog species in the Hylidae family.The frog is similar in appearance to a cogenor, Litoria moorei, bearing dark green or brownish patches with bronze or gold highlights on its back; this species can be differentiated by the numerous yellowish spots...
.:
Many of the animals and plants are in refugia
Refugia
In biology a refugium , sometimes termed simply a refuge, is a location of an isolated or relict population of a once more widespread species. This isolation can be due to climatic changes, geography, or human activities such as deforestation and over-hunting...
, where they are remote from factors that threaten mainland populations.
Birds
The archipelago has been identified by BirdLife InternationalBirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
as an Important Bird Area
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
(IBA) because it is the only breeding site for the western subspecies of Cape Barren Goose known as the Recherche Cape Barren Goose
Cereopsis novaehollandiae grisea
The Recherche Cape Barren Goose , also known as the Cape Barren Goose , is large grazing bird found along the southern coast of Western Australia. It is a subspecies of the Cape Barren Goose, the other subspecies of which inhabits islands and coastal regions of Bass Strait in south-eastern Australia...
. It also supports over 1% of the world populations of Flesh-footed Shearwater
Flesh-footed Shearwater
The Flesh-footed Shearwater, Puffinus carneipes, is a small shearwater. Its plumage is black. It has pale pinkish feet, and a pale bill with a black tip. Together with the equally light-billed Pink-footed Shearwater, it forms the Hemipuffinus group, a superspecies which may or may not have an...
s, Sooty Oystercatcher
Sooty Oystercatcher
The Sooty Oystercatcher, Haematopus fuliginosus, is a species of oystercatcher. It is a wading bird native to Australia and commonly found on its coastline. It prefers rocky coastlines, but will occasionally live in estuaries....
s, Fairy Tern
Fairy Tern
The Fairy Tern is a small tern which occurs in the southwestern Pacific.There are three subspecies:* Australian Fairy Tern, Sterna nereis nereis - breeds in Australia...
s and, probably, White-faced Storm-Petrel
White-faced Storm-petrel
The White-faced Storm Petrel , also known as White-faced Petrel is a small seabird of the storm-petrel family. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Pelagodroma....
s. Rock Parrot
Rock Parrot
The Rock Parrot , also known as the Rock Elegant, is a parrot which is endemic to coastal South Australia, southern Western Australia, and that continent's offshore islands, including Rottnest Island. It is a small, predominantly olive-green parrot...
s and Red-eared Firetail
Red-eared Firetail
The Red-eared Firetail is a species of estrildid finch found in the forests and coastal thickets of south-western Australia. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 20,000 - 50,000 km². The status of the species is evaluated as Least Concern.-References:...
s have also been recorded.
Further reading
- Australian Geographical Society (1952–1954). Expedition to the Archipelago of the Recherche, Western Australia. Australian Geographical Society reports. no.1 (7 reports in 4 volumes)
- pt. 1a. General history by J.M. Bechervaise—pt. 1b. Physiography by R.W. Fairbridge and V.N. Serventy—pt. 2. Birds by V.N. Serventy—pt. 3. Plants, 3a. Land flora by J.H. Willis, 3b. Marine algae by H.B.S. Womersley—pt. 4. Mammals by V. N. Serventy—pt. 5. Reptiles and frogs by L. Glauert—pt. 6. Spiders and opiliones by Barbara York Main—pt. 7. Molluscs (sea shells and snails) by J. Hope Macpherson.
- Kendrick, G. (et al.) (2005) Characterising the fish habitats of the Recherche Archipelago Crawley, W.A. University of Western Australia. Fisheries Research and Development Corporation. ISBN 1740521226 "Fisheries Research and Development Corporation report, project no. 2001/060."
- Thomson-Dans, Carolyn, Kendrick, Gary and Bancroft, Kevin (2003) Researching the Recherche.Landscope (Como, W.A), Winter 2003, p. 6-8,
Early cartography
- Beautemps-Beaupré, C. F.Charles-François Beautemps-BeaupréCharles-François Beautemps-Beaupré was a French hydrographer, hydrographic engineer and cartographer. He was a member of the Académie des sciences and the Bureau des Longitudes and is held to be the father of modern French hydrography...
(1807) Carte de l'archipel de la Recherche, situé à la partie occidentale de la terre de Nuyts, reconnu par le contre amiral Bruny-Dentrecasteaux, en décembre 1792 (an 1er de l'ere Française) Paris : Dépôt général des cartes et plans de la marine et des colonies], Battye Library Map Stack B/23/17 Scale [ca. 1:436,000] (Map of Recherche Archipelago showing track of Recherche and Espérance in December 1792). (Battye copy reduced to approximately 1:812 000 and 25 x 38.4 cm)