Summary
Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) are an external Territory of Australia, located approximately 4000 kilometres southwest of Australia in the southern Indian Ocean. One of the world's largest highly protected IUCN category 1A marine reserves the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve was established by Australia in the waters surrounding HIMI in 2002. The reserve recognised the significant conservation values that exist in the sub-Antarctic region, including large numbers of penguins, seals and flying seabirds that forage and breed in the area, and the diverse marine communities that live on the submarine plateau and banks near the islands. This report summarises currently available scientific knowledge on the status of conservation values in the marine environment around HIMI, and the threats posed by climate change, pollution, fishing and invasive species. It concludes that the Marine Reserve includes important representation of many of the conservation values identified. However, recent data and analyses indicate that management of areas that support deep sea fish assemblages – including skates, high diversity benthic invertebrate assemblages, such as endemic sea spiders, unique seamounts, and foraging areas for albatross and macaroni penguins – should be further evaluated to ensure they provide adequate protection.