Weedy Seadragon in Port Phillip Bay © Jarrod Boord

Meet the Creatures in Port Phillip Bay

Take a look at some of Melbourne’s spectacular marine life

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If you look across Victoria’s Port Phillip Bay, it’s hard to imagine the metropolis of marine life living below the surface. There are sponge gardens that explode in a kaleidoscope of colours and towering kelp forests where rocky reefs provide refuge for some weird and wonderful species.

Our work to restore the Bay’s shellfish reefs is helping to provide future habitat and support biodiversity in the Bay.

Weedy Seadragons

This spectacular fish, a close relative of the seahorse, is Victoria’s official marine emblem. With a body wrapped in rings and decorated with elaborate seaweed-like accessories, it’s a master of camouflage.

They live in sheltered reefs and seagrass beds in shallow bays. Even if you’re not a diver or snorkeler you can still spot them around piers and jetties.

**Weedy Seadragon** in Port Phillip Bay © Jarrod Boord

Nudibranch

Nudibranchs are a group of soft-bodied, marine gastropod molluscs, not to be confused with sea slugs. There are more than 3,000 species and they all look different. Many are extraordinarily coloured with striking forms, while others are more subdued, preferring to blend in with their surroundings.

Western Blue Groper

Blue gropers are known as the friendliest fish in the sea because of their inquisitive and a mellow nature. They all start life as females and only a few dominant individuals eventually transform into males. Slow growing, they reach a metre or so in length and can live for up to 70 years.

Bottlenose Dolphin

Port Phillip Bay is home to a resident population of Bottlenose Dolphins, sometimes referred to as Burrunan Dolphins, that rarely mix with dolphins from outside the Bay.