Subtidal reefs and emergent rocks and islands are found throughout the Cape Byron Marine Park. The major subtidal reefs and emergent rocks and islands are the Cocked Hat Rocks (inshore emergent rocks and islands), Julian Rocks (offshore emergent rocks and islands), Middle Reef and Wilsons Reef (inshore shallow reefs), Mackerel Boulder- Spot X and Cape Pinnacle (offshore shallow reef) and the Deep Reef within the marine park. Sandy beach habitats are made up of intertidal beach and surf zones. The beaches within the Cape Byron Marine Park include: Tyagarah Beach, Belongil Beach, Main Beach, Clarks Beach, Tallow Beach, Seven Mile Beach, Wategos, Little Wategos, Kings, Brays and Whites Beaches. Subtidal soft substrate of the Cape Byron Marine Park consist of muddy, sandy and gravelly seafloors. Open oceans play an important role in the local marine environment due to the impact of ocean currents, temperatures and productivity which influences food source availability and habitat. Flora The Cape Byron Marine Park is home to several species of flora which play a significant role in the local ecosystems by being a source of food, habitat, breeding grounds for the local marine animals and bird life. The flora also plays a role in improving water quality and the filtering of sediments which create a more hospital and liveable environment for the local marine life. The significant species within the Cape Byron Marine Park include mangroves, seagrasses, kelp, saltmarshes and algae. The mangroves found in the Cape Byron include the grey mangrove (Avicennia marina), river mangrove (Aegiceras corniculatum), the orange mangrove (Bruguiera gymnorhiza) and the milky mangrove (Excoecaria agallocha). The seagrass found in the estuaries, Zostera capricorni, is an important habitat for many fish and crustaceans including dugongs and green turtles. They play a crucial role the nutrient and carbon cycle as well as trap sediment and filter coastal water. These process are vital to the local ecosystem. The tropical seagrass Halodule uninervis is also found in the marine park particularly around the "moat". Kelp is a form of subtidal microalgae that forms on the surface of mid water in temperate regions. Kelp plays its part as a form of habitat and is inhabited by a diverse range of marine animals and sea weeds. Kelp is a form of protect and foods source of many local animals and its existent is reliant on the existence of predators which ensure the impact of degradation based on