AbstractCommunity descriptions and distributions of the dominant subtidal macroalgae were recorded for the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, Tasmania. These were related to the major environmental parameters of light, water movement, substrate and depth.Six communities were recognized subjectively:(1) Durvillaea, (2) Phyllospora, (3) Macrocystis, (4) Ecklonia, (5) Fucoid and (6) Seagrass‐Cauterpa.These divisions were supported by cluster analysis of data from Tinderbox, a site at the northern end of the Channel.Detrended correspondence analysis of community data suggested that light was the principal factor (Axis 1), followed by water movement, in determining species distributions at Tinderbox.The algal communities determined are consistent with the generalized scheme proposed by Edgar (1984) for this area and are indicative of cold temperate waters and the Maugean subprovinc