Marine WATERs (Western Australian Teacher Education Resources)

The Department of Fisheries and Woodside have formed a joint initiative to advance marine education throughout schools in Western Australia.

Marine WATERs (Western Australian Teacher Education  Resources) is an interactive and fully integrated online resource that connects educators and students with specific material to assist in the study of our unique marine ecosystems and the challenges facing the sustainability of our aquatic resources.  This curriculum-based education resource includes lessons plans, interactive and extension activities, student worksheets, fact sheets and information on current and emerging issues in the marine world.  There are five themed modules – ‘processes’, ‘marine biology’, ‘habitats’, ‘humans’ and ‘management’.  With up to date marine education, this program will help students understand and value the diversity, complexity and beauty of the WA marine environment. 

Check out the Sneak Peak area or register to unlock the full features and resources of this wonderful and educational website.  http://marinewaters.fish.wa.gov.au/

A new species of stingray (pictured, photograph courtesy of Jeremy Vaudo) has been discovered by scientists at Ningaloo Marine Park.

The discovery was made during a series of dive surveys conducted as part of a Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI) project led by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) working with scientists from CSIRO.

It was one of 15 collaborative research projects now in full swing across Ningaloo Marine Park involving more than 60 scientists from seven State and Federal agencies and universities.

CSIRO scientist Will White said the discovery of the ray (Neotrygon sp.) highlighted that there was still much to learn about the sharks and rays that inhabited the Ningaloo coast.

“While this species appears to occur further south in Shark Bay and possibly also off the Northern Territory, the very specific habitat occupied by this ray means that careful monitoring and management is required,” Dr White said.

“These magnificent creatures are part of the maskray family and the five that we sighted during the lagoon surveys had an average wingspan between 20cm and 40cm, so they were a lot smaller than manta rays.”

DEC marine scientist Kelly Waples said the dive surveys had documented 40 species of wharks and rays, although it was estimated that as many as 118 species of sharks and rays lived in the marine park.

“Initial results from these surveys indicate that the marine park’s shark and ray populations are healthy and benefiting from zoning designed to protect representative populations,” she said.

“Satellite tags have also been used to track large predatory tiger and hammerhead shaks to find out whether they are residents or visitors to the marine park.”

Research at Ningaloo Marine Park is adding to the scientific knowledge now being gathered by by broader marine monitoring program along the entire WA coast.

“This example of research shows how crucial science is to understanding our marine areas, which helps governments and communities make decisions about their management,” WAMSI Chief Executive Officer, Dr Steve Blake, said.

Western Australia’s Environment Minister Donna Faragher and Federal Minister Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, released media statements on the discovery today. These are attached below.

Information for this article was supplied courtesy of DEC.

With the departure of Dr Steve Blake in October 2012, WAMSI had been searching for a suitable replacement for a number of months. WAMSI is delighted to announce that  Mr Patrick Seares has joined WAMSI as CEO from  the 2nd April 2013.  Patrick moved to WAMSI from the role of Director Water Assessment and Allocation at the Department of Water. There he oversaw the majority of the department’s hydrological and related environmental sciences. He was also responsible for overseeing this works translation into statutory allocation planning, and policy advice to government.

 

 

Ms Naomi Brown has taken up the role of WAMSI chairman after the departure of Dr Peter Rogers in March 2013. Naomi previously held the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC). During that period she was a Director of the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) and the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC).  She was also a Director of Mackillop Family Services in Victoria and served as the chair of the Risk and Audit Committee for that organization. We are delighted to welcome Naomi to WAMSI.