A century of data sources on Western Australia’s sea life, including fish, invertebrates and their habitats, has been collated and made publicly available as part of an innovative project aimed at better forecasting and managing marine heatwaves. The data sources have been used to create a public digital dashboard within an online StoryMap site to […]
For marine scientist Dr Alicia Sutton, underwater fieldwork is full of awe-inspiring surprises. During one dive trip in Exmouth Gulf a sea snake suddenly appeared in front of her; slowly swimming between her head and the clipboard she was holding. “It was just curious and followed me slowly as I finished my survey,” Dr Sutton […]
Elevated sea temperatures that have caused fish kills and coral bleaching along Western Australia’s coast, have been detected as far deep as 300 metres in some areas. The Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI) is managing the ‘Advancing predictions of WA marine heatwaves and impacts on marine ecosystems’ project which aims to better predict and […]
Widespread coral bleaching at Ningaloo Reef off Western Australia’s coast has deeply alarmed scientists and conservationists. Photos captured by divers, published by The Guardian last week, show severe bleaching at several sites along the reef, which runs for 260 kilometres off the state’s northwest. A severe marine heatwave in the Indian Ocean off WA has caused […]
This article by Sina Pinter, Matt Rayson and Professor Nicole Jones from The University of Western Australia, was originally published in The Conversation on 29 January 2025. Tens of thousands of fish have died off northwestern Australia, as a large and long-lasting marine heatwave intensifies. The fish kill at Gnoorea Beach near Karratha is concerning our team […]
Smart buoys, deployed along Western Australia’s coast as part of a major marine heatwave project, have been used to gather crucial data that helped warn of the latest extreme ocean event in the state. A strong (Category 2) marine heatwave warning was issued this week by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) […]
An art exhibition, described by its creator as being like a snorkel through the vibrant nearshore waters of Perth’s beaches, has opened in Cottesloe. The exhibition is the culmination of the Living Ocean Festival which involved 750 people and comprised events including 35 workshops, community beach walks, biodiversity surveys and marine science talks. The festival […]
A robot that plants seagrass seeds directly into the seabed is being trialled in Cockburn Sound as part of a program to speed up the restoration of badly depleted underwater meadows. Seagrass, the ocean’s only flowering plant, is vital as a habitat for wildlife, for stabilising sediment and storing carbon. But pollution, marine heatwaves and […]
Cameras set up in large tanks are capturing what impact varying levels of fine limestone sediment in the water has on the feeding habits of squid, as part of a project for the WAMSI Westport Marine Science Program. The project, which started recently, is led by Dr Ben Saunders, a Senior Lecturer in the School […]
Underwater soundscapes are as varied as landscapes, according to acoustics researcher Dr Iain Parnum. Dr Parnum gave a presentation for the Western Australian Marine Science Institution’s Thinking Blue school outreach program about marine soundscapes, which are a growing area of research interest. Dr Parnum is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Marine Science […]