One of the largest research programs ever undertaken of Cockburn Sound is underway with the Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI) and Westport releasing the Science Program for its three-year partnership. The $13.5million investment in understanding the Cockburn Sound environment will drive a sustainable design, ensure a robust environmental impact assessment process, and improve long-term […]
A community of snubfin dolphins has taken up residency in Roebuck Bay, according to a new study investigating the species’ use of the area. The study, led by Edith Cowan University, confirms the presence of the resident dolphin community in Yawuru Nagulagun (Roebuck Bay) in the northwest of Western Australia and provides the first insights […]
New research merging modern marine science with Traditional ecological knowledge has uncovered key nesting sites for turtles in Western Australia. Western Australia’s remote Kimberley coastline spans multiple Traditional Owner estates and the findings will contribute towards future co-management plans to conserve turtle populations in the northwest, including continued monitoring for marine turtles. Led by a […]
New research has revealed two out of three recreational fishers perceive climate change to be real and have noticed changes in the types and distributions of fish species over time as they regularly venture out in marine waters. A team of researchers assessed fisher demographics and fishing behaviour in a boat-based recreational fishery in Western […]
Cockburn Sound Science Program Manager Dr Alan Kendrick is leading the research study to fill knowledge gaps, investigate potential impacts and improve understanding of Cockburn Sound’s ecosystem. Involvement in large, science-based marine environmental programs has always piqued Alan’s career interests. In his previous role he oversaw marine conservation science at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation […]
Coastal development is expanding rapidly across the state and it is estimated there are now more than 7,400 man-made marine structures, ranging from oil and gas infrastructure to shipwrecks and artificial reefs, in Western Australia. In coming years, there will be increasing proposals to build new infrastructure in WA’s marine environment and regulatory approval will […]
Climate change, not economic development, is the biggest threat to the Kimberley region, putting resident species such as reef fish at risk according to long-term environmental modelling. A team of researchers from CSIRO carried out complex modelling across a network of Kimberley marine parks to explore the future impacts of climate change and human development […]
Proponents of future infrastructure projects involving large-scale dredging will be encouraged to comply with new scientific guidelines in order to carry out their activities. The Environmental Protection Authority’s Technical Guidance for the Environmental Impact Assessment of Marine Dredging Proposals has been revised and updated to include key scientific findings from WAMSI’s Dredging Science Node (DSN). […]