WAMSI Westport Marine Science Program

About the Program

WAMSI has partnered with Westport to undertake a major marine science program focused on Cockburn Sound.

The WAMSI Westport Marine Science Program was designed to ensure the environmental impact assessment for Western Australia’s future container port is informed by rigorous, independent science, and to assist and improve the management of Cockburn Sound now and into the future.

Marine scientists from WAMSI’s partner organisations are delivering over 30 research projects in the fields of physical, biological and social science to increase knowledge of this most important and unique Western Australian coastal ecosystem. More than 150 scientists are working on the science program and scientific reports from the program are available on the WAMSI website.

For more information about Westport visit: www.westport.wa.gov.au

Program Management

Name: Dr Alan Kendrick
Project Role: Program Leader
Contact: Alan.kendrick@wamsi.org.au

Fact Sheets

Research Themes Fact Sheet

Westport Literature Review and Preliminary Risk Assessment

WAMSI reviewed numerous comprehensive studies and reviews of Cockburn Sound for Westport in the 2018 Westport Literature review and preliminary risk assessment, which has been used to identify gaps and risks and inform the Science Plan.

WAMSI Westport Marine Science Plan

The Science Plan was developed in consultation with the Westport Program, WAMSI partners and expert scientists and includes a description of the program scope, marine science research themes and individual projects. A final Science Plan will be released at the conclusion of the Program.

Research Reports

Ecosystem Modelling and Integration

Lozano-Montes H, Loneragan N, Fourie S, Wise B (2023) Using conceptual, qualitative and quantitative ecosystem models to characterise the trophic structure, ecosystem attributes and functioning of Cockburn Sound

Benthic Habitats and Communities

Kendrick G, Austin R, Ferretto G, van Keulen M, Verduin J (2023) Review of past seagrass restoration projects and guidelines for restoration in Cockburn Sound

Said N, Webster C, Dunham N, Strydom S, McMahon K (2024) Current state of knowledge for dredging and climate change impacts on seagrass ecosystems to inform environmental impact assessment and management

Webster, C, Said, N, Dunham, T, Bywater, A, Strydom, S, McMahon, K (2024) Resilience of seagrass Posidonia sinuosa is negatively affected by high levels of burial of dredged material

Said, N, Webster, C, Dunham, N, Strydom, S, McMahon, K (2024) Seagrass thermal tolerance varies between species and within species across locations

Webster, C, McMahon, K, Ross, C, Afrifa-Yamoah, E, Said, N, Hovey, R, Martin, B, Strydom, S (2024) Two decades of seagrass monitoring data show drivers include ENSO, climate warming and local stressors

Webster, C, Said, N, Dunham, N, Bywater, A, Jung, M, Billinghurst, J, Strydom, S, McMahon, K. (2024) Posidonia sinuosa tolerates the cumulative effects of a short term heatwave and low light event

Whale, J, Dunham, N, Bywater, A, Field, D, Sinclair, E, Strydom, S, McMahon, K (2024) Thermal priming of dehisced Posidonia seed does not increase thermal tolerance in establishing seedlings

McMahon, K, Said, N, Webster, C, Williams, H, Strydom, S (2025) Appendix A: Ephemeral seagrass meadow assessment to improve understanding of resilience of ephemeral seagrasses on Kwinana Shelf for Environmental Impact Assessment and Management

Whale, J, Webster, C, Said, N, Frouws, A, Field, D, Sinclair, E, McMahon, K (2024) Population genomics in Posidonia sinuosa

Said, N, Webster, C, McMahon, K., Dunham, T, Phelps, C, Frouws, A., Robinson, J., Kilminster, K., Strydom, S. (2025) Seagrass buried in the dark: reduced light and moderate levels of burial have additive and lethal impacts on Posidonia sinuosa

McMahon, K, Strydom, S, Dunham, N, Whale, J, Webster, C, Said, N (2025) Drivers of seagrass decline in Perth waters and actions to halt decline

Water and Sediment Quality

Bekele E, Donn M, Davis G, Rayner J, Furness A (2023) Review of surface water drains and likely mass fluxes to Cockburn Sound

Wilson C, Wienczugow K (2023) Baseline Sediment Quality Survey of Cockburn Sound and Owen Anchorage April 2023

Wilson, C, Wienczugow, K (2024) Water quality toxicant snapshot survey and diffusive gradient thin films September 2023

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

Harvey E, Schramm K, Saunders B, Wakefield C, Wenger A, Ackermann F, School of Management and Marketing, Newman S (2024) The effects of total suspended sediment associated with dredging on fishes: a review and management strategies

Wells F (2024) Marine invasive species literature review

Mitchell, P, Caputi, N, Chandrapavan, A, Johnston, D, Tate, A, Wellington, C, Loneragan, N (2024) Investigating effects of climate change on biota in Cockburn Sound

Fairclough, D, Beheregaray, L, Sandoval-Castillo, J, Vornicu, D., Tweedley, J, Cottingham, A, Fisher, E, Lek, E, Harrison, M (2025) Snapper connectivity and evaluation of juvenile stocking

Hydrodynamic Modelling

Pattiaratchi, C, Janekovic, I, Mahjabin, T (2024) Provision of multi-decadal ocean boundary conditions and field measurements

Pattiaratchi, C, Janekovic, I (2024) Hindcast surface gravity modelling

Pattiaratchi, C, (2025) Assessment of infragravity waves

Social Values

Hughes M, Kobryn H, Henningsen S, Burton M, Rogers A, Pauli N, Clifton J, Kim M (2024) Spatial mapping of non-fishing recreational activities and associated values in Cockburn Sound, Western Australia

Burton M , Paull N, Clifton J , Nejati Ajibisheh, M, Kim M, Rogers A (2024) Community values for environmental assets in Cockburn Sound

Burton M , Paull N, Clifton J , Nejati Ajibisheh, M, Kim M, Rogers A (2024) Community values for environmental assets in Cockburn Sound – Appendices

Noise

Wei C, Erbe C, Cannell B (2024) Hearing in little penguins

Wei C, Erbe C (2024) Hearing in Australian sea lions

Parnum, I, Tollefsen, C, Duncan, A, Erbe, C (2025) Baseline soundscape, sound sources and transmission