Innovation and technology in marine science: AIMS' North West Shoals to Shore Research Program – an update

Abstract

In 2017, the Australian Institute of Marine Science and its partners commenced the North West Shoals to Shore Research Program. The program is designed to address significant scientific and environmental knowledge gaps pertinent to the management of the offshore petroleum industry, a key stakeholder in this ecologically and commercially important region of Australia. The program comprises four themes. 1. Marine noise monitoring and impacts: includes two seismic source (2600 cubic inch air-gun array) exposure experiments have been conducted to investigate selected responses by demersal fishes and pearl oysters across different spatial and temporal scales. 2. Seabed habitats and demersal biodiversity: seeks to understand the physical and biological characteristics of the ancient coastline key ecological feature around the 125 m depth contour and pearl oyster habitats offshore from Eighty Mile Beach. The work examines the ecological processes that maintain benthic communities on both ancient and contemporary coastlines 3. Protected and iconic species movement, distribution and threats: uses innovative sampling techniques to confirm biologically important areas for pygmy blue whales, hawksbill and green turtles. This will assist the quantification and mitigation of the risks vessel movements, industrial infrastructure and activities pose to marine megafauna on the Northwest Shelf. 4. Spatial dynamics of isolated coral reef atolls: develops a habitat model and adaptive monitoring program that informs the future condition of these remote coral reef atolls. Significant progress has been made by the program in 2018, including the development of innovative and technical approaches to sampling.