Dampier
Archipelago reef
Western
Australia's marine environment is among the most pristine and
biologically diverse on the planet. Ningaloo Reef, for example, is one
of the largest fringing coral reefs in the world, and Shark Bay is one
of the few areas, globally, that meets all four natural criteria for
World heritage listing.
The Marine Science Program in DEC provides a strong scientific
foundation for the management of Western Australia's world-class system
of marine protected areas (MPAs) and for the conservation of the
State's unique marine biodiversity.
What we do
- Research that increases understanding of marine ecosystems and human use of Western Australia's marine environment
- Research to support the management of Western Australia's system of marine protected areas (MPAs)
- Monitor the health of coral reefs, mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and threatened species (eg turtles, dugongs and whales)
- Communicate
our findings to the public, and other interested parties, to positively
influence attitudes and behaviour towards our marine environment
- Download Program Overview Brochure (PDF 527 KB)
Key activities and projects
- A review of historical, current and planned marine conservation research and monitoring programs in Western Australia
- Further monitoring of the coral-eating marine snail (Drupella cornus) in Ningaloo Marine Park
- Coral reef recovery studies in Ningaloo Marine Park and Barrow Island Marine Management Area
- Comparative marine biodiversity surveys of the Rowley Shoals Marine Park
- Marine
biodiversity mapping and monitoring studies in the Montebello/Barrow
islands marine conservation reserves, Jurien Bay Marine Park and the
metropolitan marine parks
- Developing marine science plans
for the proposed marine conservation reserves in the Dampier
Archipelago/Cape Preston area, the Southwest Capes region and the
Walpole/Nornalup Inlets
- Support of relevant postgraduate student research projects with Marine Science Program seed-funding
Marine Science Strategy
In July 2006, a workshop was held with staff from the Marine Science
Program, Regional Services and relevant specialist branches to discuss
and agree on a general approach to developing a marine science capacity
in DEC. A Marine Science Strategy has been developed to provide a broad
blueprint for the development and implementation of such a capability
over the next five years.
 Click here to download the Marine Science Strategy (PDF 664.54 Kb)
Research information sheets
Our researchers and their areas of expertise
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