Marine Life of the Kimberley Region

The first phase of the three year The Marine Life of the Kimberley Project is now drawing to a close with the next phase about to begin.

This new phase will run from 2011 to 2015 with four marine biological surveys undertaken during 2011 to 2014. The project will explore the marine biodiversity of the inshore Kimberley and the associated continental shelf out to the shelf edge coral atolls.

The information derived from this project will have significant relevance for planning a sustainable future for the Kimberley region.

: Marine research expedition; Photograph by Clay Bryce; Copyright Western Australian Museum

The Kimberley Region

The Kimberley coast stretches from Broome to the Western Australian – Northern Territory border, covering about 15,000 kilometres. It is a rugged and remote place with high cultural and heritage values and a wealth of marine life ruled by huge 10 metre tides.

The marine life of the inshore Kimberley is not well known. Most of what is known is held within the collections of the Western Australian Museum and other Australian museums and research agencies. Future marine survey work during 2011 to 2014 will help to alleviate this knowledge gap.

The coastline boasts fiord-like cliffs and white sandy beaches festooned with rocky shores and mangrove forests. Offshore there are some 2,500 islands fringed with seagrass meadows, coral reefs, tidally–drained mud flats and rich sponge gardens. The habitats are diverse and the biodiversity rich. Massive humpback whales, nesting turtles, myriad invertebrate life and fish all abound in the warm Kimberley waters.

However, while public and industrial interest in this frontier region grows, the biodiversity remains largely unknown.

: Octopus cyanea; Photograph by Clay Bryce; Copyright Western Australian Museum

The Atolls of Western Australia’s Continental Shelf

Due west of Broome, the gateway to the Kimberley, on about 17°40' South latitude, near the southern edge of the Rowley Shoals, and extending northwards, the continental slope periodically and dramatically rises steeply to the surface, forming a chain of atolls. These ‘oases of life’ represent a unique habitat for Western Australia.

In 1983 the Western Australian Museum conducted a marine biodiversity survey of the continental-edge atolls at Rowley Shoals, Scott and Seringapatam reefs. The findings were published as a Supplement to the Western Australian Museum Records in 1986.

Twenty years later, in 2006, through generous support from Woodside Energy, the Museum was able to revisit the area. As with the earlier 1983 survey, this new undertaking investigated the biodiversity of the reefs. The results represent a significant contribution to our knowledge of this remote oceanic region (see Publications).

: Underwater scene; Photograph by Clay Bryce; Copyright Western Australian Museum

About the Project

The Marine Life of Kimberley project (phase 1: 2008 to 2011) combined inshore Kimberley and offshore atoll marine collection data, marine survey report information and data from fieldwork undertaken in 2009 and 2010. These combined data sets were then analysed to examine various environmental, biogeographical and taxonomic aspects of the Kimberley region. The results of this work are planned for publication in 2012.

Phase 2 (2011 – 2015) will increase the resolution of the marine biodiversity data undertaken during phase 1 by examining the marine fauna and flora at selected sites along the whole Kimberley coast, out onto the mid-continental shelf.

All project marine surveys (2009 -2014) will target the region’s worms, molluscs, crustaceans, fish, corals, soft corals and echinoderms, as well as marine algae and seagrasses. For Phase 2 (2011-2014) we will also be measuring water quality. Follow our exploits and discoveries on video in the Live Action section of this website.

The Marine Life of the Kimberley Project will provide a wealth of information, contributing toward informed decision making, sustainable development, formulation of business and conservation policies, the provision of educational input and assessment of national and world heritage values.

: Intertidal research party; Photograph by Clay Bryce; Copyright Western Australian Museum

The Team

The Western Australian Museum and Woodside Energy have once again joined forces. Our first award-winning partnership (1998–2006) explored the marine biodiversity of the Dampier Archipelago in North Western Australia.

For the first phase (2008 – 2011) the Western Australian Museum, in conjunction with the Australian Museum, the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, the Queensland Museum and Museum Victoria analysed the known marine fauna from their considerable databases and associated scientific literature. The marine flora were included in collaboration with the Western Australian Herbarium (Department of Environment and Conservation).

During 2009 and 2010 the above agencies undertook two marine biodiversity surveys (see Live Action, Researcher’s Diaries and Station Diaries on this website). The data from these surveys, when combined with the above datasets, will greatly increase our understanding of the marine life of this amazing region.

Awards

Western Australia 2011 Premier's Awards

The Western Australian Museum’s Exploring the Marine Biodiversity of Northern WA project was announced as the winner of the 2011 Premier’s Award for Excellence in Public Sector Management. The project was also selected as the winner in the Managing Environment category.

2011 Museums Australia Awards

The Marine Life of the Kimberley Region won the award for best large institution website at the Museums Australia Multimedia and Publications Design Awards in 2011.

2011 Australian Web Awards

The Western Australian Museum’s Marine Life of the Kimberley Region website was a finalist in the Western division of 2011 Australian Web Awards in the category of innovation.