The Western Australian Museum has concluded its sixth and final expedition of an award-winning research project into the Kimberley’s unique marine life.

Aquatic Zoology Senior Project Officer Clay Bryce will present Kimberley Marine Life Secrets Revealed at the WA Maritime Museum this Wednesday 26 November as part of the Western Australian Museum’s In the Wild West lecture series.

Attendees will be taken on a visual journey through the expeditions, the evolving marine science field, and some of the interesting challenges faced by the research team while working on the Woodside Collections Project.

Mr Bryce said the Woodside funded project has been running since 2008 and has involved researchers from the WA Museum, Queensland Museum, the Australian Museum, Museum Victoria, the Herbarium of WA and Curtin University.

“Survey work has taken place each year from 2009 to 2014,” said Mr Bryce. 

“A massive amount of data has been accumulated by the project team, which will be worked through over the next 12 months.”

The project has surveyed around 180 stations situated across more than 475,000 square kilometres of ocean, and recorded thousands of marine species including many that are new to science and many that have never before been recorded in Australian waters.

“The purpose of this research is to gain a more complete understanding of the tropical biodiversity and associated habitats, which can then be used to assess the conservation importance of the region and develop appropriate management strategies,” said Mr Bryce.

It is the most extensive marine biodiversity survey of the region and in 2011 was awarded the Western Australian Premier’s Award for Excellence.

Entry to Kimberley Marine Life Secrets Revealed is by donation. The lecture will run from 6pm – 7pm. Bookings are essential via 1300 134 081. Visit http://museum.wa.gov.au/museums/maritime/kimberley-marine-life-secrets-revealed for more information.

 

Media contact:

Sharna Craig

Media and Publicity Officer

Western Australian Museum

6552 7897

sharna.craig@museum.wa.gov.au