Fisheries research report No. 197 - Coastal and marine resource condition monitoring - scoping project

Authors

Brett A. Human, Department of Fisheries, WA
Justin I. McDonald, Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentFollow

Publication Date

12-2009

Series Number

197

Publisher

Department of Fisheries, Western Australia

City

Perth

ISBN

1 921258 74 8

ISSN

1035 - 4549

Abstract

Final NRM Report – Project 073007

Part 1– Knowledge review and gap analysis: Resource condition monitoring in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions of Western Australia

This report details extensive literature searches for both research and monitoring programs that have been undertaken in the marine and coastal environments of the Pilbara and Kimberley region of northern Western Australia. The Pilbara and Kimberley region is remote and difficult to access, resulting in very little monitoring effort of the marine and coastal environments in that region.

We currently know very little of the condition of marine and coastal natural resources in the Pilbara and Kimberley, and the purpose of the current literature review is to identify knowledge gaps for the region to prioritise areas for future research. Compounding our lack of knowledge on the state of the natural resource condition, is the burgeoning industrial developments that continue apace, including mineral, oil, and natural gas mining. Some of the largest industrial facilities in Australia are to be found in coastal and marine environments of the Pilbara and Kimberley.

The knowledge review examined the available literature for the region relating to marine and coastal research and monitoring. The project required that knowledge gaps be identified from the categories - general marine*, marine water and sediment quality, marine primary production, marine vegetation communities*, marine invertebrate communities, marine fish species, marine reptile species, and marine mammal species. A discussion of each of these categories, for both the Pilbara and Kimberley regions highlights where research has previously occurred, our state of knowledge, and issues that currently exist.

Number of Pages

192

Keywords

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, habitat loss, biodiversity

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Climate | Environmental Sciences | Oceanography

Recommended Citation

Human, B. A. and McDonald, J. I. 2009. Knowledge review and gap analysis: Resource condition monitoring in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions of Western Australia. Coastal and Marine Resource Condition Monitoring - Scoping Project. Final NRM Report, Project 073007 - Part 1. Department of Fisheries, Government of Western Australia. 192pp.