TO provide a snapshot of what’s happening along WA’s 13,500km coastline, the WA Marine Science Institution (WAMSI) recently held the 2010 Show and Tell Symposium at the Fremantle Maritime Museum.

“WAMSI is a collaboration of 16 state, Federal, industry and academic entities co-operating to deliver benchmark research and independent, quality scientific information,” said Dr Peter Rogers, Chairman of the WAMSI Board.

According to Dr Rogers, new and expanded coastal communities and the demands of industry are placing increasing pressures on marine ecosystems.

“Preliminary findings show sea levels around some parts of WA’s coast are rising, the iconic western rock lobster industry is being affected by climate change as are many aspects of marine life as sea temperatures increase,” he said.

More than 250 scientists are working on 87 WAMSI research projects, joined by some of WA’s best postgraduate students.

Ocean forecasting, biodiversity conservation and natural resource management are WAMSI’s three research themes.

Speakers at the symposium gave newsflash views of research currently under way or planned for 2010 throughout the state.

Topics from the Perth Metropolitan region included the impact of black swan grazing in the lower Swan River estuary, factors influencing black bream in the Swan-Canning estuary, the biology of the Western Striped Trumpeter, tracking lobsters using acoustic telemetry and the social, economic and ecological impacts in the Peel-Harvey estuary.

Studies from the Mid-West region looked at fatty acids in Jurien Bay and sediment mapping the inshore waters and coast between the Greenough and Buller Rivers.

Topics from the Pilbara-Gascoyne region included climate change impacts on reef fishes and corals, coastal disaster risk at Exmouth, resource-sharing issues in the Shark Bay trawl fisheries, marine pest monitoring in Dampier Port and several studies focusing on the Ningaloo area.

Research in the Southwest includes nitrogen cycling, the influence of seagrass beds on macro-invertebrates in Geographe Bay and interactions between recreational fishers, fish and management.

Topics discussed from the Kimberley region included the geochronology of coral growth at the Scott Reef, remote underwater video of fish assemblages in Broome, movement behaviour of dugongs and the Kimberley Woodside collection project.

Statewide research topics included deep ocean tsunami buoys, ocean gliders, BLUElink ocean forecasting and WA commercial and recreational fishing.
According to WAMSI, a rich source of marine science information may be found at the WA Marine Bio-resources Library, including 466 extracts, 150 frozen samples and 50 extracts that have gone to the WA Institute for Medical Research for breast cancer screening research.

Researchers may also access the Department of Fisheries Marine Science Library which has information going back to the 1880’s, including 20,000 indexed items and 2,100 journal titles.

For more information see www.wamsi.org.au

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