Marine Futures Project - Rottnest Island - biota

Created 24/06/2025

Updated 24/06/2025

The Marine Futures Project was designed to benchmark the current status of key Western Australian marine ecosystems, based on an improved understanding of the relationship between marine habitats, biodiversity and our use of these values. Approximately 1,500 km2 of seafloor were mapped using hydroacoustics (Reson 8101 Multibeam), and expected benthic habitats "ground-truthed" using towed video transects and baited remote underwater video systems. Both sources of information were then combined in a spatial predictive modelling framework to produce fine-scale habitat maps showing the extent of substrate types, biotic formations, etc. Surveys took place across 9 study areas, including Rottnest Island, a popular family holiday destination just 20 km off the Perth coast. One of the main drawcards of the island is the diverse marine life inhabiting the surounding waters, which Western Australian locals and tourists can experience by snorkelling, diving, boating and fishing. The marine environment around Rottnest includes seagrass meadows, kelp-covered reef tops, coral patches, and sponge gardens in deeper water. As a result of the warm, southward flowing Leeuwin Current, the island represents the southern limit of the distributions of many tropical corals and fish. The marine life around Rottnest therefore represents a unique mix of tropical and temperate species and habitats.

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Additional Info

Field Value
Title Marine Futures Project - Rottnest Island - biota
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/edfe759c-e211-4796-beda-323aa766b600
Contact Point
Australian Ocean Data Network
jessica.meeuwig@uwa.edu.au
Reference Period 01/01/2006 - 31/12/2008
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
{
  "coordinates": [
    [
      [
        115.253514,
        -32.062236
      ],
      [
        115.593416,
        -32.062236
      ],
      [
        115.593416,
        -31.9658
      ],
      [
        115.253514,
        -31.9658
      ],
      [
        115.253514,
        -32.062236
      ]
    ]
  ],
  "type": "Polygon"
}
Data Portal Australian Oceans Data Network

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Australian Oceans Data Network "Marine Futures Project - Rottnest Island - biota". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/marine-futures-project-rottnest-island-biota