Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters)
Ocean floor Ningaloo Marine Park
CSIRO
Research
Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters) (Ningaloo) is a protected area managed mainly for ecosystem protection and recreation. Scientific research is undertaken to increase understanding of the reserve's values and risks to these values, while minimising the impacts of the research.
Research is undertaken in the reserve in either of two ways. Research may be commissioned by DEWHA and undertaken by external researchers or research may be undertaken in the reserve under an authorisation from the Director of National Parks, with associated conditions.
Independent research
Authorisation is required to undertake research at Ningaloo. This may either be in the form of an approval or a permit, depending on the research methods and whether they involve the taking of native species. Additional authorisations under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 may also be required for certain types of research.
If you are planning to conduct scientific research in the reserve please contact the Ningaloo Reserve Manager on (02) 6274 1111 or email mpa@environment.gov.au for application details.
Applications to conduct research will be considered on a case by case basis, and assessment will take into account the likely impact of the proposed activity on the reserve's conservation values, the relevant Australian IUCN reserve management principles and the strategic objectives for management of the reserve.
Research commissioned by DEWHA
Research that is commissioned by DEWHA is prioritised and planned in accordance with the management objectives for the reserve. This research is conducted by service providers under contract with DEWHA. Contracting for each project is undertaken in accordance with the Australian Government procurement guidelines, so as to ensure that a competitive and transparent process is followed.
Recent research in Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters)
Recent research at Ningaloo includes studies on:
- deep water communities - a wide variety of bottom dwelling species have been identified in the reserve, including many previously unrecorded in Australia. These communities are dominated by sponges with soft corals and algae found living among them.
- water temperature - annual and longer term variations in water temperature have been assessesd recently, identifying possible bleaching events in the northern reefs of the State component of Ningaloo Marine Park in 2008/09.
- whale sharks - research into the population of whale sharks that migrates through the reserve each year continues, including identification of individuals through tagging, photographic identification and genetic sampling.
Also in this section
Existing Commonwealth reserves under the EPBC Act
Marine Protected Areas
East Marine Region
North-west Marine Region
- Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve
and
Cartier Island Marine Reserve - Mermaid Reef Marine National Nature Reserve
- Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth Waters)