30 May
2006 - A survey of the deep waters off Western
Australia’s Rottnest Island has revealed fish
species previously unknown to science, the Australian
Minister for the Environment and Heritage Senator
Ian Campbell said today.
Senator Campbell said the voyage
was part of research that would underpin the Australian
Government’s programme of marine planning around
Australia’s south-west waters.
“This voyage is part of the
Australian Government’s marine science programme,
which is helping to fill the gaps in our knowledge
about our marine environment,” Senator Campbell
said.
“Before this cruise we knew
more about the fish off Heard Island in our remote
Southern Ocean than those found directly off Australia’s
fourth largest city.
“We are learning all the time
about our marine environment and our information
base is constantly improving, allowing us to plan
confidently for future management”.
The survey programme is a collaboration
between the Department of the Environment and
Heritage and CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research.
The research was conducted from the Department
of Fisheries vessel RV Naturaliste.
The Naturaliste spent a week
at sea, undertaking deep water trawls on the continental
shelf north and south of Rottnest Island. Four
species are previously unknown to science and
10 more, which could not be positively identified,
may also be new.
Fish collected during the survey
have been freighted to Hobart for identification
and their tissues DNA barcoded as part of the
CSIRO Wealth from Oceans Flagship project. Information
learned during the project will be invaluable
as work starts on developing a marine bioregional
plan for the waters of Australia’s south-west.
This plan will help guide the
Australian Government, sectoral managers and industry
about the key conservation issues and priorities
in each marine region.
