NESP MB Project EP2 (Emerging Priorities) - Spatial distribution of marine wildlife in the Bremer Bay region

Maintenance and Update Frequency: asNeeded ; Credit Jessica Meeuwig (UWA), Phil Bouchet (UWA), Jem Turner (UWA), Christine Erbe (Curtin University), Rebecca Wellard (Curtin University), Lynnath Beckley (Murdoch University), David Riggs (Naturaliste Charters), John Totterdell (MIRG) ; Credit National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Marine Biodiversity Hub ; Credit Department of the Environment and Energy (DoEE), Australian Government ; Credit In addition to NESP (DoE) funding, this project is matched by an equivalent amount of in-kind support and co-investment from project partners and collaborators. ; Purpose To determine, as a first step, the distribution of marine wildlife across the Bremer Basin canyon region, both within the Bremer Bay Commonwealth Marine Reserve (CMR) and in the area adjacent to the CMR where a marine wildlife aggregation supports a regionally important ecotourism industry. ; This record provides an overview of the scope and research output of NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub Emerging Priorities project - "Spatial distribution of marine wildlife in the Bremer Bay region". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata. --- The Bremer Canyon system is a recognised aggregation area for marine wildlife and predictable aggregations of the orca (Orcinus orca) underpin local ecotourism. Additionally, the value of the region has been recognised in the establishment of the Bremer Commonwealth Marine Reserve (CMR) (https://www.environment.gov.au/topics/marine/marine-reserves/south-west/bremer) and the identification of the Albany canyon group and adjacent shelf break as a Key Ecological Feature in the South-West Marine Bioregional Plan (https://www.environment.gov.au/sprat-public/action/kef/view/23;jsessionid=01AD87551D0DE1B0248C8722BE137004). Little is known about the shelf and canyon region given its remote location and the relatively high cost of conducting offshore research. However, citizen-driven science has documented a stable aggregation .