The state government has launched a $7.7 million North West Shelf environmental study today, to help planners better manage Australia's marine ecosystems.
The state government has launched a $7.7 million North West Shelf environmental study today, to help planners better manage Australia's marine ecosystems.
The full announcement is pasted below:
CSIRO's Wealth from Oceans National Research Flagship and the Western Australian Government have developed practical tools to help planners manage potentially competing uses of Australia's marine ecosystems.
The Federal Minister for Industry, Innovation, Science & Research, Senator the Hon Kim Carr, and the Western Australian Minister for Environment, the Hon David Templeman MLA, will launch the North West Shelf Joint Environmental Management Study (NWSJEMS) today in Perth.
NWSJEMS project leader, CSIRO's Dr Scott Condie, said this research was vital because coasts and oceans worldwide are being exposed to growing pressure from increasing population and industrialisation.
"Our team developed a sophisticated model that allows users to envisage different development scenarios and management options, and comprehensively evaluate their potential impacts on marine ecosystems," Dr Condie said.
"The study found that the North West Shelf environment is in good condition, but will need to be carefully managed to cope with the current industrial expansion. NWSJEMS provides the scientific tools to enable this.
"The sophisticated techniques developed for this study are being further improved and can be adapted for any marine ecosystem facing pressures from potentially competing uses.
"They're already being applied to the Ningaloo Marine Park to make the next benchmark in modelling tools for marine managers, and are being used in south-eastern Australia."
Minister Carr said the study was a good example of the importance of collaboration and how major national challenges can be tackled.
"The study delivers real tools for planners to tackle the complex issue of managing the impacts of multiple human activities on the Australian marine and coastal environment so as to reap social and economic benefits, while maintaining environmental integrity," Minister Carr said.
"The project is a powerful example of how collaborations between federal and state agencies, working hand-in-hand with industry, the community and local government, can develop innovative approaches to our major national challenges."
Minister Templeman said the study was important to Western Australia on several levels.
"Western Australia enjoys a magnificent marine environment and a booming economy. Our Government is committed to sustaining both," Minister Templeman said.
"The outcomes of NWSJEMS will not only benefit the North West Shelf region, but will also provide a foundation for ensuring sustainable development of other marine ecosystems in Western Australia, around the nation and internationally."
Industries that rely on the ocean include; oil and gas, mining, shipping, fisheries, aquaculture and tourism.
But Australians also treasure the environmental and recreational aspects of our marine ecosystems.
Dr Condie said the impacts of all these uses were interconnected and often wide-ranging.
"So, rather than examining various marine issues in isolation, our team took an holistic approach, linking all the key elements of the natural and human system and integrating the impacts of different marine uses,"
he said.
The $7.7million study was initiated by the Western Australian Government and jointly funded by the Wealth from Oceans National Research Flagship. Many organisations contributed to the NWSJEMS project, including federal and WA agencies, industry and regional communities.
CSIRO initiated the National Research Flagships to provide science-based solutions in response to Australia's major research challenges and opportunities.
The nine Flagships form multidisciplinary teams with industry and the research community to deliver benefits for Australia.
