Standard Presentation (12 minutes) Australian Marine Sciences Association 2025 Conference

Tropical transitions in the Abrolhos Marine Park on Yamatji Sea Country (120273)

Kyle Raina 1 , Tim Langlois 2 , Nicole Middleton 3 , Claude Spencer 2 , Maryke Grey 4 , Simon de Lestang 5
  1. Yamatji Southern Regional Corporation, Geraldton, WA, Australia
  2. The University of Western Australia, Margaret River, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, Australia
  3. Marine Parks Branch - Parks Australia, Kingston, TAS, Australia
  4. Batavia Coast Maritime Institute, Geraldton, WA, Australia
  5. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Albany , WA 6330

The Abrolhos Marine Park was established in 2018 on Yamatji Sea Country, to the north of the Abrolhos Islands. Yamatji Sea Rangers in collaboration with researchers from UWA have been undertaking biodiversity surveys documenting the close association of seabed habitats, fish and lobster assemblages with recently submerged old-coastline features within the marine park. The surveys revealed an ecosystem on the edge of transition between the temperate and tropical assemblages typical of Western Australia. Yamatji Sea Rangers are now collaborating with university and government researchers to investigate how this data can inform Sea Country management, the findings of the second voyages being conducted in March 2025 during a marine heatwave will be presented.