Ningaloo Collaboration Cluster

A CSIRO Flagship Collaboration Fund Research Inititative

Integrating knowledge of reef use, biodiversity and socio-economics into management strategy evaluation for the Ningaloo Marine Park.

The Ningaloo Collaboration Cluster combines the research capabilities of Murdoch University, Curtin University of Technology, the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre, the University of Western Australia, Edith Cowan University, The Australian National University, The University of Queensland and the CSIRO Wealth from Oceans Flagship.

Ningaloo Marine Park, stretching more than 300km along the coast of Western Australia, is one of Australia's pre-eminent marine environments. The conservation of this unique marine ecosystem, coupled with sustainable development of the region, is a major challenge. [text taken from CSIRO factsheet, to learn more, download entire factsheet]

download factsheet here PDF 1.5mb

Field work for the project to map spatial distribution of human usage at Ningaloo Marine Park as part of the Wealth from Oceans Ningaloo Collaboration Cluster got underway in January 2007 and will continue throughout the year. The project entails coastal and aerial surveys to map the spatial and temporal distribution of activities (e.g. diving, fishing, snorkeling etc) conducted in the Park as well as interviews with people using the Park for recreational activities.

Environmental Science field team at Ningaloo Reef
(l-r) Assoc Prof Lynnath Beckley (Project Leader), Claire Smallwood (PhD student) and Chris Jones (research assistant).