Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Sound waves create new underwater map of Victoria
Breathtaking new maps of the seafloor in Victoria's coastal waters showing unexplored habitats will transform the way marine resources are managed in the future.
Funding
In 2005 Deakin University received $750,000 from the Australian Government for a project to map underwater Victoria using sonar technology. A further $2.5 million was supplied by other organisations.
Project partners included the Glenelg Catchment Management Authority (CMA), Parks Victoria, the Cooperate Research Centre for Coastal Zone, Estuary and Waterway Management and a private Perth-based marine survey company.
Activities and achievements
Glenelg Hopkins CMA's Regional Catchment Strategy Coordinator Linda Grant said the cutting-edge technology allowed an unprecedented level of mapping detail.
"The importance of the data we've collected can't be underestimated - we've now got 3D images of the seafloor that tell us exactly what's there and in what condition," Linda said.
"This has dramatically increased our knowledge of marine habitats, including biodiversity hotspots such as sponge garden communities."
Victoria's marine environment is home to an estimated 12,000 plants and animals, most of which are unique to Australia's southern waters. Underwater habitats also support important marine industries such as abalone and rock lobster fishing, recreational fishing and diving.
But relatively little is known about habitats and sea life found in deep waters off the coast.
Maps were produced in two stages. First the large 'Bluefin' vessel fitted with the sonar equipment relayed data about the seafloor to equipment on board. Scientists were able to analyse the signals to work out ocean depth and seafloor characteristics such as whether it was rocky or sandy.
Then a special video camera was towed behind a much smaller boat to collect footage of the seabed. The images were used to check the analysis of the sonar signal was correct and also capture the species living on the seabed.
The maps were produced at 14 sites along the coast across an area of about 50,000 hectares. They show a range of habitat types such as sponge gardens, kelp forests and seagrass meadows never seen before. Fascinating geological features include ancient riverbeds, lagoons and sand dunes once walked on by Aborigines when they were exposed land.
The maps will underpin marine management decisions made by CMAs and other Victorian natural resource managers, who for the first time will have the in-depth knowledge they need to deal with threats to the marine environment.
Due to be completed by the end of June 2007, the maps will be available in a variety of formats including sophisticated three dimensional 'fly-throughs'.
More information
- Linda Grant, Regional Catchment Strategy Coordinator: (03) 5571 2526 or l.grant@ghcma.vic.gov.au
- Glenelg Hopkins CMA
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