$21 M to help protect WA's precious coast

A $21million State Government initiative to help address the impact of climate change on Western Australia’s pristine Ningaloo and Shark Bay Marine Parks has been launched today by Premier and Science Minister Alan Carpenter.

Mr Carpenter said the State Government had brought together experts from around the country to create the Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI), which would look at ways to protect WA’s marine parks and the unique marine environment along the State’s coast.

“WA is known for its fantastic lifestyle and our marine environment is a large part of this drawcard,” he said.“Our rich marine and coastal biodiversity is famous throughout the world and we are committed to ensuring this pristine environment is around for future generations to enjoy.

“Climate change, population growth and industrial, social and economic development are putting pressure on our precious marine ecosystems in a way never before experienced.

“Climate change is happening now. There are already very real concerns about its effect on the Great Barrier Reef and I do not want that happening in WA.

“What we need now is the science and the knowledge to ensure we can do all that is possible to preserve the unique and abundant marine lifestyle we have along our coastline.”

WAMSI is a collaborative joint venture between the State Government and a range of partner organisations. In addition to the State Government’s $21million funding, the partner organisations have committed $30million to this initiative.

“Through our commitment to science and innovation, the State Government has brought together 14 State, national and industry organisations with expertise in marine science to create WAMSI,” the Premier said.

“WAMSI will undertake strategic marine research and develop knowledge essential to the sustainable development of WA’s marine lifestyle and the multi-billion dollar tourism and fishing industries that are associated with that.

“WAMSI will help establish WA as a world-leading centre in marine science, education, and marine resource management.

“Nowhere else in Australia has this kind of forward thinking, collaborative approach to marine issues occurred, and the long-term benefits to WA will be invaluable and immense.”

Mr Carpenter said WAMSI already had very strong links with the Indian Ocean Climate Initiative (IOCI), a climate research partnership between the State Government, CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology.

“The State Government recently committed an extra $8.6million over the next five years to enable IOCI to continue its research into climate change and the link to extreme weather events across WA,” he said.

“WAMSI’s climate change research will be a vital contribution to the IOCI program.”WAMSI chairman, Dr Bernard Bowen, said the institute would provide the information and knowledge required to make the right social, economic and environmental decisions for the future of WA’s marine environment.

"We will look at how WA’s marine ecosystems work and the effect climate change has on the Indian Ocean and Leeuwin Current,” Dr Bowen said.

“The institute will also research aspects of the State’s fisheries and ensure they remain ecologically sustainable while managing the ecosystems in which they operate.”

The Premier said many WA businesses relied on WA’s unique marine environment.

“The marine environment is a rapidly growing contributor to WA’s economic and social wealth, including oil and gas, shipping, fishing and tourism,” he said.

“These industries contribute billions of dollars annually to the State’s economy and the institute’s research will help us continue to grow these industries while preserving our unique ecosystems.”

WAMSI is comprised of:

Australian Institute of Marine Science;
Bureau of Meteorology;
CSIRO;
Curtin University of Technology;
Edith Cowan University;
The Government of Western Australia (through the Departments of Environment and Conservation, Fisheries, Industry & Resources and the Western Australian Museum);
Murdoch University;
University of Western Australia; and
Western Australian Global Ocean Observing Systems Inc.
 

Industry foundation collaborators include BHP Billiton Petroleum and Woodside Energy Ltd.

Further information on WAMSI is available at http://www.wamsi.org.au/ Premier's office - 9222 9475

Caption: Premier Alan Carpenter (front right) and University of Western Australia Vice-Chancellor sign the WAMSI documents watched by (back row from left) WAMSI Chair Dr Berard Bowen, WAMSI CEO Dr Steve Blake, a government representative and WA Chief Scientist Professor Lyn Beazley.