Western Australian News

Australian fish moving south as climate changes, say researchers

Australian scientists have assessed how 35 common fish species are coping with climate change, finding that most have to deal with new conditions and many are moving towards polar waters to find suitable habitats, writes The Guardian. Research led by the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) analysed the climate sensitivity of fish found off the south-east coast of Australia. Read the full article here.

Pinjalo: a rare visitor to Perth!

Recreational fisher Paul Szymanowicz had no idea of the identify of the unusual fish that turned up alongside some nice pinkies he caught while fishing deeper waters off Garden Island near Perth recently. It was a Pinjalo, a tropical snapper, a very rare visitor so far south.  Read about this unusual catch in WA's Coastlines magazine.

Top 10 Oddest Sightings of 2014

Steven 'Sealberg', a shark with a naughty nickname, and a wine bottle all made it onto Redmap’s annual Top 10 Oddest Sightings. This list is completely subjective. And mainly based on strange-looking species, odd photos or sightings with great stories behind them...

Redmap in The Tasmanian Naturalist!

Citizen science is becoming an important tool for monitoring changes in the earth's vast oceans. And the traditional world of science is starting to take note.  Redmap has written an article for the journal The Tasmanian Naturalist!  The piece reviews how Redmap is collecting a long-term record of verified observations of out-of-range species that adds to the data available from traditional scientific surveys. Read the full article here.

Ocean climate change hotspots mapped to help fishing industry adapt

Researchers have mapped climate change hotspots in the world's oceans to allow better fisheries management and commercial fishing decisions, writes ABC News.  Australian scientists led by Dr Gretta Pecl [Redmap founder!] at the University of Tasmania's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) have developed an approach to help fishery managers and the fishing industry adapt. Read the full story here.

Assessing fish sensitivity to climate change

Redmap founder Gretta Pecl developed a method for rapidly assessing how sensitive to climate change our key commercial species are likely to be. In rapidly warming regions so much is changing - and fast - so we need quick methods to identify what species are most at risk in order to expend further research dollars wisely.

 

Kalbarri abalone gets helping hand after marine heatwave

DEPARTMENT of Fisheries staff and Kalbarri fishermen have released 24,000 Roe's abalone (Haliotis roei) onto reef platforms along the cliffs north of Kalbarri, to restock a population decimated by the marine heat wave of 2010-11. Read how and why here.

Urchins adapt to warming oceans

As climate change adds to the threat of extinction faced by many species, new research shows how sea urchins can adapt to the increasing temperature and levels of acidity in Antarctic waters, writes the Climate News Network. Read the story here.

Redmap highlights from 2014

Redmap is all about collating and sharing marine observations by everyday Australians - here are some of the highlights from around Australia. Thanks to all the fishers, divers and beachcombers who sent Redmap photos of their uncommon sightings in 2014!

PERSPECTIVE: pushing Western Australia's reef fish bounty into the limelight

Katherine Cure provides her perspective on the endemism of Western Australia's marine fishes and the effect of warming oceans. Read here.