WAMSI Node 3.2.2e - Ecosystem Effects of fishing on Ningaloo Reef: Acoustic tracking and adequacy of sanctuary zones

This project now supports in part Australia's first permanent acoustic listening station array on Ningaloo Reef - the Ningaloo Reef Ecosystem Tracking Array (NRETA) which has been established to answer major questions about the trophic structure, function and management of this environment, especially in terms of movement and migration patterns of key organisms within this ecosystem. NRETA has connected Australian acoustic telemetry science with the Census of Marine Life's (CoML) Pacific Ocean Shelf Tracking (POST) project in North America and the $35 million worldwide acoustic tracking initiative proposed by R O'Dor - Ocean Shelf Tracking and Physics Array (OSTAPA). NRETA will be a key factor in the development of shelf tracking arrays within Australia as part of AATAMS and will place Australia in a good position to take a leading role as this technology continues to expand worldwide. This project will add important data management and analysis tools to this array, essentially ensuring that the ability to process and understand data and keep pace with our ability to collect it.