We’re undertaking a range of strategic research projects, in partnership with other Victorian government agencies and leading environmental scientists, to improve our knowledge of Western Port marine and coastal environment.
These projects will help us protect and improve its health into the future.
We've released a scientific review strategically assessing our knowledge of the Western Port environment, to inform future investment to protect and improve the bay’s health.
The review identified high priority research areas:
- Western Port seagrass genetics and taxonomy
- population trends in fish-eating birds
- monitoring and evaluation of pesticide risk to key habitats and biota
- protection and recovery of seagrass beds
- sediments, coastal inputs and seagrass interactions
- recreational fishing, fish biodiversity and habitats
- mangrove planting for coastal stabilisation
- improving our ability to model hydrodynamics in Western Port
Research presentations
2023 Western Port Forum
2019 Western Port Forum
Reports and projects
Journal publications
Whitt, A.A., Coleman, R, Lovelock, C.E., Gillies, C., Ierodiaconou, D., Liyanapathirana, M., Macreadie, P.I. (2020) March of the mangroves: Drivers of encroachment into southern temperate saltmarsh. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2020.106776
Tan, Y.M. et al. (2020) Seagrass restoration is possible: Insights and lessons from Australia and New Zealand. Frontiers in Marine Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00617
Dalby, O., Pucino, N., Tan, Y.M., Jackson, E.L., Macreadie, P.I., Coleman, R.A., Young, M.A., Ierodiaconou, D., Sherman C.D.H. (2022) Identifying spatio-temporal trends in seagrass meadows to inform future restoration. Restoration Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13787
Tan, Y.M., Coleman, R.A., Biro, P.A., Dalby, O., Jackson, E.L., Govers, L.L., Heusinkveld, J.H.T., Macreadie, P.I., Flindt, M.R., Dewhurst, J. and Sherman, C.D.H. (2023), Developing seed- and shoot-based restoration approaches for the seagrass, Zostera muelleri. Restoration Ecology e13902. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13902