NESP MaC Project 4.14 - Enhancing monitoring approaches to evaluate the abundance, life history and critical habitats of the endangered Australian sea lion (SARDI, DBCA)

This record provides an overview of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub Research Plan 2024 project "Enhancing monitoring approaches to evaluate the abundance, life history and critical habitats of the endangered Australian sea lion". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata.

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The Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) is Australia’s only endemic pinniped and is listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act. Populations have declined by more than 60% over the past 40 years and are vulnerable to threats including fisheries bycatch, disease, pollution, marine debris entanglement and climate change. Improving knowledge of abundance, demography and critical habitat use is essential for evaluating threats and guiding recovery actions, but is difficult due to the species’ breeding biology, longevity, seafloor foraging behaviour and use of remote breeding sites.

This project developed and applied cost-effective methods to improve monitoring of Australian sea lion populations, particularly in under-surveyed regions exposed to anthropogenic pressures. It included four linked components: (1) helicopter and remote-camera surveys of breeding sites in the Recherche Archipelago; (2) drone surveys of selected breeding and haul-out sites in Western Australia and South Australia; (3) processing and analysis of long-term demographic data from the microchipped Seal Bay population; and (4) continued deployment of underwater cameras to identify habitat use, foraging behaviour and potential risks.

The project was co-designed with Indigenous partners, including Yalata Anangu Aboriginal Corporation, Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation and Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation. Indigenous partners contributed to delivery of project components, including drone-based monitoring and field activities, supporting Indigenous leadership in the use of new technologies for sea lion monitoring and Healthy Country management.

Outputs included updated abundance and breeding-site information, validated drone survey methods, improved workflows for demographic analysis, and additional animal-borne camera data on critical habitats. These data and methods support implementation of the Australian Sea Lion Recovery Plan, long-term state government monitoring, assessment of cumulative impacts and recovery actions, and conservation planning linked to Sea Country values.

Outputs

• Qualitative and qualitative spatial assessments of breeding sites from helicopter surveys in Recherche Archipelago [dataset]

• Drone-collected photogrammetry, FLIR, thermal imaging and LiDAR data [dataset]

• Demographic results from analysis of Seal Bay microchipping program [dataset]

• Tracking data from sea lion-deployed tags: location, depth, time, temperature, light, acceleration [dataset]

• Timestamped video footage from sea lion-deployed cameras [dataset]

• Short non-technical summaries to distil the key findings and take-home messages [written]

• Final project report [written]

Identification info

Date (Creation): 2024-04-01

Identifier

Code: 10.71676/8d7451fe

Codespace: raid.org

Description: Project RAiD

Principal investigator

South Australian Research and Development Institute - Goldsworthy, Simon (Project co-leader)

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Principal investigator

Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions - Raudino, Holly (Project co-leader)

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Collaborator

South Australian Research and Development Institute - Kirkwood, Roger

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Collaborator

Department for Environment and Water - Holman, Dirk (Co-PI)

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Collaborator

Department for Environment and Water - Stonnill, Mel

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Collaborator

Yandaarra Aboriginal Advisory Committee (YAAC) - Alderson, Andrew (Co-PI)

Collaborator

Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation (FWCAC) - Fraser, Alex

Collaborator

Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions - Waples, Kelly

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Purpose: To improve the monitoring and inform the management of the endangered Australian sea lion.

Credit: National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Marine and Coastal HubThis project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, the Environment, Energy & Water (DCCEEW) through the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub. In addition to NESP (DCCEEW) funding, this project is matched by an equivalent amount of in-kind support and co-investment from project partners and collaborators.

Status: On going

Point of contact

South Australian Research and Development Institute - Goldsworthy, Simon

South Australia

Australia

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Point of contact

Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions - Raudino, Holly

Western Australia

Australia

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Topic category

Biota
Environment

Extent

Temporal extent

Time period: 2024-03-04 2026-06-30

Maintenance and update frequency: As needed

Keywords (Project)

National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Marine and Coastal Hub

Keywords (Theme)

Australian sea lion
endangered species
habitat mapping
helicopter and drone surveys
demographic analysis
Indigenous consultation and engagement

GCMD Earth Science keywords

Keywords (Taxon)

Neophoca cinerea

Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC): Fields of Research

Wildlife and Habitat Management

AODN Geographic Extents Vocabulary

Resource constraints

Classification: Unclassified

Resource constraints

Use limitation: The data collections described in this record are funded by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) through the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub.