Marine Monitoring underway

The Otway Marine Ecosystem Research (OMER) Initiative is underway, and we’ve been dipping our toes in the water (literally) with our team and first volunteers.

Over the past few months we’ve been developing survey methodologies, selecting study sites, building up our volunteer base and putting together training materials, field guides and maps for upcoming fieldwork.

Volunteer training in intertidal and subtidal survey methodology was held on 17 March, and our crew are now ready to get out and about along the Otways coast, and into the water, to start collecting data.

The aim of the OMER pilot project is to establish baseline data through intertidal and subtidal surveys, focusing on key habitats and species to inform long-term monitoring and ensure ecosystem resilience.

The Otway Marine Ecosystem Research (OMER) Initiative aims to fill critical knowledge gaps on the current health of and threats (human and climate induced) to marine ecosystems along the Otway coast. It’s a partnership between the Conservation Ecology Centre (CEC), Otway Ocean Care (OOC) and the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC).

We will continue to conduct surveys over coming seasons, so if you’re interested in contributing to this vital marine research, please get in touch!

📞 Oliver Kerr (OOC): 0412 313 216 | oliver.landcare@soln.org

📞 Kay Weltz (CEC): 0456 622 134 | Kay@conservationecologycentre.org