A long-standing research collaboration to understand and conserve Western Australia’s marine biodiversity has been extended for a further five years to enable marine research to continue in areas of ecological importance along the Gascoyne coastline.
For 28 years, Woodside Energy has supported the Western Australian Museum’s marine biodiversity research off the Western Australian coast.
This long-standing collaboration has supported extensive biodiversity research, including in the Dampier Archipelago and off the Kimberley coast. It has led to the discovery and description of numerous new species, and significantly increased understanding of the marine environment of Western Australia.
As part of the collaboration, between 1998 and 2025:
- 575,000 km2 were surveyed across 315 north-west marine sites.
- 55,000 specimens, representing over 8,500 distinct species, were added to the WA Museum’s collections.
- Over 700 species new to science were discovered, including many new molluscs, as well as an unexpectedly high number of coral species, causing the Kimberley coast to be identified as a nationally significant reservoir for coral biodiversity.
- Over 160 peer-reviewed articles and eight books have been published. Education and outreach activities including lectures and digital content distribution, and documentaries and school study guides were developed.
- 147 scientists from around the world were involved in the research, which also provided vocational training for seven PhD students and 29 trainees.
Woodside, the WA Museum and the Foundation for the WA Museum have confirmed that this important collaboration has been extended for a further five years to enable targeted research to continue along the Gascoyne coastline. The research will provide new insights into marine conservation and increase cultural and historical knowledge. It is expected to lead to the discovery of many new species. The first phase of the project will focus on the examination of legacy material held in the WA Museum’s collections. This will allow the research team to assess existing collections, identify knowledge gaps and determine key focus areas for research and fieldwork in the years ahead.
WA Museum CEO Alec Coles commented, “The continuation of this vital research collaboration enables us to gain new insights into past and present ecosystems, map species distributions and monitor changes in ocean health. Importantly, it will facilitate whole-genome sequencing and provide key baseline data for biodiversity research and conservation."
Coralie Bishop, CEO of the Foundation for the WA Museum, added, “There are few collaborations that can rival the longevity and impact of the 28-year partnership between the WA Museum and Woodside. I look forward to collaborating with the WA Museum and Woodside, and seeing the outcomes and impact of the next five years building and extending on the outstanding work done in previous decades.”
Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill emphasised the value of the work with the Museum in expanding the environmental knowledge base of northern Western Australia. “Our decades long collaboration with the WA Museum has helped deepen the understanding of Western Australia’s unique marine ecosystems. The research supports conservation efforts and the sharing of knowledge with communities, governments and regulators. This renewed collaboration reaffirms Woodside’s commitment to responsible environmental management and the ongoing discovery of WA’s unique marine biodiversity,” she said.
To celebrate the announcement of this next phase of the collaboration, Woodside is supporting free entry to the WA Maritime Museum on Sunday 17 August for the Woodside Energy Open Day. As part of the WA Maritime Museum’s National Science Week 2025 celebrations, the Woodside Energy Open Day will feature a range of family-friendly activities focused on maritime zoology and the Museum’s WA Down Under Gallery. The full Woodside Energy Open Day program is available at https://visit.museum.wa.gov.au/maritime/woodside-open-day-science-week-2025
