Seabed mapping on Australia's southern margin: Baseline information for science and marine management

In ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1994, Australia took responsibility for a marine jurisdiction that is more than 1.5 times the area of its landmass. While ownership of offshore resources provided under UNCLOS bestows certain rights (including exploitation), it also carries a range of obligations, and there is a key need for the acquisition and interpretation of baseline scientific information that will support the sustainable use and management of marine resources. The most critical baseline information required is the detailed depth and shape of the seafloor and the nature of the shallow substrate, particularly in high use areas. Such information underpins the activities of all government, industry and academic sectors working offshore. The current state of knowledge of the seabed is extremely variable, with the highest quality three-dimensional seabed mapping data being available over only about 5% of the Australian marine jurisdiction. Certain basic data sets should be available to all organizations and individuals working in the marine environment. Description and discussion of the seabed mapping component of acquiring those data sets on the southern margin of Australia form the basis of this paper. Priorities for seabed mapping are suggested as being the southeastern and southwestern margins of the continent.