Ningaloo & Outer Shark Bay baseline survey 2014 AIMS field report: AIMS Cruise nos. 6082 & 6122

Ningaloo Reef and Shark Bay are among Australia's iconic marine areas, and the significance of these ecosystems is recognised through their inclusion in State and Commonwealth Marine Reserves and listing of both areas on the World Heritage Register. Ningaloo Reef is the only fringing reef on the west coast of a continent and is host to over 200 coral species and more than 500 reef fish species. Shark Bay is the most westerly point of Australia and represents a transition zone between temperate and tropical marine fauna, resulting in high species diversity. The marine communities of Ningaloo and outer Shark Bay were surveyed in November/December 2014 to establish the current status of these marine communities. Data acquisition was tailored to each of the locations and incorporated a spatially replicated, hierarchical sampling design in each.