Factor guidelines and technical guidance: Sea

The biological communities that occur in Western Australia’s marine waters are largely shaped by the climatic regime, underlying geological structures, and the intensity of – and exposure to – wave and tidal energy.

The range of ecosystems, coupled with our relative isolation, has resulted in a very high diversity of marine life, much of which is found nowhere else in the world. The EPA considers the key ‘Sea’ factors of benthic communities and habitat, coastal processes, marine environmental quality and marine fauna in its assessment of significant proposals and schemes.

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Factor Guidelines

Benthic Communities and Habitats

Objective - to protect benthic communities and habitats so that biological diversity and ecological integrity are maintained.

Coastal Processes

Objective - to maintain the geophysical processes that shape coastal morphology so that the environmental values of the coast are protected.

Marine Environmental Quality

Objective - to maintain the quality of water, sediment and biota so that environmental values are protected.

Marine Fauna

Objective - to protect marine fauna so that biological diversity and ecological integrity are maintained.