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.