The Blue Drummer Marine and Coastal Hub newsletter, June 2026

We begin with a tale of songlines followed deep into South-west Corner Marine Park to reveal Gorbiliyup – the submerged landscape of the Blackwood River – now a mesophotic reef teeming with invertebrates and fish.

A decade ago, a relatively fleeting change in sea level caused a devastating mangrove dieback event in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Repeat surveys are building a complex picture of how these mangrove systems have responded in the longer term.

An overview of wetland restoration opportunities in northern Australia through carbon and nature repair markets outlines environmental and social benefits. The 2026 Adelaide Australasian Coastal Restoration Network Symposium is set for 22–23 October. Watch the video for good reasons to go!

New mapping of pygmy blue whale pathways and potential threats allows for better planning, regulation and management of proposed activities that may affect this species. Results of the 2025 ‘western' southern right whale aerial survey show a continued stalling of population growth, with females now reproducing at four to five year intervals instead of three. A review of grey nurse shark aggregation sites lays the groundwork for updating their definition in Australia.

Lastly, a national-scale project is making complex research data easier to use in reporting and decision-making. Focus areas include seagrass mapping, seabird and kelp observations, seafloor, dugong and aerial surveys, and vessel tracking data.

We also feature our June Offshore wind farm environmental research update, and a raft of events and publications.

Enjoy our stories!

Alan Jordan, Marine and Coastal Hub southern node leader
Damien Burrows, Marine and Coastal Hub northern node leader

Wattura Kaartidjin Biddiwah – Pathways of ocean knowledge

‘Stories held and passed down for up to 3000 generations guided us to a river system that 12,000 years ago would have run down to a Wadandi shore.'

Step back

Gulf of Carpentaria mangrove recovery is slow and complex

Repeat surveys are building a detailed understanding of how mangrove systems respond to climate extremes.

Wade in

Pooling opportunities for wetland restoration in northern Australia

Indigenous leadership, ungulate management, and carbon and nature repair markets can combine to bring environmental and social benefits.

Routes to repair

Taking the loneliness out of coastal restoration

It takes helicopters, drones and sharp eyes to catch up with sea lion breeding colonies on Wudjari Country.

Join in

More data needed to fully assess pygmy blue whale threat exposure 

New mapping shows exposure of pygmy blue whales to existing threats in Australia is low, but knowledge gaps remain.

Pygmy pathways

‘Western' southern right whale recovery remains stalled

The variability of this population is a sentinel for the broader health of the Southern Ocean.

Curves of concern

Getting in sync with grey nurse shark aggregations

A blueprint for aligning Australia’s grey nurse shark aggregation sites with national and international frameworks.

Nurse stations

Making data ready for decision-making

Unlocking the full value of existing research data to enable better decisions and reporting for Australia’s coasts and oceans.

Data ready?

June Offshore wind farm environmental research update

This issue reports on data processing and oceanographic, species and noise modelling for the Bass Strait region.

Get current

Publications

• Grey nurse shark aggregations: research report
• Aerial survey of the Australian southern right whale ‘western’ population and development of AI for photo-identification: research report
• Movements, connectivity, and population identity of southern right whales at the boundary of the eastern and western populations: research report
• Towards the delineation and estimation of the Maugean skate population in Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania: research report
• Assessing exposure of pygmy blue whales to existing threats to inform offshore wind farm development: research report
• Ecological outcomes of wastewater discharges in contrasting receiving environments: research report
• Influence of urban land uses on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination in urban runoff and the receiving marine environment: journal article

Videos

• Monitoring environmental impacts on the Great Barrier Reef: Marine and Coastal Hub Webinar
• Mapping northern Australia’s hidden reefs: Marine and Coastal Hub Webinar
• Wattura Kaartidjin Biddiwah – Pathways of ocean knowledge. Exploring the Gorbiliyup: UWA Marine Ecology Group Vimeo channel

Events

• Southern right whale research: Marine and Coastal Hub webinar
• Australian Marine Sciences Association 2026 Conference, Canberra, 30 August–3 September
• Australasian Coastal Restoration Network 2026 Symposium, Adelaide, October 22–23
• Climate Adaption 2026, Newcastle, October 26–28