Fish communities and benthic mapping and monitoring of West Cape York Marine Park and Angkamuthi Sea Country, Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia - 2024 (JCU, Angkamuthi, CDU)

Full description

This dataset summarises a subtidal benthic survey of Angkamuthi Sea Country, including the eastern side of West Cape York Marine Park, in 2024. Data is presented as 3 GIS layers: (1) A point (site) shapefile that describes (a) seagrass presence/absence, (b) seagrass species composition, (c) algae cover and (d) benthic macro-invertebrate cover and (e) coral cover at 129 sites surveyed by vessel. (2) A point (site) shapefile that describes (a) fish species abundance, (b) fish species richness, (c) and cumulative MaxN of each species at 83 sites surveyed by vessel. (3) A point (site) shapefile that describes (a) fish family abundance at 83 sites surveyed by vessel. The full report is: Carter A, Smith T, Woosup S, Woosup S, Woosup S, Woosup T, Woosup W, Baira R, Salee I, Salee T, Williams R, Whitman K, Settli E, Forsman S, Proctor M, Groom R (2026) West Cape York Marine Park Final Report. Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) Report Number 25/61, James Cook University, Cairns. Data access: Public access to this dataset is restricted. Please refer to the Data Access Control Plan (https://nextcloud.eatlas.org.au/apps/sharealias/a/GoC_JCU_WCY-MP-Monitoring_2024_Data-Access-Control-Plan) for more information. Methods: The methods used to study, describe and monitor seagrass meadows were developed by TropWATER JCU and tailored to the location and habitat surveyed; these are described in detail in a number of previous reports (https://www.tropwater.com/reports-and-publications). Geographic Information System (GIS): All survey data were entered into a Geographic Information System (GIS) using ArcGIS Pro 3.5. Three spatial layers were created to describe spatial features of the region and point data of seagrass presence and absence in survey area. WCYMP Habitat Sites 2024 layer: This layer contains information on data collected at habitat assessment sites, and includes: 1. Temporal survey details - Survey date; 2. Spatial position - Latitude/longitude; 3. Survey location; 4. Seagrass information including presence/absence of seagrass, above-ground biomass (total and for each species), percent cover of seagrass at each site and whether individual species were present/absent at a site; 5. Benthic macro-invertebrate information including the percent cover of hard coral, soft coral, sponges and other benthic macro invertebrates (e.g. ascidian) at a site; 6. Algae information including percent cover of algae at a site and percent contribution of algae functional groups to algae cover at a site; 7. Coral information including percent cover of functional groups within hard and soft coral at site. 8. Open substrate - the percent cover of the site that had no flora or habitat forming benthic invertebrates present; 9. Dominant sediment type - Sediment type based on grain size visual assessment or deck descriptions. 10. Survey method and vessel; 11. Relevant comments and presence/absence of megafauna and animals of interest (dugong, turtle, dolphin); 12. Data custodians. WCYMP Fish Species layer: This layer contains information on data collected using baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVS) at fish survey sites, and includes: 1. Temporal survey details - Survey date; 2. Spatial position - Latitude/longitude; 3. Survey name and location; 4. Fish species present; 5. Fish species richness; 6. Aggregate MaxN (abundance) across all fish species; 7. Fish sampling method; 8. BRUVS visibility and profile; 9. Survey vessel; 10. Data custodians. WCYMP Fish Family layer: This layer contains information on data collected using baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVS) at fish survey sites, and includes: 1. Temporal survey details - Survey date; 2. Spatial position - Latitude/longitude; 3. Survey name and location; 4. Fish families present; 5. Aggregate MaxN (abundance) for each fish family 6. Fish sampling method; 7. BRUVS visibility and profile; 8. Survey vessel; 9. Data custodians. Base map: The base map used is courtesy ESRI 2025. Limitations of the data: Recordings of turtle and sea cucumber were opportunistic sightings and recorded if nearby a survey site. This presence/absence data was not collected as part of a formal structured survey of these animals and should therefore be used with caution. Format of the data: This dataset consists of 3 layers with a spatial reference of GDA2020 MGA Zone 54: 1. WCYMP Habitat Sites 2024 - point shapefile 2. WCYMP Fish Species 2024 - point shapefile 3. WCYMP Fish Family 2024 - point shapefile Data Dictionary: WCY Habitat Sites 2024 (point data): - SITE (numeric) - Unique identifier representing a single sample site. - TIME (numeric) - Sample time (24 hours; GMT +9:30) (NT time). - SURVEY_DAT (numeric) - Survey date (day/month/year). - MONTH (numeric) - Survey month. - YEAR (numeric) - Survey year. - SURVEY_NAM (text) - Name of survey. - ZoneName (text) - Site location relative to West Cape York Marine Park zone. - LOCATION (text) - Survey location, e.g. island, marine park zone, sea country boundary, etc. - LATITUDE (numeric) - Site location in decimal degrees south. - LONGITUDE (numeric) - Site location in decimal degrees east. - DBMSL (numeric) - Depth below mean sea level (- meters). - SUBSTRATE (text) - Tags identifying the types of substrates at the sample site. Possible tags are Mud, Sand, Coarse Sand, Silt, Shell, Rock, Reef, Rubble and various combinations. Listed in order from most dominant substrate to least dominant. - SEAGRASS_P (numeric) - Absence (0) or Presence (1) of seagrass. - SEAGRASS_C (numeric) - Estimated % of seagrass cover at site. - SEAGRASS_B (numeric) - Estimated total biomass per square metre for sample site calculated from the mean of three replicate quadrats. Unit is gdw m^-2. - SEAGRASS_S (numeric) - Standard error of biomass at sample site calculated from the three replicate quadrats used to estimate biomass at a sample site. Unit is gdw m^-2. - EXCLUDE_B (numeric) - Include (0) or Exclude (1). Any site identified that needs to be excluded from contributing to the calculation of mean biomass, e.g. where a visual estimate of biomass was not possible (i.e. no visibility at the site, only a van Veen sediment grab or sled sampled seagrass at the site). - CR_BIO (numeric) - Estimated biomass of Cymodocea rotundata at the site. Unit is gdw m^-2. - CS_BIO (numeric) - Estimated biomass of Cymodocea serrulata at the site. Unit is gdw m^-2. - EA_BIO (numeric) - Estimated biomass of Enhalus acoroides at the sample site. Unit is gdw m^-2. - HU_BIO (numeric) - Estimated biomass of Halodule uninervis at the site. Unit is gdw m^-2. - HD_BIO (numeric) - Estimated biomass of Halophila decipiens at the site. Unit is gdw m^-2. - HO_BIO (numeric) - Estimated biomass of Halophila ovalis at the site. Unit is gdw m^-2. - HS_BIO (numeric) - Estimated biomass of Halophila spinulosa at the sample site. Unit is gdw m^-2. - HT_BIO (numeric) - Estimated biomass of Halophila tricostata at the sample site. Unit is gdw m^-2. - SI_BIO (numeric) - Estimated biomass of Syringodium isoetifolium at the site. Unit is gdw m^-2. - TC_BIO (numeric) - Estimated biomass of Thalassodendron ciliatum at the sample site. Unit is gdw m^-2. - TH_BIO (numeric) - Estimated biomass of Thalassia hemprichii at the site. Unit is gdw m^-2. - ZC_BIO (numeric) - Estimated biomass of Zostera muelleri subsp. capricorni at the sample site. Unit is gdw m^-2. *Note: CR_BIO + CS_BIO + EA_BIO + HU_BIO + HD_BIO + HO_BIO + HS_BIO + HT_BIO + SI_BIO + TC_BIO + TH_BIO + ZC_BIO = SEAGRASS_B - AG_COVER (numeric) - Estimated % algae cover at site. - AG_TURF_MA (numeric) - Turf mat algae % contribution to algae cover. Algae that forms a dense mat on the substrate. - AG_ERECT_M (numeric) - Erect macrophyte algae % contribution to algae cover. Macrophytic algae with an erect growth form and high level of cellular differentiation, e.g. Sargassum, Caulerpa and Galaxaura species. - AG_ENCRUST (numeric) - Encrusting algae % contribution to algae cover. Algae that grows in sheet-like form attached to the substrate or benthos, e.g. coralline algae. - AG_ERECT_C (numeric) - Erect calcareous algae % contribution to algae cover. Algae with erect growth form and high level of cellular differentiation containing calcified segments, e.g. Halimeda species. - AG_FILAMEN (numeric) - Filamentous algae % contribution to algae cover. Thin, thread-like algae with little cellular differentiation. *Note: AG_TURF_MA + AG_ERECT_M + AG_ENCRUST + AG_ERECT_C + AG_FILAMEN = AG_COVER - HARD_CORAL (numeric) - Hard coral %. All scleractinian corals including massive, branching, tabular, digitate and mushroom. - HC_BRA (numeric) - % cover of all branching hard coral functional groups. - HC_DIG (numeric) - % cover of all digitate hard coral functional groups. - HC_ENC (numeric) - % cover of all encrusting hard coral functional groups. - HC_FOL (numeric) - % cover of all vase/foliose hard coral functional groups. - HC_MAS (numeric) - % cover of all massive hard coral functional groups. - HC_SOL (numeric) - % cover of all solitary hard coral functional groups. - HC_TAB (numeric) - % cover of all tabulate hard coral functional groups. *Note: HC_BRA + HC_DIG + HC_ENC + HC_FOL + HC_MAS + HC_SOL + HC_TAB = HARD_CORAL - SOFT_CORAL (numeric) - Soft coral %. All alcyonarian corals, i.e. corals lacking a hard limestone skeleton. - SC_GORG (numeric) - % cover of all Gorgonian octocorals. - SC_PEN (numeric) - % cover of all Pennatuloidea octocorals. - SC_WHIP (numeric) - % cover of all whip octocorals. - SC_OTHER (numeric) - % cover of all other octocorals. *Note: SC_GORG + SC_PEN + SC_WHIP + SC_OTHER = SOFT_CORAL - SPONGE (numeric) - Sponge %. - OTHER_BMI (numeric) - Benthic macro-invertebrate %. - BMI_ASCI (numeric) - Ascidians %. - BMI_BRYO (numeric) - Bryozoa %. - BMI_HYDR (numeric) - Hydroid %. - BMI_OTHER (numeric) - % cover of any other benthic macro-invertebrates (BMI), e.g. oysters and clams. Other BMI are listed in the “comments” column. *Note: BMI_ASC + BMI_BRYO + BMI_HYDR + BMI_OTHER = OTHER_BMI - OPEN_SUBST (numeric) - % cover of bare, open substrate. - SURVEY_MET (text) - e.g. helicopter, walking, hovercraft, drone, boat-based including camera, free diving, scuba diving, van Veen grab, sled net. - VESSEL (text) - Vessel name. - COMMENTS (text) - Any comments for that site. - AUTHOR (text) - Creator of GIS from the data set and date of creation. - CUSTODIAN (text) - Custodian/owner of the data set. - UPDATED (date) - Date of last update of the spatial layers. *Note: SEAGRASS_C + AG_COVER + HARD_CORAL + SOFT_CORAL + BMI_SPONGE + BMI_ASCI + BMI_BRYO + BMI_HYDRO + BMI_OTHER + OPEN_SUBSTRATE = 100% of benthic cover WCYMP Fish Species 2024 (point data): - FID (numeric) - Unique identifier representing a single sample site. - OpCode (numeric) - Unique identifier representing a single sample site. - Latitude (numeric) - Site location in decimal degrees south. - Longitude (numeric) - Site location in decimal degrees east. - Date (numeric) - Survey date (day/month/year). - Month (text) - Survey month. - Year (numeric) - Survey year. - Survey_nam (text) - Name of survey. - Location (text) - Survey location, e.g. island, marine park zone, sea country boundary, etc. - depth (numeric) - Depth recorded from vessel depth sounder (metres) for subtidal sites. - Zone (text) - Management Zone: SPZ = Special Purpose Zone, NPZ = National Park Zone, HPZ = Habitat Protection Zone, none outside the Marine Park. - Visibility (text) - Visibility of the BRUVS footage ranging from very poor to very clear. See report for examples of visibility. - Profile (text) - Bottom profile: flat, low, moderate or high. Flat = no profile, low = structure 0.5m high, moderate = 0.5-1, high = > 1m. - FoV (text) - Field of view for the BRUV camera. Open = no obstructions facing horizontal along bottom, up = facing up. - Ab_stellat (numeric) - MaxN for all Abalistes stellatus observed at the site. - Aipysurus (numeric) - MaxN for all Aipysurus species observed at the site. - Am_sirm (numeric) - MaxN for all Amblygaster sirm observed at the site. - At_hedland (numeric) - MaxN for all Atropus hedlandensis observed at the site. - At_mate (numeric) - MaxN for all Atule mate observed at the site. - Bothus_sp (numeric) - MaxN for all Bothus species observed at the site. - Ca_brevipi (numeric) - MaxN for all Carcharhinus brevipinna observed at the site. - Ca_buccule (numeric) - MaxN for all Caranx bucculentus observed at the site. - Ca_coatesi (numeric) - MaxN for all Carcharhinus coatesi observed at the site. - Ca_ignobil (numeric) - MaxN for all Caranx ignobilis observed at the site. - Ca_limbatu (numeric) - MaxN for all Carcharhinus limbatus observed at the site. - Ca_lugubri (numeric) - MaxN for all Caranx lugubris observed at the site. - Ca_sorrah (numeric) - MaxN for all Carcharhinus sorrah observed at the site. - Caranx_sp (numeric) - MaxN for all Caranx species observed at the site. - Carcharhin (numeric) - MaxN for all Carcharhinus species observed at the site. - Ch_cephalo (numeric) - MaxN for all Choerodon cephalotes observed at the site. - Clupeidae (numeric) - MaxN for all Clupeidae species observed at the site. - Ec_naucrat (numeric) - MaxN for all Echeneis naucrates observed at the site. - El_hawaien (numeric) - MaxN for all Elops hawaiensis observed at the site. - Eq_leucisc (numeric) - MaxN for all Equulites leuciscus observed at the site. - Fe_multist (numeric) - MaxN for all Feroxodon multistriatus observed at the site. - Feroxodon (numeric) - MaxN for all Feroxodon species observed at site. - Gn_specios (numeric) - MaxN for all Gnathanodon speciosus observed at the site. - Hi_austral (numeric) - MaxN for all Himantura australis observed at the site. - Hi_leopard (numeric) - MaxN for all Himantura leoparda observed at the site. - Himantura (numeric) - MaxN for all Himantura species observed at the site. - La_lunaris (numeric) - MaxN for all Lagocephalus lunaris observed at the site. - La_scelera (numeric) - MaxN for all Lagocephalus sceleratus observed at the site. - Leiognathi (numeric) - MaxN for all Leiognathidae species observed at the site. - Lu_malabar (numeric) - MaxN for all Lutjanus malabaricus observed at the site. - Lu_vitta (numeric) - MaxN for all Lutjanus vitta observed at the site. - Lutjanus_s (numeric) - MaxN for all Lutjanus species observed at the site. - NA_sp (numeric) - MaxN for all unidentified species observed at the site. - Ne_furcosu (numeric) - MaxN for all Nemipterus furcosus observed at the site. - Ne_hexodon (numeric) - MaxN for all Neotrygon hexodon observed at the site. - Ne_thalass (numeric) - MaxN for all Netuma thalassina observed at the site. - Ophichthus (numeric) - MaxN for all Ophichthus species observed at the site. - Pa_ater (numeric) - MaxN for all Pastinachus ater observed at the site. - Pa_jenkins (numeric) - MaxN for all Pateobatis jenkinsii observed at the site. - Pa_niger (numeric) - MaxN for all Parastromateus niger observed at the site. - Pa_radiatu (numeric) - MaxN for all Pantolabus radiatus observed at the site. - Paramonaca (numeric) - MaxN for all Paramonacanthus species observed at the site. - Parapercis (numeric) - MaxN for all Parapercis species observed at the site. - Pe_paradis (numeric) - MaxN for all Pentapodus paradiseus observed at the site. - Pl_teira (numeric) - MaxN for all Platax teira observed at the site. - Platycepha (numeric) - MaxN for all Platycephalus species observed at the site. - Po_maculat (numeric) - MaxN for all Pomadasys maculatus observed at the site. - Pseudocall (numeric) - MaxN for all Pseudocalliurichthys species observed at the site. - Rh_austral (numeric) - MaxN for all Rhynchobatus australiae observed at the site. - Rh_palpebr (numeric) - MaxN for all Rhynchobatus palpebratus observed at the site. - Rh_taylori (numeric) - MaxN for all Rhizoprionodon taylori observed at the site. - Rhynchobat (numeric) - MaxN for all Rhynchobatus species observed at the site. - Sc_regina (numeric) - MaxN for all Scolopsis regina observed at the site. - Se_leptole (numeric) - MaxN for all Selaroides leptolepis observed at the site. - Se_nigrofa (numeric) - MaxN for all Seriolina nigrofasciata observed at the site. - Si_canalic (numeric) - MaxN for all Siganus canaliculatus observed at the site. - Si_fuscesc (numeric) - MaxN for all Siganus fuscescens observed at the site. - Sillago_sp (numeric) - MaxN for all Sillago species observed at the site. - Sp_jello (numeric) - MaxN for all Sphyraena jello observed at the site. - Sp_mokarra (numeric) - MaxN for all Sphyrna mokarran observed at the site. - Sphyrna_sp (numeric) - MaxN for all Sphyrna species observed at the site. - St_tigrinu (numeric) - MaxN for all Stegostoma tigrinum observed at the site. - Synodus_sp (numeric) - MaxN for all Synodus species observed at the site. - Ta_meyeni (numeric) - MaxN for all Taeniurops meyeni observed at the site. - Te_theraps (numeric) - MaxN for all Terapon theraps observed at the site. - Terapon_sp (numeric) - MaxN for all Terapon species observed at the site. - Torquigene (numeric) - MaxN for all Torquigener species observed at the site. - Turrum_sp (numeric) - MaxN for all Turrum species observed at the site. - Up_tragula (numeric) - MaxN for all Upeneus tragula observed at the site. - Abund (numeric) - Aggregate MaxN across all fish species recorded from BRUV footage as a representation of fish abundance, -999 where this was not recorded. - SpRich (numeric) - Species richness recorded from BRUV footage (number of fish species), -999 where this was not recorded. - Method (text) - e.g. helicopter, walking, hovercraft, drone, boat-based including camera, free diving, scuba diving, van Veen grab, sled net. - Vessel (text) - Vessel name (if known). - Author (text) - Creator of GIS from the data set and date of creation. - Custodian (text) - Custodian/owner of the data set. WCYMP Fish Families 2024 (point data): - FID (numeric) - GIS unique identifier - OpCode (numeric) - Unique identifier representing a single sample site. - Latitude (numeric) - Site location in decimal degrees south. - Longitude (numeric) - Site location in decimal degrees east. - Date (numeric) - Survey date (day/month/year). - Month (text) - Survey month. - Year (numeric) - Survey year. - Surveynam (text) - Name of survey.Location (text) - Survey location, e.g. island, marine park zone, sea country boundary, etc. - depth (numeric) - Depth recorded from vessel depth sounder (metres) for subtidal sites. - Zone (text) - Management Zone: SPZ = Special Purpose Zone, NPZ = National Park Zone, HPZ = Habitat - Protection Zone, none outside the Marine Park. - Visibility (text) - Visibility of the BRUVS footage ranging from very poor to very clear. See report for examples of visibility. - Profile (text) - Bottom profile: flat, low, moderate or high. Flat = no profile, low = structure 0.5m high, moderate = 0.5-1, high = > 1m. - FoV (text) - Field of view for the BRUV camera. Open = no obstructions facing horizontal along bottom, up = facing up. - Ariidae (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family. - Balistidae (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family. - Bothidae (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family. - Callionymi (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family Callionymidae. - Carangidae (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family. - Carcharhin (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family Carcharhinidae. - Clupeidae (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family. - Dasyatidae (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family. - Echeneidae (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family. - Elapidae (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family. - Elopidae (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family. - Ephippidae (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family. - Haemulidae (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family. - Labridae (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family. - Leiognathi (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family Leiognathidae. - Lutjanidae (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family. - Monacanthi (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family Monacanthidae. - Mullidae (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family. - NA (numeric)- Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species of unidentified species - Nemipterid (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family Nemipteridae. - Ophichthid (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family Ophichthidae. - Pinguipedi (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family Pinguipedidae. - Platycepha (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family Platycephalidae. - Rhinidae (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family. - Siganidae (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family. - Sillaginid (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family Sillaginidae. - Sphyraenid (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family Sphyraenidae. - Sphyrnidae (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family. - Stegostoma (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family Stegostomatidae. - Synodontid (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family Synodontidae. - Terapontid (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family Terapontidae. - Tetraodont (numeric) - Combined MaxN at the site of all MaxN for each species in the family Tetraodontidae. - Method (text) - e.g. helicopter, walking, hovercraft, drone, boat-based including camera, free diving, scuba diving, van Veen grab, sled net. - Vessel (text) - Vessel name (if known). - Author (text) - Creator of GIS from the data set and date of creation. - Custodian (text) - Custodian/owner of the data set References: Carter A, Smith T, Woosup S, Woosup S, Woosup S, Woosup T, Woosup W, Baira R, Salee I, Salee T, Williams R, Whitman K, Settli E, Forsman S, Proctor M, Groom R (2026) West Cape York Marine Park Final Report. Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) Report Number 25/61, James Cook University, Cairns eAtlas Processing: The following shapefile attributes were renamed to match the data dictionary and similar datasets. No modifications to the underlying data were performed. - GoC_JCU_West-Cape-York-Marine-Park-Monitoring_2024_Fish-Species.shp: "FID_" to "FID"; "Aipysurus_" to "Aipysurus"; "Clupeidae_" to "Clupeidae"; "Feroxodon_" to "Feroxodon"; "Himantura_" to "Himantura"; - GoC_JCU_West-Cape-York-Marine-Park-Monitoring_2024_Habitat-Sites.shp: "FID_" to "FID"; "Survey" to "Location"; Location of the data: This dataset is filed in the eAtlas enduring data repository at: data\2020-2029-other\GoC_JCU_West-Cape-York-Marine-Park-Monitoring_2024

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Maintenance and Update Frequency: asNeeded

Notes

Purpose
Northern Australian seagrass meadows support dugongs, green turtles, fish, prawns and other important species. Understanding their distribution and health now, and over time, is essential so regional planners have information to make the right decisions about community activities and economic development. Unfortunately, for large areas of the coast, data on these important habitats is lacking. Few large-scale surveys have been done, and only a handful of ongoing seagrass monitoring programs exist. Presently, regional planning often proceeds without accurate seagrass information, and therefore, with very minimal understanding of potential effects on these critically important ecosystems. The objective of this project was to collaborate with Angkamuthi Traditional Owners in the West Cape York Marine Park and adjacent inshore waters to undertake a survey of subtidal marine habitats. This was done in partnership with TropWATER James Cook University, Northern Institute Charles Darwin University, and Parks Australia. The survey was undertaken in December 2024 on the liveaboard boat Tropic Paradise. Building on foundational work in 2021, the objectives of this survey were to: 1) Collaborate with Angkamuthi Traditional Owners to develop and undertake a survey of WCYMP and process survey data 2) Establish cultural protocols for data and knowledge governance, fieldwork practice and reporting 3) Characterise benthic habitats and fish biodiversity, principally in the southern section of the WCYMP which was not surveyed in 2021, to provide baseline information for future monitoring. 4) Conduct habitat monitoring in a previously surveyed area and identify any changes/trends in the condition of benthic habitats in the WCYMP, and between management zones. 5) Produce a report, maps and spatial data that can be used by Traditional Owners, Seven Rivers Aboriginal Corporation and the Commonwealth Government in decision-making in local resource use.