Deep Ocean Survey In Australian Bight Finds 400 New Species; Now Oil Drilling Begins

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With oil exploration looming on the horizon for the Great Australian Bight, stakeholders felt it was an important time to learn more about the species that call the rough waters off Australia's southern coastline home.

In a joint effort between BP, The South Australian Research and Development Institute [SARDI], the CSIRO, the University of Adelaide and Flinders University, the Great Australian Bight's deep sea waters have been surveyed for the first time and results have revealed 400 new species of invertebrates.



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The study's surveys took place over six years, between 2011 and 2017. Since 2011, the Australian Government has awarded 11 exploration permits in the Great Australian Bight.

Norwegian oil company Equinor plans to drill an exploratory well on its permit site in late 2019, pending approval of its environmental plan from the regulator.



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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-26/hundreds-of-species-identified-in-great-australian-bight-survey/10469506?section=business