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Animal Tracking

Animal Tracking supports the collection of a wide range of data using tagged animals including fish, sharks and marine mammals.

Data collection

Animal Tracking consists of two sub-Facilities: Acoustic Telemetry, which uses a continental-scale array of strategically placed underwater acoustic receivers and a central data repository to monitor and track broad-scale movements of tagged animals, and Animal Tagging, which deploys satellite-relayed transmitters equipped with miniaturised oceanographic sensors on marine species (i.e. seals, and sea turtles ) to collect behavioural (movements, dive behaviour) and physical (depth, temperature and salinity) data.

Key aims

  • Maintain and coordinate the continental-scale network of acoustic receivers and promote collaboration within the acoustic telemetry research community.  
  • Act as the central data repository for collaborating researchers and organisations around Australia and the broader Oceania region, following and promoting best practices in data management and quality control.
  • Monitor remote regions of the Southern Ocean and contribute to understanding of changes in dynamics linked to climate change.
  • Collaborate and contribute to the global Ocean Tracking Network.