DATASET

  Title

New Zealand Furseal (Arctocephalus forsteri) Breeding and Haul-out Islands of the Recherche Archipelago

  Custodian

 Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM)

  Jurisdiction

 Western Australia

DESCRIPTION

  Abstract

This dataset consists of points identifying islands/rocks used by New Zealand furseals (Arctocephalus forsteri) for breeding and haul-out purposes within the study area for the proposed Recherche Archipelago marine protected area, off the southern coast of Western Australia. Attributes include description of activity, island/rock on which the activity takes place, source of attribution, source of point, and additional comments related to furseal use of the island.

The dataset has been developed as part of CALM Marine Conservation Branch's resource assessment of the region. The resource assessment has been undertaken to assist in the marine reserve implementation process for the proposed Recherche Archipelago marine protected area. This dataset is complemented by other fauna datasets within the region including sealion breeding and haul-out islands, seabird breeding islands, Southern Right Whale migration paths, and Southern Right Whale activity other than migration.  

The dataset was generated by collating data from;
i) a CALM field survey conducted by Nick Gales in 2000,
ii) published information gathered during a literature review of marine wildlife in the region (Lee & Bancroft 2001), and
iii) anecdotal information provided by knowledgeable people who are familiar with the area and regularly observe marine wildlife use of the area.
The dataset was initially compiled by Kevin Bancroft, with modifications after review undertaken by Ben Lamb in February 2002.This is the first stage in the generation of this dataset. The dataset will be upgraded as priorities, time and resources permit.

  Search Word(s)

 

Geographic Extent Name(s) 

Eucla (EUC) and WA South Coast (WSC) IMCRA Regions

DATA CURRENCY

  Begin Date

 1/10/2001

  End Date

 21/02/2002

DATASET STATUS

  Progress

 Complete

  Maintenance & Update Frequency

As required

ACCESS

  Stored Data Format

DIGITAL ArcView3.2 shapefile, geographical coordinates based on GDA94 datum
NONDIGITAL Paper base maps containing raw information 

  Available Format Type

 DIGITAL ArcView 3.2 shapefile

  Access Constraint

Data available for external use subject to transfer fee and license conditions.
Data is not to be distributed without authorisation from CALM. 
Contact CALM's database administrator for further details.

DATA QUALITY

  Lineage

1. A review of existing information was undertaken to identify sources of information. Relevant experts/papers/surveys were consulted. Sources include 
See attribute SOURCE_A for details of the source of each point.

2.  The collated information was then input into Arcview3.2 by manually digitising on screen or entering the coordinate of the point from the field survey results and attributed accordingly.  This was performed by Kevin Bancroft at various input scales.

3.  Hardcopy base maps containing the collated data against a backdrop of a coastline, broadscale bathymetry  (10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 200m, 500m, 1000m isobaths), and a graticule were produced at approximately 1:350 000.  

4. Maps were sent in January 2002 to Bernie Haberley (ex CALM wildlife officer), Klaus Teiderman (CALM staff) and Fud Mckenzie (Sealion Charters) for review and additions based on their knowledge of marine wildlife in the region.

5.  Modifications/additions were incorporated into the dataset by Ben Lamb in February 2002.  
i) Points identifying additional furseal breeding and haul-out islands were generated by creating centroids of polygons from the DOLA coastline dated 28 Feb 2001. The DOLA coastline was clipped  to the region and to high or mean high water mark. A clean and build algorithm was then run to construct polygons of the mainland, islands and rocks of the region that were topologically consistant. Centroids were generated for the polygons using the XTools extension in Arcview3.2 and any points that had not been marked up on the hardcopy map were deleted.
ii) These points were then used as the basis for the addiional locations of the furseal breeding or haul-out islands by cutting and pasting into the existing dataset created by Kevin Bancroft. Points were then attributed with the wildlife information provided on the reviewed hardcopy maps.  

6.  The attribute table of the combined dataset was setup as per the CALM MCB standard. The attribute information for the new points was incorporated and other fields were populated as required. 

7.  Data datum transformed from AGD84 to GDA94 using the change datum functionality of the extension 'CALM Added Functionality v2000' in Arcview3.2.

8. The dataset was checked against CALM MCB Marine Information System standards and metadata reviewed by Mark Sheridan.

 Positional Accuracy

Points represent an island on which the activity takes place and do not represent the activity as such. The positional accuracy of the activity should therefore be considered as approximate only.

The data has been collated from field surveys, published information, and information provided by experts during a rapid assesment of the marine fauna usage of the area. Resource and time constraints prevented more detailed survey work being undertaken. Delineation of areas of activity may not be comprehensive. 

Positional inaccuracies may also have occurred due to; 
i) the detail of base maps being sufficient for only broad scale delineation of wildlife distribution/activity.

  Attribute Accuracy

The data has been collected from anecdotal information provided by knowledgeable people who are familiar with the area and regularly observe marine wildlife use of the area. A literature review was also undertaken to leverage previous work that has been undertaken in the area. Detailed survey work has not been undertaken.  

Due to the resource and time constraints of the project, not all relevant attributes have been given
values. These include period of activity.  
Those attributes that have been given values have been checked and validated as accurate against the information delineated on the base maps. 

  Logical Consistency

Attribute names have been checked and validated for consistency across all wildlife datasets created for the implementation of the proposed Recherche Archipelago marine protected area.

Attribute values have been checked and validated for consistency, and checked for logic in relation to attribute names.

The shapefile has been compiled carefully to avoid overlaps or duplication of points.

Completeness

The dataset is complete for the current phase of the project. The dataset will be upgraded as priorities, time and resources permit.  
Further work needs to be undertaken to define distribution, extent, and period of activity.  
Feedback that would contribute to the quality of this dataset is appreciated. 

CONTACT INFORMATION

  Contact Organisation

 Department of Conservation and Land Management, Marine Conservation Branch

  Contact Position

 Marine GIS Co-ordinator

  Mail Address 1

 47 Henry Street

  Mail Address 2

  Suburb or Place or Locality

 Fremantle

  State or Locality 2

 WA

  Country

 Australia

  Postcode

 6160

  Telephone

 08 9432 5109

  Facsimile

 08 9430 5408

  Electronic Mail Address

 rayl@calm.wa.gov.au

METADATA DATE

  Metadata Date

 03/05/2002

ADDITIONAL METADATA

  Additional Metadata

For further information  refer to:

i)  CALM 1997

ii) CALM Survey Jan1999

ii) Shaughnessy 1999

ii)  Gales, N. J., B. Haberley, et al.???? (2000). "Changes in the abundance of New Zealand fur seals, Arctocephalus forsteri, in Western Australia." Wildlife Research 27(2): 165-168.

iii)  Lee, S. & Bancroft, K.P. (2001). Review of existing ecological information for the proposed Recherche Archipelago marine conservation reserve.
Literature Review MRI/WSC,EUC/SIN,RAR-51/2001.
Marine Conservation Branch, Department of Conservation and Land Managment, 
Perth, Western Australia.