Seamap Australia - National release of a benthic habitat mapping service for the Australian continental shelf

In many ways, Australia is defined by the oceans that surround us. We have the third largest marine estate in the world comprising 8.2 million square kilometres of which < 15% is mapped. Understanding the distribution of marine habitats within this marine estate requires national collaboration and a multidisciplinary approach from a network of scientists. The Australian National Data Service (ANDS) has invested in this network by funding Seamap Australia. Seamap Australia collated available benthic mapping data for the Australian continental shelf and made these accessible from one location. The project then synthesised these datasets into one spatial data product using a newly proposed national benthic marine classification scheme developed specifically for the Australian continental shelf. The individual data sets and the Seamap Australia product can be both visualised and downloaded via www. seamapaustralia.org. Seamap Australia is a nationally significant resource highlighting the diversity of benthic habitats in one seamless data product. The Seamap Australia website demonstrates how national benthic data can be enhanced with existing data, including imagery, biodiversity, environmental pressures, commercial fishing, and physical data, to become a truly useful multidisciplinary resource. Seamap Australia can be constantly developed and updated as future research continues to improve knowledge of our vast marine estate.