Rangers and Researchers Survey Bass Strait

Field Journal March 2026

Truwana Rangers, Pakana Rangers and IMAS researchers completed a two week expedition through Tayaritja/Bass Strait Islands surveying remnant giant kelp populations and reef biodiversity throughout the region. 

For rangers Phil Thomas and Shane Hughes, who live on Truwana and work managing the islands, the voyage presented an opportunity to see another side of Country. 

"Seeing the health & biodiversity of our sea country is essential to our management as Indigenous rangers and custodians of our Sea Country.”

– Phil Thomas

"It has been an amazing opportunity to get the dive training and skills that enabled us to participate in this marine survey trip and learn more about the marine life we see all the time”

– Shane Hughes

“It has been impressive to see the trajectory of these guys, from first learning to SCUBA dive to becoming qualified occupational divers and conducting biodiversity surveys over the course of 12 months”

– Dr Scott Bennett

For IMAS researchers, it was an amazing opportunity to learn from Phil and Shane, who are so knowledgable about the islands.

Some of the exciting findings from the trip, included finding remnant patches of kelp species such as giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), strap weed (Lessonia corrugata) and bull kelp (Durvillaea amatheiae) that have been disappearing from the islands.

It was also a really valuable health check on sites that have been surveyed over the past 30 years. This region is under a lot of pressure from warming waters and range extending species - such as the long-spine urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii).

The Kent group in particular, is quite difficult to get to, so this was an extremely valuable opportunity to survey these remarkable reefs that provide a bridge across the GSR between western and eastern taxa.

While roughly 1/3 of species are cosmopolitan across the Great Southern Reef, many are locally endemic to either the SW or SE. In the Kent group, several of these eastern and western taxa come together, which is exciting to see from an ecological and evolutionary perspective.

The expedition forms part of the Saving Native Species work on Giant Kelp supported by the Federal Government and the long-term reef biodiversity monitoring supported through the Ian Potter Foundation.

Imagery by Scott Bennett

CONNECT

  • GSR FAQ

    What is the Great Southern Reef? What is unique about it? and how is climate change affecting it? Find out answers, ask your own question and more.

    SEE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • PARTNERS

    Our partners help bring bold ideas to life. They power collaborations, support impact campaigns, and help share Great Southern Reef stories far and wide.

    Meet our partners

  • EDUCATOR HUB

    Looking to deepen your knowledge on the rich biodiversity found in Australia's temperate reefs? This space is designed for you.

    ACCESS THE EDUCATOR HUB

  • take action

    Find ways to take part. Volunteer, join events, share reef stories and connect with communities around the Great Southern Reef.

    Get involved

  • contact us

    Reach out with questions, ideas or feedback about reef stories, programs and partnerships.

    get in touch

  • host a screening

    Host a White Rock screening with the Great Southern Reef Foundation. Bring communities together to watch the film, spark conversation and boost local reef engagement.

    host a screening

  • reef resilience showcase

    Our Reef Resilience Photo & Art competition is live this summer in South Australia. We’re calling on divers, snorkellers, photographers, drone pilots, artists, and coastal travellers to share photos, video, and art showing what’s still thriving across SA’s reefs.

    enter the competition

explore

  • MARINE LIFE

    Meet the species that live across Australia’s Great Southern Reef. Learn how fish, seaweeds, invertebrates, and marine mammals connect to healthy reef systems.

    explore marine life

  • WHITE ROCK

    With stunning visuals and impactful storytelling, White Rock captures the urgent threat of longspined urchins to the GSR and presents tangible solutions to save them.

    learn more about the doco

  • VIDEOS

    Check out our short films and clips about temperate reef life, research in action, community work and reef encounters across southern Australia.

    watch videos

  • FEATURE CREATORS

    Each month we feature a creator from across the Great Southern Reef sharing their connection to the coast through photography, art and storytelling.

    GET INSPIRED

  • ARTICLES

    A deeper look at timely reef topics, stories and insights from science, community voices and coastal experiences.

    read articles