Port Coogee Marina’s ongoing wildlife monitoring has recorded at least 180 non-fish species since the program began in 2018. In its February 2023–February 2024 survey period, marine scientists recorded 118 species across molluscs, arthropods and chordates, including oysters, clams, octopus, cuttlefish, crabs and sea squirts. These are monitoring records—not claims that every species is new to science or newly arrived at the marina.
What species were recorded in the latest survey?
The City of Cockburn’s 2024 report lists a varied selection of marine life observed by Aqua Research & Monitoring Services (ARMS), which conducted the work for the City. Examples include:
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- Molluscs: Southern Hammer Oyster, Venus Clam, Star Octopus, Australian Giant Cuttlefish and Gem Doris nudibranch.
- Arthropods: Decorator Crab, Little Porcelain Crab and Australian Blue Swimmer Crab.
- Chordates: Lightbulb Sea Squirt, Lollipop Ascidian and Sea Pork.
These are representative examples, not a complete list of the species recorded. The City’s 2024 report describes 118 species from three groups for the February 2023–February 2024 period. Separately, its broader catalogue, compiled from observations since 2018, contained at least 180 non-fish species.
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They were recorded through an ongoing marina-monitoring program. The report does not say the named species were new to science, or that they all appeared for the first time in the 2023–2024 survey. The 180-species figure is the cumulative non-fish catalogue; the 118 figure applies to three groups recorded during the latest period. They describe different scopes and should not be read as a count of new arrivals.
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How did scientists survey the marina?
The City’s report describes 44 scuba surveys over seven years, from 2018 to 2024. For the latest non-fish work, scientists completed three 90-minute dive surveys over nine hours, following six 100-metre routes at locations inside the marina between February 2023 and February 2024. They used 281 photographs to help verify species records.
This is the effort described in the report, not a census of every organism in the marina. The observations establish which species were recorded during the surveys; they do not provide a comprehensive count of animals or their population sizes.
What did earlier fish surveys find?
Separate finfish surveys offer context for the marina’s recorded diversity, but their counts cover different survey efforts from the non-fish inventory.
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| Survey | Reported result | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Inaugural survey, 2019 | 85 finfish species recorded | City of Cockburn, 2023 |
| March 2022 | 71 finfish species, including 13 not previously recorded in the 2019 survey | City of Cockburn, 2023 |
The two fish-survey totals should not be treated as a simple increase or decrease in biodiversity: they are results from separate surveys, not a like-for-like population trend. The 2022 survey also noted non-fish animals including Star Octopus and Giant Australian Cuttlefish. Its technical report lists the Star Octopus as Octopus djinda in an appendix, where identifications were flagged as subject to confirmation.
What does the record say about introduced species?
The City reported two introduced molluscs: Dove Snail and Livid Fan Scallop. It relayed advice from Aquatic Pest Biosecurity at Western Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development that neither was a species of concern in the state at that time. That time-qualified assessment is not evidence that introduced species generally pose no risk.
What does the inventory tell us about marina health?
The records show that scientists documented a range of marine life during their surveys. The inventory alone does not quantify ecosystem health, establish population trends, or demonstrate that the marina’s ecosystem is healthy. The City quoted Mayor Logan Howlett describing the small animals as playing an important role in keeping the marina clean and healthy; that is the mayor’s view, rather than a conclusion measured by the species inventory.
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The City says observations are available through iNaturalist. ARMS marine scientist Dr Glen Whisson said the data can help local divers and snorkellers identify the animals they see in local waters.
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In a separate update dated 30 July 2025, the City reported that the marina had again received international clean-marina accreditation and had received fish-friendly accreditation for the first time. The same update said marine scientists observed a Stott’s Goatfish during an April fish survey. These later details are not part of the February 2023–February 2024 non-fish survey.
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