Description of proposed action
The action is collecting dead birds and the remains of dead birds (naturally deceased) of any species
found dead at Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island (see map in Supplementary Form C). The action DOES
NOT include taking any live birds or eggs. The action will consist of collecting NO MORE than 50
carcasses annually (during two expeditions each year) for the life of the study.
A. The objectives and purposes of the action
The proposed action is a component of scientific study 6 under the Monitoring Plan for the Montara
Well Release Timor Sea as agreed between PTTEPAA Pty Ltd and the then Department of
Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts in October 2009. With regard to seabirds and shorebirds
and health of flora in the Ashmore Reef, Cartier Island and Browse Island area, the objectives of this
study are:
- to quantify the presence of fauna and flora in the subject area pre-impact in order to determine
the level of potential exposure to oil;
- to observe and if possible quantify actual exposure of fauna and flora to oil (i.e. post impact) or
to the response;
- to identify and quantify the pre-impact status of fauna (e.g. nesting activity) and health of flora
(leaf fitness etc) in the subject area;
- to identify and quantify the post-impact status of fauna (e.g. nesting activity and health of flora
(leaf fitness etc) in the subject area; and
- to quantify recovery from any harmful effect of oil impact on flora, fauna, habitat or communities
in the subject area.
Dead birds found that are suspected to have died due to the affects of contaminants will be provided to
an appropriate facility for autopsy purposes in Perth, Western Australia, so that the cause of death may
be determined. This is necessary under the aims of the larger monitoring program in the area.
Dead birds found that are considered to be of taxonomic/scientific value would be retained and passed
directly the Western Australian Museum so that they be retained as study specimens in a public
institution.
B. The equipment and methods used
Any dead birds and the remains of dead birds will be collected by research staff, labelled (species,
date, GPS coordinates, name of collector, general comments), packaged and frozen immediately, and
retained on the research vessel until returning to Western Australia. From there the dead specimens
will be moved to either an appropriated autopsy facility (in the event that the specimen is suspected to
have died from the effects of oil) or to the Western Australian Museum (in the event that the specimen
is considered to be of taxonomic/scientific value. The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water,
Population and Communities will also receive notification of all specimens and associated data
collected in the reports for studies under the Monitoring Plan for the Montara oil spill.