19/10/2026
Last month, dedicated volunteers rolled up their sleeves and jumped into their mud boots to collect hundreds of benthic (sea floor) samples from the mudflats of Yawuru Nagulagun Roebuck Bay!
This long-term invertebrate mapping project, which began in 1997, helps to document and discover the incredible diversity of life found within the expansive mudflats of the bay.
With the tide waiting for no one, all worked hard to ensure samples were collected in time and we’d like to thank each and every volunteer for the early morning alarm clocks and their continued support to study and protect the hidden, world-class biodiversity of these mudflats.
Last month’s community benthic monitoring included:
🦀 24 volunteer attendances
📝 4 days of sampling
🪱 The collection of over 300 benthic samples
This work formed part of a large-scale invertebrate expedition, where Traditional Owner groups Yawuru, Karajarri and Nyangumarta have been working with Edith Cowan University across their sea Country. For weeks, Rangers and researchers have been working hard to collect these benthic samples, thank you Karajarri Traditional Lands Association RNTBC for welcoming our team back for sampling in the awe-inspiring La Grange Bay.
The last survey in Yawuru Nagulagun was conducted in 2016, revealing over 368 invertebrate species. We can’t wait to discover what these latest samples reveal!
Thanks to our partners Yawuru and Parks and Wildlife Service, Kimberley, Karajarri Traditional Lands Association, Karajarri Rangers, Edith Cowan University (ECU), Broome Bird Observatory and generous funders Rangelands NRM for the opportunity to bring community closer to life in the mud, strengthening coastal stewardship and supporting the continued participation in the protection of our precious local marine ecosystems.
Want to join us for more activities in the mud? Head to www.environskimberley.org.au/events to sign up for our next round of seagrass monitoring in Yawuru Nagulagun Roebuck Bay!
