Study surveys West Kimberley coastline use
Researchers in spotter-planes have started scouring the West Kimberley coast to put together the most detailed snapshot ever compiled of how people are using the area.
The WA Marine Science Institute is coordinating the study, which will run over 12 months.
Observers will fly low along the coast for five days each month, recording the number of people, cars and boats in the area.
Murdoch University professor Lynnath Beckley says the survey is ambitious in scope but will be of value for years to come.
"These sort of findings help towards better planning in the region, so once you know where people really value areas, you can ensure they don't get caught up in industry and conservation zones or whatever," professor Beckley said.
"It's baseline data and we also call it benchmark data, because it's benchmarking at a certain point in time how people are using the coast.
"Just gives you an overall picture of how people use the coast and also how they value the coast and I think in the past that may have been underestimated.
"We may have done studies of fishing but lots of people are doing other things on the coast, making the most of this coastline we have across WA and particularly in the Kimberley."