Redmap invites the Tasmanian community to spot, log and map marine species that are uncommon in Tasmania, or along particular parts of our coast. The information collected is mapped and displayed on the site, demonstrating, in time, how species distributions may be changing; it does not require extra fishing – just remember to log your sighting. Please always follow the correct rules and regulations outlined in the in the Recreational Sea Fishing Guide when fishing and there is also valuable information in the Recreational Marine Fishing Code of Practice.

Sightings are divided into two categories – those with a photo that can be ‘verified’ by a marine biologist, and sightings without photos that we call community sightings (anecdotal). All the information collected, with and without photos, is mapped and will be used in the following years to map the ‘story’ of what changes are occurring in our marine environment.

Redmap also provides educational resources on Tasmanian marine environments, marine species and climate change. Tell your school about the resources here on the website or tell us what else you’d like to know that isn’t here and we’ll add it to our ‘wish list’!

Why Redmap?

Recent scientific and anecdotal evidence indicates that some marine species are extending or shifting their usual habitat ranges. Learn more>>

There may be a number of reasons for this, including:

• more people out fishing and diving to catch and see species
• fishers using sonar and other equipment to target specific species
• more people have boats, and being able to get out further safely
• a greater awareness of our natural environment
• technology making underwater photography less expensive and more people enjoying under sea discovery
• human impacts such as over-fishing and pollution altering our marine habitats. 

Even when we consider all of the above, there appears to be a link between species moving further south and the recent changes in the physical environment - increased water temperatures as a function of climate change.

Water temperature of the oceans is increasing around the globe and in Tasmania this is further perpetuated by the presence of the East Australian Current (EAC) bringing warm waters from the north.  Every month since 1944, temperature, salinity and nutrient data have been collected at Maria Island off the east coast of Tasmania. Analysis of 50 years of temperature data shows that observed warming at Maria Island is over three times the global average, at 2.28 degrees Celsius per century and that the EAC has extended further down the east coast of Tasmania. Read more>>

All animal species have a preferred temperature range that they like to live, feed and breed in, and marine creatures are no different. As our waters warm up, species change their distribution, or range, to keep pace with the temperature changes. In the southern hemisphere, range shifts and extensions are usually in a southerly direction as species shift pole-ward to avoid the warming waters of their usual habitats. Capturing species range shifts can be difficult due to a scarcity of marine monitoring programs and the often short time frames of such studies. Fishers, divers and other people enjoying or working off our coasts have a huge depth of knowledge and Redmap is a website where we can record your valuable information.