Deep-sea ecosystems are among the least understood components of Australia’s marine estate, yet they are increasingly relevant to conservation, environmental assessment, and ocean governance. We present a synthesis of 119 baited lander deployments across approximately 37° of latitude in the eastern Indian Ocean, spanning water depths from ~1000 m to >6400 m. Sampling encompassed five Australian Marine Parks—Christmas Island, Perth Canyon, Gascoyne, South-west Corner, and Argo-Rowley Terrace—as well as sites beyond the Australian EEZ, including the Wallaby-Zenith Fracture Zone and Wallaby-Cuvier Escarpment.
Baited lander observations are coupled with CTD and current measurements, baited trap collections, eDNA, taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses, and multibeam-derived geomorphic interpretation. This integrated approach provides a rare regional perspective on deep-sea biodiversity, habitat variability, and ecological patterning across a vast and underexplored area.
The resulting datasets establish a substantial baseline for future exploration, monitoring and comparison, while improving the evidence base needed to support marine park management, spatial planning, and sustainable governance in Australia’s deep ocean.