Australia has great offshore renewable energy (ORE) prospects, however, sparse benthic data and inconsistent approaches present a challenge to understanding the local and regional environmental impacts associated with technologies such as offshore wind. Geoscience Australia and Research Connect Blue have, under the Australian Government’s Renewables Environmental Research Initiative, delivered a project to develop best practice survey guidance and data standards for benthic characterisation to help inform ORE environmental impact assessments. The project confirmed ten relevant benthic impact pathways that guide baseline and ongoing monitoring for identifying, quantifying, de-risking, and mitigating impacts associated with ORE activities. Domestic and international literature review and targeted consultation identified global benchmark scientific practices suitable for the Australian regime. The engagement also uncovered regulatory challenges, deficiencies and opportunities from countries with over two decades of operational ORE sectors. By applying these findings we have developed regulatory guidance that seeks to: balance adaptive and prescriptive management to support flexibility and technological advancement without compromising decision-making data utility; inform a better understanding of impacts from ORE projects; support more robust and faster decisions and approvals under the EPBC Act; and ensure that impact characterisation, monitoring and compliance of ORE projects aligns with international best practice.