Improved wave information for Geraldton

Commercial fishermen and the recreational boating community operating out of Geraldton have access to improved information about ocean conditions following the deployment of a new directional wave buoy off the coast by the Department of Transport (DoT).

Able to record the direction of waves as well as the height, the new buoy will also provide key data to be used to assist coastal management activities and in planning future development and infrastructure along the Mid-West coastline. 

DoT Manager of Oceanographic Services Tony Lamberto said the buoy had recently been deployed approximately 14 nautical miles southwest of the Point Moore lighthouse in about 45 metres of water - adding to the State’s existing network of seven buoys.

“Skippers should keep a lookout for a large yellow sphere surrounded by a steel frame and fitted with a two-metre antenna and take care navigating in the areas. No fishing is allowed within 100 metres of the buoy due to the risk of damage that could jeopardise the collection of wave data,” Mr Lamberto said.

Funded through the State Government’s CoastWA initiative, the information from the buoy will not only provide long-term data to assist in the management of our coastline, but it will also significantly benefit the safety of those going to sea.

“The information adds to the understanding of the wave climate off the coast to better manage the resource being used for storm erosion predictions, management strategy development and coastal protection structure design,” Mr Lamberto said.

“The data collected by the buoy will provide greater insight to the four known coastal erosion hotspots under active management along the Geraldton coast.”

DoT introduced its first directional wave buoy off Rottnest in 2004 and has since deployed buoys at Esperance, Albany, Cape Naturaliste, Mandurah, Cottesloe, and Jurien.

People wanting to access near real time wave information off Geraldton can visit our wave data page 

Media contact: media@transport.wa.gov.au