Williams et al. (2009) report on new multibeam sonar bathymetry and underwater video data collected from submarine canyons and seamounts on Australia's southeast continental margin to 'investigate the degree to which geomorphic features act as surrogates for benthic megafaunal biodiversity' (p. 214). The authors describe what they view as deficiencies in the design of the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the southeast region of Australia, in which geomorphology information was employed as a surrogate to infer regional-scale patterns of benthic biodiversity. This comment is designed to support and underscore the importance of evaluating MPA designs and the validity of using abiotic surrogates such as geomorphology to infer biodiversity patterns, and seeks to clarify some of the discrepancies in geomorphic terminologies and approaches used between the original study and the Williams et al. (2009) evaluation. It is our opinion that the MPA design criteria used by the Australian Government are incorrectly reported by Williams et al. (2009). In particular, we emphasise the necessity for consistent terminology and approaches when undertaking comparative analyses of geomorphic features. We show that the MPA selection criteria used by the Australian Government addressed the issues of false homogeneity described by Williams et al. (2009), but that final placement of MPAs was based on additional stakeholder considerations. Finally, we argue that although the Williams et al. (2009) study provides valuable information on biological distributions within seamounts and canyons, the hypothesis that geomorphic features (particularly seamounts and submarine canyons) are surrogates for benthic biodiversity is not tested explicitly by their study.

This map shows the boundary of the security regulated port fro the purpose of the Maritime Transport & Office Security Act 2003. 4 sheets (Colour) 4 sheets (B&W) August 2009 Not for sale or public distribution Contact Manager LOSAMBA project, PMD

At this scale 1cm on the map represents 1km on the ground. Each map covers a minimum area of 0.5 degrees longitude by 0.5 degrees latitude or about 54 kilometres by 54 kilometres. The contour interval is 20 metres. Many maps are supplemented by hill shading. These maps contain natural and constructed features including road and rail infrastructure, vegetation, hydrography, contours, localities and some administrative boundaries. Product Specifications Coverage: Australia is covered by more than 3000 x 1:100 000 scale maps, of which 1600 have been published as printed maps. Unpublished maps are available as compilations. Currency: Ranges from 1961 to 2009. Average 1997. Coordinates: Geographical and either AMG or MGA coordinates. Datum: AGD66, GDA94; AHD Projection: Universal Transverse Mercator UTM. Medium: Printed maps: Paper, flat and folded copies. Compilations: Paper or film, flat copies only.

This report outlines the level survey completed during the visit to Manus Island, Papua New Guinea (PNG) from 8 - 12 June 2009. Precise Differential Levelling surveys were performed on previous occasions, from 1994 to 2003 by NTC and the survey in January 2006 was a comparison between the precise levelling and EDM height traversing technique. This is the third EDM Height Traversing levelling survey of the deep bench mark array in Manus Island, PNG. The previous levelling surveys using this technique were performed in January 2006 and August 2007. This project is sponsored by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), managed by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and supported by the National Geospatial Reference Systems Project (NGRS), Geospatial Earth Monitoring Division, GEOSCIENCE AUSTRALIA.

This map shows the boundary of the Maritime Security Zones for each port for the purpose of the Maritime Transport & Office Security Act 2003. 3 sheets (Colour) 3 sheets (B&W) July 2009 Not for sale or public distribution Contact Manager LOSAMBA project

This map shows the boundary of the Maritime Security Zones for each port for the purpose of the Maritime Transport & Office Security Act 2003. 2 Sheets (Colour) December 2009 Not for sale or public distribution Contact Manager LOSAMBA project, PMD

This dataset reflects the external boundaries of all native title determination and compensation applications that are currently recognized and active within the Federal Court process. Applications that are non-active (i.e. withdrawn, dismissed, finalised, rejected or combined) are only included as aspatial records for completeness. This is a national dataset with data partitioned by jurisdiction (State), for ease of use. Applications stored for each jurisdiction dataset include applications which overlap into adjoining jurisdictions as well as applications which overlap with these for completeness. This dataset depicts the spatial definition of active Claimant and Non-claimant native title determination applications and compensation applications. Where possible these may include internal boundaries or areas excluded. Aspatial attribution includes National Native Title Tribunal number, Federal Court number, application status and the names of both the NNTT Case Manager and Lead Member where assigned to the application. Applications included on the Schedule of Native Title (Federal Court) include all registered and unregistered applications as well as determined applications that are yet to be finalized.

This dataset attempts to reflect the boundaries of claimant applications for Native Title as per the Register of Native Title Claims (s185, Native Title Act; Commonwealth). This is a national dataset but data is stored by jurisdiction (State), for ease of use. Applications stored for each jurisdiction dataset include applications which overlap into adjoining jurisdictions as well as applications which overlap with these. This dataset depicts the spatial record of registered claimant applications. Aspatial attribution includes National Native Title Tribunal number, Federal Court number, application status and the names of both the NNTT Case Manager and Lead Member assigned to the application. Applicants of registered applications have the Right To Negotiate (RTN) with respect to certain types of Future Acts over the area being claimed. Whilst applications that are determined are recorded on a separate register, all registered applications remain on the Register of Native Title Claims until otherwise finalised.

This dataset attempts to reflect the boundaries of claimant applications for Native Title as per the Register of Native Title Claims (s185, Native Title Act; Commonwealth). This is a national dataset but data is stored by jurisdiction (State), for ease of use. Applications stored for each jurisdiction dataset include applications which overlap into adjoining jurisdictions as well as applications which overlap with these. This dataset depicts the spatial record of registered claimant applications. Aspatial attribution includes National Native Title Tribunal number, Federal Court number, application status and the names of both the NNTT Case Manager and Lead Member assigned to the application. Applicants of registered applications have the Right To Negotiate (RTN) with respect to certain types of Future Acts over the area being claimed. Whilst applications that are determined are recorded on a separate register, all registered applications remain on the Register of Native Title Claims until otherwise finalised.

This dataset reflects the boundaries of claimant and nonclaimant native title applications that have been determined in part or in full, together with attribution about that determination. This dataset is stored nationally. The National Native Title Register (s192, Native Title Act, Commonwealth), is a register containing information about each determination of native title by the Federal or High Court or by a recognized State or Territory body. Determinations are categorized by both process and outcome. Process will be by consent, litigation or unopposed. Outcome will be that native title will have been found to exist in full or part, or been extinguished. Those determinations subject to appeal are also noted.