The channel has been studied for estuarine and introduced marine species.[6][7][8]
The channel's water is stained red and provides a low light; this allows deeper-water creatures to live in the shallow water. The water is pitch black 6 metres (20 ft) below the surface. The channel attracts researchers and divers because they can observe deep underwater life without travelling thousands of feet with expensive equipment.[citation needed]
^Barrett, Neville; Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute; Barrett, Neville; Edgar, Graham; Lawler, Miles; Halley, Vanessa (2007), "A quantitative video baseline survey of reef biota and survey of marine habitats within Bathurst Channel, SW Tasmania 2002", Technical Report Series, Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, ISBN978-1-86295-372-7, ISSN1441-8487
Kelly, James (1791-1859) (24 December 1920). First discovery of Port Davey and Macquarie Harbour (Microfiche). Canberra: National Library of Australia, 2004. pp. 160–181. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
Bathurst Harbour – Old River catchment (Working paper). Sandy Bay, Tas: Steering Committee, South West Tasmania Resources Survey. 1981. ISBN0-7246-1010-3.