Australia’s Marine Science and Technology Plan · 2011. 12. 30. · Australia’s Marine Science...

Commonwealth of Australia

Australia’s Marine Scienceand Technology Plan An Overview


© Commonwealth of Australia 1999.

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Inquiries and requests for further copies of Australia’s Marine Scienceand Technology Plan and this Overview should be addressed to theGeneral Manager, Science and Technology Policy Branch,Department of Industry, Science and Resources, GPO Box 9839Canberra ACT 2601.

This document is also available on the Internet athttp://www.isr.gov.au/science/marine/marineoverview

ISR 1999/080

ISBN 0 642 720371

Design and art production: Design One Solutions, CanberraPrinted by: Goanna Print, Canberra

Front cover: Background – sunset, south east coast NSW, Tony KaracasonyiInset – The Research Vessel Lady Basten, Australian Institute of MarineScience (AIMS)A diver investigates the rich biodiversity of the Great Barrier Reef,(GBR) Environment AustraliaSeahorse, National Aquarium and Wildlife Park, Canberra

Back cover: Seals on Montague Island, Environment AustraliaPage 1: Natural sunblocking agents in reef coral organisms inspire research

into the development of novel commercial and biomedicalapplications, AIMSCrested terns, Environment AustraliaDivers investigate a wreck site, Environment AustraliaRacing yacht, Australian Maritime Engineering CRC

Page 4: S W Herald photo: M. Hallam, Environment AustraliaPage 5: Photo: M. Cuthill, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

(GBRMPA)Page 6: Negotiating the passage to Mermaid Reef, Rowley Shoals, Western

Australia, AIMSPage 7: SCUBA divers deploy an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler off

Wheeler Reef, GBR, AIMSPage 8: Narooma Breakwater, New South Wales, Environment AustraliaPage 10: One Tree Island Research Station, L. Zell, GBRMPAPage 11: A typical winter sea surface temperature pattern for the southern

Great Barrier Reef: satellite imagery shows the warm waters of theEast Australia Current offshore and cooler coastal waters inshore,AIMS

Page 12: Detail, coral reef herbivores – parrotfish and rabbitfish, TonyKaracasonyi

Page 13: SCUBA diver with survey equipment, Environment AustraliaPage 14: Southern Right Whale, Australian Antarctic Division photo by Clive

McMahon © Commonwealth of AustraliaPage 15: Divers investigating coral reef lagoon ecosystems, AIMSPage 17: Seafloor terrain of the continental slope off southern Tasmania,

imaged in detail by multibeam sonar (swath mapping) equipment.The image shows submarine volcanoes, typically 300-500 m high:their summit areas are important fishing grounds for orange roughy,Australian Geological Survey Organisation (AGSO)

Page 18: Emperor Penguin, Australian Antarctic Division photo by Dale Opulski© Commonwealth of Australia

Page 19: Hatchling green turtle, B. Legg, GBRMPADugong mother and calf, Geoff Taylor (Lochman Transparencies)

Page 20: Research vessel photo, F. Lovell, Australian MuseumResearcher, Environment Australia

Page 22: Fish, F. Lovell, Australian MuseumPage 23: ANARE helicopter, Australian Antarctic Division photo by Diana

Calder © Commonwealth of AustraliaPage 24: A diver investigates the rich biodiversity of the GBR, Environment

Australia

Page 25: Satellite data shows turbid waters extending across the Torres Straitfrom New Guinea to the tip of Cape York, AIMS

Page 26: Darwin Harbour, Environment AustraliaLighthouse, Environment Australia

Page 27: Satellite image of Heywood Shoals area: black patches and spotsindicate oil seepage at the surface of the sea, AGSO

Page 28: Woodside Offshore Petroleum’s ‘Triton’ Remotely Operated Vehiclebeing launched at the North Rankin ‘A’ gas production platform onthe North West Shelf, Centre for Marine Science and Technology,Curtin University

Page 29: The Nordmore Grid, a bycatch reduction device, CSIRO MarineResearch

Page 30: Fish, F. Lovell, Australian MuseumAtlantic salmon aquaculture and its fruits, Port Esperance, southeastTasmania, Tassal LtdBeach image, AIMS

Page 31: Shipwreck on Samaurez Reef, off the southern GBR, AIMSPage 32: High speed catamaran, Australian Maritime Engineering CRCPage 33: Specialised equipment is used to measure respiration rates of coral

and other species in situ, AIMSCoral reefs – a valuable resource for tourism, AIMS

Page 34: SCUBA divers with WetPC , AIMS and WetPC Pty LtdPage 35: Jet ski race, Sydney Harbour, Environment Australia

Detail of ‘Burraltja’, Djambawa Marawili, Baniyala, NT courtesy ofBuku Larrnggay Mulka, Yirrkala, NT

Page 36: Navy surveillance aircraft, Environment AustraliaSea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) ocean colourimage showing high chlorophyll concentrations in the temperate andpolar regions and relatively low concentrations in tropical waters,AIMS

Page 37: Shallow inshore waters, Tony KaracasonyiInset – potato cod and divers, Andrew Green

Page 38: Seals on Montague Island, Environment AustraliaPage 39: Harbour, Andrew GreenPage 40: Wave rider buoy off Wheeler Reef, GBR, AIMS

The Research Vessel Lady Basten, AIMSPage 41: Research investigating the energy of waves on coral reefs. This

information allows the development of safe engineering guidelines forconstruction in tropical shelf waters, AIMS

Page 42: One Tree Island Research Station, L. Zell, GBRMPAPage 43: Underwater laser measuring equipment being used to determine

growth rates of coral species, AIMSPage 45: Seahorse, National Aquarium and Wildlife Park, CanberraPage 46: Acropora coral, Western Australia, AIMSPage 47: A diver investigates reef fish biodiversity by sampling and census,

GBR, AIMSSeal on Kangaroo Island, Environment Australia

Photo credits

Australia’s Marine Science and Technology Plan: An Overview2

Australia’s Marine Jurisdictional Zones(Preliminary)

Australian EEZ

Preliminary Continental Shelf > AEEZ

Zone of Cooperation

Maximum CS < AEEZ offAustralian AntarcticTerritory

Boundary to be negotiated

Australia’s Marine Science andTechnology Plan presents a vision forthe future for our marine researchcapabilities, and the benefits these canbring to the understanding andsustainable use of our marine environ-ment. The Plan was developed with theassistance of an expert Working Groupappointed by the former Minister forScience and Technology, the Hon PeterMcGauran MP. The Plan identifies

national needs and priorities for ourmarine science, technology and engi-neering capabilities, and nominatesparticular activities relevant to theimplementation of Australia’s OceansPolicy.

The Marine Science and TechnologyPlan is an authoritative reference docu-ment for Government agencies inconsidering the content of theirprograms. This Overview presents themajor issues and conclusions to befound in greater detail in the Planitself.

The Plan examines what needs to bedone for, and by, marine science, tech-nology and engineering to ensureprogress in improving our knowledgebase, and to ensure sustainable resourceuse and development, over the next tento fifteen years. Members of theMarine Science and Technology PlanWorking Group have nominatedseveral priorities to be addressed withinthe next three to five years.

The Plan does not make recommenda-tions, nor is it prescriptive on mattersof funding.

Australian marine science and engi-neering research is conducted by a largenumber of Federal and StateDepartments and agencies, byUniversities and university-linkedconsortia, and by maritime industries.As with Australia’s science system as awhole, this pluralism is both necessaryand desirable, to ensure that the mostappropriate skills and knowledge aredeveloped and made available locally.Australia’s Marine Science andTechnology Plan recognises the impor-tance of continuing independence inresearch and program planning, whileencouraging collaborations andongoing communication. The Planprovides a coherent framework forfuture directions in marine research inthe national interest.

I am grateful to the members of theMarine Science and Technology PlanWorking Group for the considerablethought and time they have devoted topresenting a complex set of issues withclarity, and in a well structured form.

I and my colleagues, particularly thosewho are members of the NationalOceans Ministerial Board, welcome theopportunity that the Plan affords toconsider these issues.

I encourage the participation of allAustralians in developing a greaternational understanding of our marineenvironment, and an increasing appre-ciation of its contribution to ournational well-being.

Nick MinchinMinister for Industry, Science and ResourcesJune 1999.

3

Foreword


A VISION FOR AUSTRALIA’S OCEANS

(Australia’s Oceans Policy)

Healthy oceans: cared for, understood and used wisely forthe benefit of all, now and in the future.

5

A VISION FOR AUSTRALIA’S MARINE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Strong and vigorous marine science, technology and engineering, informing national marine policy anddecision-making, and contributing fully to knowledge, to skills development, and to the health andwealth of the nation.

GOALS FOR THE MARINE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PLAN

Australia’s Marine Science and Technology Plan provides:

• a strategy for integrated and innovative science and technology, conducted in the national interest to guidethe exploration and ecologically sustainable development and management of the marine resources under ourjurisdiction, to understand and predict climate variability and change, and to guide the development ofsustainable maritime industries;

• a key to a better understanding of the marine environment and its living, mineral and energy resources; and

• an effective framework for well focused, concerted action in both the short and long term by the Australianmarine science, technology and engineering community, adding value by creating opportunities for signifi-cantly increased cooperation.

Australia’s ocean environment is vast.Our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)covers 11 million square kilometres.The EEZ around the mainland, at8.6 million square kilometres, is largerthan Australia itself (7.8m sq km);while the EEZ off the AustralianAntarctic Territory (AAT) embraces afurther 2.4m sq km.

Beyond the EEZ, our LegalContinental Shelf off the mainland andAAT extends for an estimated further5.1m sq km. Under the UnitedNations Convention on the Law of theSea (UNCLOS), we have the opportu-nity to confirm a claim to this area by2004. Together with the EEZ, thecombined total area of 16.1m sq km isknown as Australia’s MarineJurisdiction (AMJ).

Australia’s Marine Science andTechnology Plan is concerned withdeveloping a better understanding ofthe nature of the AMJ:

• to understand the form and struc-ture of the seabed;

• to understand the ocean’s thermalcharacteristics, current patternsand chemistry, and its role in ourweather and climate;

• to understand our marine speciesand ecosystems, and their behav-iour over time;

• to assist environmental conserva-tion; and

• to support the ecologicallysustainable long term planningand management of our marineresources and environments.

We need to meet these challenges in aregion that encompasses all types ofocean temperature zones, from tropicalto polar, and an extensive and diverserange of ecosystems and species, manyof which are unique in the world. Wealso need to respond to the diverseneeds of users of our waters, and guidethe development of sustainablemaritime industries in the context ofecosystem-based and multiple-usemanagement regimes. The resourcesneeded for this include:

• a skills and knowledge base withwhich to build understanding;

• accurate and detailed geoscientific,oceanographic, biological andecosystems information;

• the means to gather and analysethis information, including refur-

bished and additional researchinfrastructure; and

• improved data management capa-bilities to permit integration andexpansion of nationally importantdata sets.

Our marine science, technology andengineering capabilities are charac-terised by a degree of specialisation thatputs us at the forefront of certain fields,from knowledge of tropical reef ecosys-tems to fast vessel design and construc-tion. We are building our knowledge ofregions and using this in a range ofapplications – conservation and envi-ronmental protection, offshore petro-leum exploration and production,navigation guidelines, shipping, andsustainable fisheries resource manage-ment programs.

The Plan builds on these strengths inpresenting proposals for integrated andinnovative science and technology,conducted in the national interest toguide the exploration and ecologicallysustainable development and manage-ment of the marine resources underour jurisdiction; to understand andpredict climate variability and change;and to support the sustainable develop-ment of existing and new marineindustries. It also addresses our abilityto meet our international commit-ments, and the need to encourageeffective community participation,including through the integration ofindigenous knowledge in under-standing and managing marineresources.

The Plan defines twenty-nine objec-tives for the national effort in marinescience, technology and engineering,through three Programs:

1. Understanding the marine envi-ronment;

2. Using and caring for the marineenvironment; and

3. Infrastructure for understandingand utilising the marine environ-ment.


Executive Summary

7

The objectives, and particular strategiesfor achieving them, arise from a reviewof national circumstances that includedconsideration of the issues andprograms identified in Australia’sOceans Policy, released by the Ministerfor the Environment and Heritage,Senator the Hon Robert Hill, inDecember 1998.

The Plan takes a long view. Itsproposed responses to national issues,needs and priorities are intended to beaddressed over a period of ten to fifteenyears, although within that period,some proposed actions and initiativesare identified as priorities for considera-tion in the shorter term – over the nextthree to five years. These are:

• complete the mapping, data inter-pretation and processing requiredto define our AMJ boundary, intime for lodgement with the UNCommission on the Limits of theContinental Shelf by November2004;

• continue to map the form andnature of the seabed, and collateand digitise seabed data sets,commencing in the South East

Region in support of the OceansPolicy’s South East RegionalMarine Plan;

• develop an integrated southerntemperate research program,linking State-based and Common-wealth research organisations toimprove knowledge and sustainableresource use, and to support theRegional Marine Planning process;

• develop a multidisciplinarynorthern tropical research program,focused in the Torres Strait/Arafura/Timor Sea Region;

• strengthen and increase the marinescience skills base, to give us thecapacity to learn more, and torespond to expected increasedfuture demands from coastal andmarine industries;

• upgrade the Research VesselsFranklin and Southern Surveyor,and extend their days at sea asNational Facilities;

• improve national capability andreduce recurrent research costs by:

– acquiring a domestic deepwater swath mapping capa-bility;

– refurbishing existing andestablishing new islandresearch stations; and

– providing new hydrody-namics facilities for the designand testing of offshore plat-forms and high speed vessels;

• implement an Australian OceanObserving System (AOOS),designed to improve marineobserving capability, links betweenexisting facilities, and to supportour participation in internationaloceanographic and meteorologicalobservation programs such as theGlobal Ocean Observing System(GOOS);

• coordinate the linking and manage-ment of nationally important datasets, and their enhancement, by

establishing a new National MarineData Group, serviced by a secre-tariat in the Australian LandInformation Group (AUSLIG),with links to the Heads of(Commonwealth) Marine Agencies,the Australian Spatial DataInfrastructure and the Australia andNew Zealand Land InformationCouncil (ANZLIC); and

• monitor and report on the imple-mentation of issues identified inthe Marine Science and TechnologyPlan, through a new MarineScience Advisory Group, whosecore membership is drawn fromagencies in the Industry, Scienceand Resources (ISR) portfolio, withsecretariat support from thatDepartment.


9

Executive Summary 6

Introduction 11

The Purposes of Australia’s Marine Science and Technology Plan 11

The Context of Australia’s Marine Science and Technology Plan 12

Implementing Australia’s Marine Science and Technology Plan 13

Program 1: Understanding the Marine Environment 16

Geological Knowledge 16

Seabed Mapping 16

AMJ Boundary Definition 16

Understanding of Oceanographic Processes 16

The Role of the Oceans in the Climate System 18

Marine Biodiversity and Biological Processes 18

Ecosystem Dynamics 20

Program 2: Using and Caring for the Marine Environment 24

Ecosystem Health and Functioning 24

Impact of Land-based Human Activities on the Marine Environment 25

Support for Planning and Implementing Multiple Use Management Practices 25

Knowledge of the Oceans’ Variability and Change 26

Petroleum and Minerals Industries 26

Sustainable Fisheries 28

Aquaculture 30

Shipbuilding Technology 31

Shipping, Safety and Environmental Protection 31

New and Emerging Industries, Services and Technologies 31

Renewable Energy 33

Coastal and Marine Tourism and Recreation 34

Collaborating to Apply Traditional Knowledge to Marine Resource Use and Management 35

Security and Navigational Safety in the AMJ 36

Marine Science and Technology and Marine Law and Policy 36

Program 3: Infrastructure for Understanding and Utilising the Marine Environment 40

Skills Base 40

Infrastructure 40

Long-term Monitoring Programs 41

Marine Data Management 42

Regional and International Participation 43

Marine Science and the Community 43

Appendices 44

Members of the Marine Science and Technology Plan Working Group 44

Acronyms and Abbreviations 45

Glossary of Terms 46

Selected References 48

Contents


The Purposes of Australia’sMarine Science and TechnologyPlanAustralia’s Marine Science andTechnology Plan has been developed byan expert Working Group with supportfrom the Department of Industry,Science and Resources. Its content isinformed by a number of previousreports, consultation with experts,comment from GovernmentDepartments, and by over 140 submis-sions that have been put to theWorking Group over the past twoyears. The Plan’s time in developmentis a testament to the complexity ofissues that it has addressed.

The structure of the Plan reflects threemajor, long-term priorities for marinescience, technology and engineering,which give rise to its three Programs:

1. Understanding the marine envi-ronment;

2. Using and caring for the marineenvironment; and

3. Infrastructure for understandingand utilising the marine environ-ment.

Through the Programs, the Plan:

• provides an overview of thenational research effort in marinescience, technology and engi-neering, and provides a coherentframework for the future;

• addresses existing and emergingpriorities for marine science, tech-nology and engineering;

• identifies a range of issues forconsideration by Commonwealthand State-based organisations informulating their programs overthe next ten to fifteen years; and

• supports Australia’s Oceans Policyin its emphases on ecosystem-based management for sustainablemultiple use of regional resources,and the development of RegionalMarine Plans.

The Programs encompass twenty-nineObjectives, each of which identifiesneeds and priorities, and strategies forresponding to these. Some of theseneeds are being addressed already,through government programs,research programs of organisations anduniversities, industry R&D, and inprograms involving community partici-

pation. Strategies proposedas responses to furtherneeds will require plan-ning for implementationin the future. The Plan’spriorities are intended foraddress in the shorterterm, over the next threeto five years.

Readers with an interest inparticular aspects of thePlan can contact a rangeof “Principal Organis-ations” identified as beingactive in the areasaddressed by the Plan’sObjectives. While thePlan identifies constraints,it also celebrates success:there are a large numberof Representative Projectsillustrating activities beingundertaken around Australia, byuniversities, industry, and State andFederal government research agencies.These “windows to research” offer anextraordinary range of insights intoactivity from deep water geoscience, tocone shell toxin analysis, to aquacul-ture. This Overview features similarhighlights.

Furthermore, the Plan proposes waysto keep in touch with the nationalresearch effort, to ensure continuingresponse to the needs of the environ-ment, and our marine industries, andto maintain and strengthen ourresearch capabilities. It is a Plan that isintended to encourage change, and tobe changed itself.

11

Introduction

The Context of Australia’sMarine Science and TechnologyPlan

Australia’s Marine JurisdictionAustralia’s Marine Jurisdiction (AMJ) isapproximately 16.1 million sq km inarea – one of the largest marine juris-dictional zones in the world. As a partyto UNCLOS Australia has sovereignrights to explore, exploit, conserve andmanage the natural resources within itsEEZ; subject to lodging a claim withthe UN by 2004, we can confirmfurther rights and responsibilities tothe limits of the Legal ContinentalShelf beyond the EEZ boundary.

These responsibilities include theprotection and ecologically sustainablemanagement of the ocean and itsresources on the basis of best availablescientific information.

We know very little about the nature ofthe AMJ. Our knowledge of the shapeand composition of the seafloor islimited, because much of it isunmapped and unsampled. The oceanmoves in complex patterns, and itvaries in its temperature, affecting ourweather and marine ecosystems in ways

we are just beginning to understand.The ocean’s chemical structure retainsmany secrets. The creatures of the sea,from micro-organisms, to the shrimp-like krill, to larger fish speciesincluding those that are staples in ourdiet, play roles in marine food websand ecosystems that change with stagesin their life cycles, and are not wellunderstood. Our offshore petroleumindustry, supplying 90% of our output,is drawing its product from less than4% of the EEZ. We do not know howmany more petroleum basins remain tobe discovered.

The task of improving our knowledgeand understanding of the marine envi-ronment is an enormous, complex andexciting challenge. In areas where weare economically and socially active,this understanding is vital to theprotection and maintenance of ourmarine ecosystems, the ecologicallysustainable use of our fisheries andcoastal areas, and the growth ofexisting and new marine industries. Inareas we are just beginning to explore,gaining knowledge of deeper oceangeography, geology, and ecosystemspresents issues that require sophisti-cated technological solutions.

Australia’s Oceans PolicyAustralia’s Oceans Policy sets in place theframework for integrated andecosystem-based planning andmanagement in all of Australia’s marineregions.

It promotes the ecologically sustainabledevelopment of our ocean resources,and encourages the continuing devel-opment of internationally competitivemarine industries, while ensuringmarine biological diversity protection.

At the core of the Oceans Policy is thedevelopment of Regional MarinePlans, based on large marine ecosys-tems.

The first Regional Marine Plan will bedeveloped for the Southeast Region.This includes waters off Victoria,

Tasmania, southern New South Walesand eastern South Australia. TheRegional Marine Plan’s boundaries willnot be extensions of State lines, butwill be determined by ecological andgeographical characteristics. Withinthis area lie some of our more impor-tant fisheries, petroleum provinces, andtourist destinations. It is an area usedintensively by shipping, and it isoffshore to our largest populationconcentrations. The development of aRegional Marine Plan for this area willrequire the support of existing researchfindings and new studies in all of theseareas of concern. Australia’s MarineScience and Technology Plan proposesstrategies to build the information basesupporting the development of thisand future Regional Marine Plans.


Implementing Australia’sMarine Science and TechnologyPlanAustralia’s Marine Science andTechnology Plan will be implementedby Federal and State/TerritoryGovernment Departments andresearch agencies, by universities andmuseums, by industry, and by commu-nity groups. This will happen overtime and as circumstances, includingfinancial capacities, permit.

The Plan suggests a focus of effort topriorities that are identified for each ofthe 29 program Objectives, and aparticular shorter-term focus to thosemore immediate priorities outlined inthe Executive Summary.

The formation of an expertise-based,Ministerially appointed Marine ScienceAdvisory Group, is supported by secre-tariat services from ISR, proposed as ameans to monitor and report onprogress in the Plan’s implementation.The Group, comprising a core of threeadvisers drawn from within ISR’s port-folio science agencies: the AustralianGeological Survey Organisation(AGSO), the Australian Institute ofMarine Science (AIMS), and the

Commonwealth Scientific and Indust-rial Research Organisation (CSIRO),with additional members co-opted ona needs basis, would:

• monitor the implementation ofAustralia’s Marine Science andTechnology Plan, ensuring itscontinuing relevance and respon-siveness to change;

• facilitate coordination between allparties undertaking activitiesconsistent with the Plan; and

• at the request of the Minister,report on progress in imple-menting the Plan, provide adviceon science issues relevant to theeffective implementation of theOceans Policy, and report on othermatters as required.

The Minister would report progress inimplementing the Plan to the NationalOceans Ministerial Board, of which heis a member.

A new "public good" Marine ResourcesResearch and Development Corpor-ation could enhance the coordinationand implementation of the Plan’sPrograms. Through five Programs, theCorporation could augment, and facili-tate links between, marine researchprograms conducted by groups acrossAustralia. Based on priorities outlinedin the Plan and the Oceans Policy, thePrograms suggested are:

1. Marine biological diversity andecosystem processes;

2. Physical, chemical and geologicalattributes, including the role ofthe ocean in climate change andclimate variability;

3. Information for resource andconservation management;

4. Long-term development of skillsand infrastructure; and

5. Communication and Admini-stration.

13


15

The Programs

Program 1: Understanding the Marine Environment

Goal: To characterise and improve our understanding of the Australian Marine Jurisdiction, including the coastal zone, and the adjacent ocean; the ocean’sinteraction with the atmosphere; and, within the AMJ, the ocean’s biological resources, ecological systems, and underlying geological features.

Objective 1 To characterise and better understand the geological framework and evolution of Australia’s continental margin and adjacent ocean basins

Objective 2 To map the form and nature of the seabed of Australia’s Marine Jurisdiction

Objective 3 To define the boundaries of Australia’s Marine Jurisdiction

Objective 4 To improve understanding of the principal physical and chemical oceanographic processes in Australia’s coastal and open ocean waters

Objective 5 To improve predictions of Australian climate variability and change by understanding the role of the oceans in the climate system

Objective 6 To understand marine biodiversity and biological processes in Australia’s oceans

Objective 7 To understand the dynamics of Australia’s marine habitats and ecosystems

Understanding the MarineEnvironmentProgram 1 of the Plan deals largelywith basic and long-term strategicresearch.

Australia’s marine zones are charac-terised by complex physical, chemical,geological and biological processes, andby the interactions among thoseprocesses. There are also the complexsea-air-land interactions. Theseprocesses are little understood, yetdeveloping an understanding is integralto planning for conservation andsustainable use.

While short-term applied research isappropriate for particular case studiesand projects, basic and long-termstrategic research is necessary if we areto generate the sufficient knowledgebase that we need to better understandand manage our marine heritage.

Geological Knowledge

The level of knowledge of thedynamics and resources of the earth’scrust throughout the AMJ is highlyvariable. The greatest knowledge is inthose areas that have been subject toexploration for petroleum and

minerals, and those for which swathmapping data is available.

To develop the knowledge base andreduce risk in resource exploration,Australia needs to continue to exploreits continental margin, to define anddescribe the characteristics of theseabed and underlying material, and toparticipate in related internationalprograms, for example, the OceanDrilling Program and its successors.

Seabed Mapping

Fundamental to the efficient develop-ment of our offshore industries, explo-ration, defence and conservation isaccurate information on the form andnature of the seabed, its benthic ecosys-tems, and an understanding of theprocesses operating at and below theseabed. For the majority of the AMJthe form and nature of the seabed ispoorly known.

The Marine Science and TechnologyPlan responds to these concerns byidentifying three main strategies:

• acquire a domestic deep water swathmapping capability, and implementa systematic program of swathmapping, sampling and data digiti-sation;

• acquire and collate existing butcurrently dispersed bathymetricdata sets for the seafloor, and digi-tise their information in a nation-ally agreed common format; and

• continue to develop rapid and cost-effective marine habitat assessmenttechniques, including through anexpanded capacity for swathmapping the continental shelf.

Swath mapping is conducted by multi-beam sonar, is some 50 times fasterthan conventional bathymetricmapping, and (with sampling toground-truth the swath data) provides100-150 times more information.

The Oceans Policy is focused stronglyon the development of RegionalMarine Plans for large marine domainswhose sizes and resources will be deter-mined on a biogeographic basis.Seabed swath mapping would providebiogeographic information importantnot only in developing an under-standing of the regions themselves, butto the process of defining the bound-aries between Regions.

AMJ Boundary Definition

The AMJ covers several areas where theLegal Continental Shelf (LCS) extends

beyond the EEZ around the mainland,certain islands such as Lord HoweIsland, and off the coast of the AAT.

The Oceans Policy and the MarineScience and Technology Plan empha-sise the need to complete the definitionof the AMJ boundary, including deter-mination of the physical and geologicalcharacteristics of the LCS, in time forlodgement with the UN Commissionon the Limits of the Continental Shelfby November 2004.

Remaining survey work off Macquarieand Lord Howe Islands, and interpre-tation and processing of data fromthese and prior surveys, will completethe definition of the AMJ boundaryaround the Australian mainland. Thiswork is regarded as a priority, as is workto define and document the limits ofthe AMJ boundary beyond the EEZ ofthe AAT. A decision concerning theAAT project will need to be taken inthe near future.

Understanding of OceanographicProcesses

All management decisions relevant tothe coastal regions, the AMJ and theadjacent oceans require an under-standing of physical and chemical


Program 1

17

processes. These processes control thehealth of ecosystems, the distributionand concentration of natural and intro-duced chemicals and strongly influencethe use of the oceans for recreationaland commercial benefit. To maximiseenvironmental and economic benefitto Australia, we need comprehensivelyand quantitatively to describe, under-stand and model the physical andchemical processes in the marine envi-ronment.

An understanding of the processes ofocean circulation and weather, and thetranslation of this information intopredictive forecasts, is important to thesafety and efficiency of commercial andrecreational vessels, to search and

rescue, and responses to marine pollu-tion, including trajectory modelling ofoil and chemical spills.

The area of chemical oceanography isprobably one of the least well repre-sented of the major marine disciplines.The paucity of chemical baseline dataand knowledge of processes limits ourunderstanding of natural chemicalpathways, and the fate and behaviourin the marine environment of toxi-cants, heavy metals, nutrients andorganics.

Priorities for consideration are to:

• resource the Research VesselsFranklin and Southern Surveyor toconduct more extensive oceano-

graphic research, and spend moredays at sea;

• develop multidisciplinary studiesand models at a range of scalesfrom coast through EEZ to theadjacent oceans; and

• develop a comprehensive and quan-titative description of the physicaland chemical processes withinAustralia’s coastal and deeperwaters, through accurate spatialand temporal measurements and byintegrating chemical data.

The Role of the Oceans in the ClimateSystem

Climate variability and change is amajor factor in future planning for allsectors of the Australian economy.Oceanographic research is a significantelement of climate change research.The oceans play a key role in deter-mining long term patterns of rainfall,which in turn affects our agriculturalproductivity and water resource plan-ning.

It is important to continue the collec-tion and analysis of data from oceansediments, corals and Antarctic icecores as indicators of past climates and

climate variability, and enhance ourparticipation in international climatechange research programs. Our data,and our ability to collect further dataon Southern Hemisphere oceano-graphic complexities, is vital to thefurther development of global predic-tive models. Challenges are to:

• develop and implement a programof seasonal to interannual climatepredictions;

• understand decadal variations inocean structure; and

• estimate the timing and regionalimpact of climate change,including changes in the frequencyof the El Niño SouthernOscillation (ENSO) phenomenonand changes in the capacity of theSouthern Ocean to absorb carbondioxide.

Marine Biodiversity and BiologicalProcesses

The high biological diversity and themany different marine ecosystemsunder Australian jurisdiction togetherrepresent one of the richest marinebiotas on earth, and are valuablenational assets.


We have a particular responsibility toimprove our knowledge of the floraand fauna within our marine jurisdic-tion. There are two major reasons forthis. Firstly, there is a high degree ofendemism (species found nowhere else)and diversity in our temperate waters;and secondly, Australian tropicalmarine systems are reservoirs of biodi-versity in the threatened Indo-WestPacific region (a world centre formarine biodiversity). New and betterinformation on biological diversity atthe genetic, species, ecosystem andregional levels is needed for:

• sectoral resource management thatprotects marine ecosystems;

• integrated and ecologically sustain-able management of multiple oceanuses; and

• the development of managementresponse plans to implementimproved strategies for environ-mental protection, conservationand sustainable development.

However, current levels of knowledgefor marine biological diversity andbiological processes, and the distribu-tion, abundance and impact of intro-duced marine organisms, are inade-quate for effective conservation action,posing risks for marine biodiversityand the survival of species, habitats andthe ecological processes on which theydepend.

The Oceans Policy will providefunding to support rapid marine assess-ments of biodiversity in developingRegional Marine Plans and identifyingnew areas for inclusion in the NationalRepresentative System of MarineProtected Areas.

The Plan supports these initiatives, andidentifies further strategies for possibleimplementation in the longer term.Chief among these is the maintenanceof existing, and the establishment ofnew, long term monitoring programsthat would collect region-specific datain interrelated areas, including ocean

temperature, chemistry, and biodiver-sity. A priority for biodiversity assess-ment purposes is to improve thelimited size and usage of our taxo-nomic research capability.

Initiatives meriting further considera-tion include the following:

• develop an integrated southerntemperate research program, withnew or refurbished infrastructure asrequired, to link and strengthenCommonwealth and State-basedresearch organisations in southernWestern Australia, South Australia,Tasmania, Victoria, and southernNew South Wales, to improve

geoscientific, species and ecosys-tems knowledge and sustainableresource use, and to support theSouth East Regional Marine Plan;and

• develop a new northern tropicalresearch program, focused in theArafura/Timor Sea region and theTorres Strait, to improve under-standing of ecosystems and species,to support and integrate traditionalknowledge; to support the sustain-able development of our fisheries,pearling and petroleum industries;and to support bilateral agreementswith Indonesia and Papua NewGuinea.

19

Ecosystem Dynamics

All ecosystems are dynamic. Theirelements are naturally variable and in astate of flux within limits or trends thatare, under normal conditions, charac-teristic of each system. While change isexpected, we need a continuingcapacity to distinguish between naturaland human induced changes in themarine environment. Maintenance ofecosystem integrity is vital to biodiver-sity conservation, continued access tohigh quality resources and amenities,and accommodation of the full rangeof community aspirations.

Australia’s Marine Science andTechnology Plan proposes new regionalintegrated scientific surveys and infra-structure to assess biodiversity andecosystem dynamics, which would usea series of indicators of ocean environ-mental health and integrity developedunder the Oceans Policy, and be under-taken in the context of a continuingprogram to complete a systematicmapping and exploration of marineecosystems in the AMJ.

Targeted multidisciplinary studiescould include:

• the little-known pelagic systems;and

• coastal areas of high conservationand biodiversity value, such as estu-arine systems, seagrass habitats,wetlands, and lagoons.


“A lack of knowledge of our marine ecosystems, their functioning and interac-tions is the greatest barrier to developing the huge economic potential of theresources of the oceans in a way that protects marine biodiversity and maximisesresource utilisation. Rectifying this shortcoming will require the harnessing anddevelopment of our knowledge base on all parts of the marine environment –including the sea-floor, the water column and the coastal zone as well as on theliving and non-living resources contained within them. Marine science andtechnology is fundamental to ensuring the right management strategies areadopted.”

Our Sea, Our Future, The State of the Marine Environment Report (SOMER,1995).

21

Large Marine Domains of Australia’s EEZ


23

Program 2: Using and Caring for the Marine Environment

Goal: To provide the knowledge base to support marine industry development, and the ecologically and economically sustainable use and management ofthe Australian Marine Jurisdiction, including the coastal zone and adjacent ocean and their resources, in the light of increasing development andenvironmental pressures, and change and variability in the marine environment.

Objective 1 To ensure the maintenance of healthy and properly functioning ecosystems, through the development and application of effective monitoring and assessmentprocedures and sustainable management practices

Objective 2 To improve understanding of the impact of land-based human activities on the marine environment

Objective 3 To provide the scientific basis for the planning and implementation of sustainable multiple use management practices in our marine environment

Objective 4 To apply knowledge of the oceans’ variability and change, including interaction with the atmosphere and sediments, to the management of marine and terrestrial industries and environmental issues

Objective 5 To define, research and explore regions in the AMJ that are potentially important to the petroleum and minerals industries

Objective 6 To improve the productivity and sustainability of wild harvest fisheries, and to improve understanding of the relationship between fished stocks and the ecosystems that support them

Objective 7 To improve the sustainability, productivity and environmental performance of aquaculture

Objective 8 To strengthen the technological base supporting the continued development of a world competitive, specialised shipbuilding industry

Objective 9 To ensure that shipping and allied transport operations can be carried out efficiently, safely and with minimum practical adverse effect on the marine environment

Objective 10 To promote the potential of new and emerging industries, services and technologies

Objective 11 To increase our knowledge of the potential renewable energy in and near Australia’s oceans

Objective 12 To strengthen the information base supporting ecologically sustainable coastal and marine tourism and recreation

Objective 13 To develop a collaborative understanding of the marine resource use, management practices and maritime knowledge of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders

Objective 14 To assist the security of Australia’s Marine Jurisdiction, and to improve the safety of passage within it

Objective 15 To understand and document the implications of marine law and policy for the application of marine science and technology to the utilisation and managementof our marine resources

Using and Caring for theMarine EnvironmentOur success in developing theeconomic potential of our oceans’resources, in a way that protects biodi-versity and maximises sustainableresource utilisation, will depend on thestrength of our marine science, tech-nology and engineering and its linkagesto the needs of users.

We need improved understanding ofecological processes, baseline assess-ment and monitoring of ecosystemhealth, knowledge of the individualand cumulative impacts of humanactivities on ecosystems and theircomponents, and basic research thatsupports ecologically sustainablemarine industry development andgrowth.

Together, Australia’s Oceans Policy andAustralia’s Marine Science andTechnology Plan bring a new emphasisto the benefits to be gained from acoordinated and integrated approachto ecosystem based, regional multipleuse management of our marineresources, building on existing sectoralarrangements, while maintaining andimproving ecosystem health.

Australia is competitive by world stan-dards in many marine industries.Current strengths include thedesigning and building of high-speedships and ferries, environmentalmanagement, tourism, fisheries man-agement and aquaculture.

Our marine industries have beengrowing strongly over recent years.Marine industries now contributemore to Australia’s economy than thenation’s agricultural sector. In fact, theeconomic contribution from ourmarine resources is growing morequickly than our total economy.Estimated marine industry earningsgrew from $10.8 billion in 1984/85 to$41 billion in 1995/96, or an averageof 12.7% per year. In the same period,growth in Australia’s Gross DomesticProduct (GDP) averaged 3.3% peryear. Marine industries contributed3.7% of GDP in 1984/85, and grew to9% of GDP by 1995/96. An impor-tant element in that growth was marinetourism, which was worth $5.9 billionin 1987/88, and grew to $23 billion in1995/96.

New industries, in areas such as marinebiotechnology, instrumentation tech-nology, technology-intensive services,

and renewable energy sources, areemerging and have the potential tomake significant contributions to thehealth and wealth of the nation.

Continued advances in marine science,technology and engineering are neededto ensure sustainability in the growthof one of our most valuable and fastest-growing groups of industries.

Ecosystem Health and Functioning

Our knowledge and understanding ofmechanisms that govern the behaviourof the majority of Australian marineecosystems are poor. The paucity ofgeographically comprehensive andlong-term scientific information makesit difficult to assess the condition ofour marine environment, to identifytrends and to design and assessmanagement programs. To have confi-dence that use of resources is sustain-able and that ecosystems maintain theirhealth, productivity and functionality,national environmental indicators areneeded that distinguish ‘natural’ vari-ability and trends in ecosystems fromchange caused by human activity.

Planning for continuing humanactivity requires good information.Proper mapping and monitoring is

necessary to develop a nationalresource for facilitating coastal plan-ning decisions, reducing uncertaintyfor industry, and increasing certaintyfor conservation objectives. We needalso to improve our understanding ofland-sea interactions and the role theseplay in ecosystem dynamics. In this


Program 2

regard, there is a strong case to developan integrated approach to land, fresh-water and marine research, monitoringand management. A truly comprehen-sive monitoring and informationsystem should integrate economic and

social data to maximise its usefulness asa management tool.

Monitoring natural variability andchange in marine environments, andthe effects on these environments,could target:

• introduced marine species, loss ofhabitats, and harvesting of marineresources;

• the introduction of pollutants andchemical agents; and

• cycling of toxicants and nutrientsbetween the water column, sedi-ments and biota.

We should continue to identify vulner-able species, habitats and communities,and assess the utility of policies andprograms in sustaining and restoringbiodiversity, including fisheries.

Impact of Land-based Human Activitieson the Marine Environment

If we are to develop our capacity tominimise the impacts of land-basedhuman activities we need to under-stand the linkages between terrestrialand marine ecosystems, how theselinks vary in space and time, and whatenvironmental processes governchange.

At a national scale, the largest source ofland-based inputs – nutrients, sedi-ments and leachates – to the marineenvironment is from agricultural activi-ties. At a local scale, the inputs fromcoastal cities and towns are significant.At both scales, priority needs to begiven to determining sources, devel-oping and applying water quality stan-dards to assess the relative importanceof different inputs to different marine

environments, designing cost effectivemethods to minimise the most signifi-cant inputs, and evaluating the successof these measures.

Australia’s Oceans Policy includes aGovernment commitment to devel-oping national marine and estuarinewater quality standards.

Support for Planning and ImplementingMultiple Use Management Practices

Many competing activities take placein our oceans. These activities interactwith one another and the ecosystem.

Through Australia’s Oceans Policy, theGovernment is committed to inte-grated ecosystem-based planning andmanagement for multiple uses of ouroceans, while retaining existing sectoralmanagement arrangements. Fourfundamental principles – ecosystemintegrity, wealth generation andresource use, equity, and participatorydecision making – underpin multipleuse management, which involvesrecognising, and considering in deci-sion-making, the full range of uses andtheir impact on marine ecosystems.

Adoption of multiple use managementwill require a regional capacity for

25

“Following clearly agreed andarticulated policy objectives,Australian marine science andtechnology will provide the neces-sary essential data and advice toensure sustainable wealth genera-tion and healthy environmentalmanagement of the AMJ. Inachieving this, Australian marinescience and technology willdemonstrate its critical nationalpurpose, promote excellence andinnovation and communicateeffectively with the public,industry and government.Australian marine science andtechnology will become the back-bone to the nation’s economicprosperity.”

Australia’s Ocean Age, Report toPMSEC (1995).

resource assessment, involving inte-grated scientific research support.

Because ecosystems have complexdynamics, scientific support for deci-sion making must include both explicittreatment of uncertainty, and thedevelopment of robust adaptivemanagement strategies that link moni-toring observations to the decisionprocess.

The following initiatives would assisteffective multiple use management:

• the scientific definition of ecolog-ical regions for multiple usemanagement, including extensionto the AMJ’s deeper water areas ofpresent coastal bioregionalisations;

• identification of both the benefitsand impacts of use;

• protection of biodiversity andecosystem integrity; and

• the development of means to eval-uate alternative management strate-gies.

Knowledge of the Oceans’ Variability andChange

Coastal conditions of humidity,salinity and storms affect both onshoreand offshore structures. For safety,cost-effectiveness and environmentalprotection, coastal and offshore struc-tures and surface and sub-sea vesselsmust be designed to cope withprolonged exposure, extreme eventsand long-term change, and to operateefficiently in a marine environmentthat presents constant variation in itsphysical and chemical characteristics.

Working in the marine environmentrequires the support of accurate obser-vational data on wave, current andwind forces. Such data assist predictionof extreme events, the risks and envi-ronmental consequences of oil spills,and the application of design stan-dards. They can also be used to repli-cate natural conditions in marine engi-neering testing and design facilities.

It will be important to:

• develop a climatology of oceanconditions in strategic locations;

• continue observations of oceanconditions for use in predictivemodelling, including modelling ofimpacts; and

• incorporate new data in engi-neering for coastal and offshoreconstruction, and vessel design.

Petroleum and Minerals Industries

Petroleum is Australia’s highest valueoffshore resource industry, with 90%

of our oil and gas production beingsourced from offshore areas. In 1996the value of offshore oil and gasproduction was around $8 billion, withexports valued at around $5 billion.

Currently production comes from just1% of the AMJ, principally theGippsland Basin and parts of theNorth West Shelf and the Timor andArafura Seas. It is estimated that afurther 45% of the AMJ contains sedi-mentary basins that may have thepotential to contain commercial petro-leum accumulations. However, geolog-ical knowledge sufficient to indicate


27

A study of natural andanthropogenic hydrocarbonseepage on the North WestShelf has been carried out byAGSO. This study has usedmultiple remote sensing tech-nologies, one of which issatellite-based RadarSatSynthetic Aperture Radar(SAR). SAR data detect oilseepage via the calmingeffects of the seeping oil as itreaches the sea surface.

SAR data through the area ofthe inner Browse Basin hasrevealed that this region ischaracterised by massive,natural oil seepage throughporous rock. This seepagetends to be clustered in twoareas:

• a localised band ofseepage directly associ-ated with the HeywoodShoals, a prominentcarbonate bank in thearea; and

• a sinuous band in thecentral part of the regionaround a major change

in the slope of theseafloor, which is referredto as a ‘bathymetricheadland’. AGSO’sseismic studies haveshown that this head-land, and the oil seepageitself, is related directlyto an area where regionalEarly Cretaceous shales(which normally overliethe porous rock and ‘seal’or trap the migratinghydrocarbons in the sub-surface) are absent. Themost prolific hydro-carbon seepage is actuallyat the edge of the basinsystem.

These observations have veryimportant implications forboth petroleum explorationand environmental manage-ment. For example, theobservation concerningseepage volume at the basinedge leads to a conclusionthat such areas may representthe best (and most cost-effec-tive) locations in which tocapture a ‘snap-shot’ of the

present-day hydrocarbonmigration across a margin. Invery large, frontier petroleumprovinces, where the presenceor absence of an indication ofmigrating hydrocarbons is thekey exploration risk (such asin the Great Australian Bightor the Lord Howe Rise), suchareas are the first places in

which to focus a remotesensing program.

Similarly, these areas are themost likely areas in whichunique eco-systems associatedwith hydrocarbon seepage arelikely to be present.Numerous studies haveshown that large biologicalcommunities, typically

comprised principally ofcarbonate, can colonise theregion around seafloor hydro-carbon seeps. These commu-nities actually live on theseeping hydrocarbons. TheHeywood Shoals area is oneexample where unique andlittle understood seafloorcommunities have establishedthemselves around zones ofactive seepage.

From this finding, it is clearthat knowledge of naturalseepage is important as base-line information for environ-mental monitoring purposes,in relation to any futureresource developments in theNorth West Shelf region.

Identifying Hydrocarbon Seepage on the North West Shelf

potential petroleum accumulations isnot available for the majority of thisarea.

Exploration in those areas is expectedto increase as the results of the broad-scale baseline research programsconducted by AGSO become available.

Australian industry is noted for itsdevelopment and deployment of inno-vative technological solutions tocontain costs in developing remote,relatively small petroleum fields. Thisinnovative approach is expected tocontinue with continuing expectationsof low oil prices and the discovery ofrelatively small fields.

Australian seafloor minerals explo-ration is a relatively new area ofendeavour, with activity concentratingprincipally in offshore regions ofnorthern Australia. Minerals of interestrange from diamonds, to manganese,to sulphides. Pre-competitive geoscien-tific information is as important to thefuture of this industry as it is to thepetroleum industry.

Scientific information is needed tosupport policies to guide the safe andenvironmentally sound management ofpetroleum exploration and extraction.

Some priorities for address include:

• the identification of all sedimen-tary basins within the AMJ, andassessment of their prospectivityfor petroleum; and

• the development of new technolo-gies to access and develop deepwater petroleum resources.

Sustainable Fisheries

Australia’s marine fishing industriescomprise wild harvest commercialoperations, aquaculture, traditionaland recreational fishing. Totalcommercial fish production in1997/98 (excluding charter and recre-ational fishing) was conservativelyvalued at $1.86 billion, of which $1.5billion was for export.

Many Australian fisheries are based onhigh value-low volume species. Thecommercial harvest is generally charac-terised as stable, but with very fewopportunities for growth throughproduction increase. There are someexceptions to this, for example tropicaltunas, that are developing rapidly.

Nevertheless, opportunities exist toincrease the value of our fisheries byimproving technologies for catching,

handling, and post-harvest processing,packing, storage and transportmethods, for both live and chilledproduct – particularly for exportmarkets.

Value adding opportunities includeaquaculture. The value and productquality of our Southern bluefin tunacatch has been augmented strongly inrecent years through aquaculture ofjuveniles.

Increasingly, research is being directedto assessing the environmental impactsof fishing. Understanding these


The cost of ignorance

“As the oil and gas industry movesinto unknown deeper waters, thecost of exploring the marine envi-ronment is outweighed greatly bythe cost of ignorance.

This point is best illustrated by anepisode on the North West Shelf,where the lack of a basic under-standing of the behaviour ofinternal waves, storm surges andseafloor sediment stability costone petroleum company morethan $80 million.

Sediment scour left the company’socean floor pipeline suspendedwithout support, an incident thatcould have been avoided ifadequate scientific and oceano-graphic information had beensought earlier. If this extensivebaseline data gathering is donenow, industry can develop theocean’s resources with greatersecurity, maximum cost efficiency,and minimal environmental risk.”

Ocean Outlook Congress Report(1994)

29

In recent years, fishing effortcontrols and bycatch issues haveshaped the management ofAustralia’s $114m NorthernPrawn Fishery. With thesupport of the FisheriesResearch and DevelopmentCorporation and the AustralianFisheries ManagementAuthority, CSIRO hasconducted research aimed ataddressing these two very diffi-cult management issues.

The Northern Prawn Fisherywent through a costly restruc-ture between 1987 and 1993, toreduce fleet over-capitalisationand to remediate excessivefishing mortality on tiger prawnstocks. During this period thenumber of fishing vesselsdecreased by 60%, but fisheriesmanagers agreed that furthereffort controls would berequired in the future. In 1997the Northern Prawn FisheryManagement AdvisoryCommittee (NORMAC) agreed

to consider a new system ofeffort control in the Fishery,based on net size. NORMAC isalready implementing a packageof effort reduction measures,including extended seasonalclosures, to reduce fishingmortality by 15% by 1999.

CSIRO collected informationon technological advances inthe Northern Prawn Fisherythat had lead to increases infishing capacity. This data wasused to estimate changes infishing mortality during andafter the recent fleet restructure.Over the last 3 years, CSIROhas collected the most compre-hensive and fine-scale data-seton fishing effort and catch everassembled for any trawl fisheryin Australia. The data-set isbeing used to improve thecurrent population models anddeliver stock assessments forindividual regions of theFishery.

CSIRO has played a major rolein the development, testing andintroduction of turtle excluderdevices (TEDs) and bycatchreduction devices (BRDs) inprawning trawl nets since 1993.Sophisticated statisticalsampling and knowledge of fishbehaviour was used to optimisethe design of the devices. Thisresearch was an important stepin preparing the NorthernPrawn Fishery fleet for usingTEDs and BRDs. In 1998NORMAC agreed to introducecompulsory use of TEDs andBRDs by the year 2000, anddeveloped one of the firstcomprehensive bycatch action-plans for any AustralianCommonwealth fishery. CSIROis still carrying out research onbycatch and is presently identi-fying and describing sustain-ability indicators for NorthernPrawn Fishery bycatch species.

The Northern Prawn Fishery

impacts will contribute to developingand refining management strategiesand new fishing technologies. Forexample, over the past five yearsconsiderable effort has been put intounderstanding the fate and effect ofbycatch, and in developing gear such asbycatch reduction and turtle excluderdevices.

To conserve stocks and their ecosys-tems, more research is needed intodistribution; abundance; populationdynamics; stock productivity; species’critical habitats; ecosystem processesthat sustain fisheries; stock enhance-ment techniques; introduced marinepests; impacts of fishing on the envi-

ronment; improved stock assessmentmethods; and ecosystem approaches tofisheries management.

To support industry and fisheriesmanagers and to assist resource sustain-ability, continuing research is neededinto wild fish resources and fish habi-tats, environmental effects of fishing,improved resource access and sharingmechanisms. If fisheries managementdecisions are to be accepted widely, itwill be important to evaluate theeconomic and social impacts of alter-native management regimes.

Aquaculture

Growing world population, particu-larly in countries with high seafood percapita consumption, will result in agrowing gap between demand andsupply for seafood in the next century.With Australia’s wild fisheries catchvolume levelling off, aquaculture offersthe only viable means of meeting thisgrowing demand for seafood.Australian commercial aquaculture issmall by world standards, but itsimportance in Australia’s fisheriessector has risen strongly in recent years.Aquaculture’s contribution to the totalvalue of Australian fisheries production

has increased steadily in recent years toaround 30% and the industry’s valuecontinues to grow by more than 14%p.a. In 1997/98, aquaculture produc-tion was valued at $491 million.

To continue to realise these significanteconomic returns, aquaculture needsongoing improvement in farming tech-nology and practices.

The current research effort is directedtowards environmental issues, healthand disease management, reducingcosts of production and increasingproduction efficiency.

Research priorities vary depending onthe species involved. For new species,the priorities may involve closing thelife cycle (by breeding from domesti-cated stock), and developing commer-cial production technologies. Some


“While marine industries areoften economically independent,they draw on a common scientificbase and have complex effects oneach other. So, for scientific,conservation and exploitationpurposes, it is crucial that ourmarine sector be planned andmanaged as a complex unity. Weare lucky to enjoy such richmarine resources. But it will be bygood management alone thatAustralia will have oceans ofwealth in the future.”

Review Committee on MarineIndustries, Science & Technology,Oceans of Wealth? (1989)

high priority research areas includeselective breeding, genetic research, thedevelopment of improved and morecost effective feeds for larvae and stockgrow-out, understanding the pests anddiseases of cultured species, reducingthe environmental effects of aquacul-ture facilities, improving site selectionand management, and understandingthe impacts on aquaculture of land-useand development.

Shipbuilding Technology

Australia’s commercial ship buildingindustry occupies a small, export-oriented niche in the production ofhigh-speed aluminium ferries andluxury yachts and naval vessels. Itssuccess depends on continuingprogress in developing innovativedesigns, and advanced manufacturingtechnologies, maintaining high stan-dards of quality and cost competitive-ness, and investigating and targetingnew niches and applications.

Defence shipbuilding is a majorindustry. The Australian Navy’ssubmarines, frigates, minehunters andhydrographic vessels have been, or arebeing, built in Australia. This buildingprogram has involved significant tech-

nology transfer to Australia from over-seas, and the development and incor-poration of innovative elements ofAustralian technology.

The potential for growth of Australia’sdefence shipbuilding largely dependson the ability to use its innovativecapacity and skills to win exportcontracts and to diversify. ‘Niche’ rolesare seen for research and design in areassuch as developing hull shapes andinstrumentation suitable to operatingin warm, shallow waters. Strengths willbe required in the design and use ofnew instrumentation technology andmaterials, computer simulation ofvessel performance, and navigationaland surveillance technologies.

New hydrodynamics facilities wouldsignificantly improve domestic capa-bility in advanced high-speed vesseldesign, as well as offshore platformdesign.

Shipping, Safety and EnvironmentalProtection

Australia relies heavily on shipping forthe interstate transport of goods, aswell as internationally, ranking as thefifth largest user of shipping in theworld. Safety in shipping and transport

is most important to safeguard lives,property and the marine environment.Major issues facing the shipping andtransport industry relate to environ-mental concerns, such as minimisingor eliminating marine pest introduc-tions through appropriate ballast watermanagement, ports management, theprevention of oil pollution, and tech-nical advances and greater efficienciesin ship production.

Since Australia is one of the world’slargest exporters, it is one of the world’slargest importers of ballast water.Approximately 11,000 vessels visit ourshores each year, departing fromapproximately 650 overseas ports, andarriving at fewer than 70 ports inAustralia. The vessels carry about 150million tonnes of ballast water.

Research is needed to support the

Government’s development of a singlenational ballast water regime and amarine pest incursion managementprogram, and to develop environmen-tally friendly anti-fouling technologiesthat will permit the phase-out of trib-utyltin.

Because ballast water, anti-foulants andother maritime issues are internationalproblems, Australian research anddevelopment should be coordinatedwith overseas efforts.

Technological developments in globalpositioning systems, forecasting, auto-matic identification of shipping andtraffic management systems have revo-lutionised accident prevention andresponse and navigational efficiency,with benefits for the protection of themarine environment. The continuingdevelopment of these technologies willfurther improve shipping safety.

New and Emerging Industries, Servicesand Technologies

Emerging marine industries could besignificant in the long term. They willneed appropriate industry support, anda conducive development and regula-tory environment. Successful growth ofemerging industries will depend,

31


The Ocean Leveller RideControl System was devel-oped by the AustralianMaritime Engineering CRC(AME CRC), in conjunctionwith Austal Ships Ltd. Thisinnovative system reduces themotions of fast ferries oper-ating in waves by up to 50%and has been installed on 19vessels to date, ranging inlength from 37m to 86m.

The benefit to Australia hasbeen export orders for theferries fitted with OceanLeveller to the value of$350m, and direct importreplacement of nearly $20million.

The Problem

Fast ferries operate on manypassenger and vehicle routesaround the world.Unfortunately, waves cancause the motions onboard a

fast vessel to be veryunpleasant - causing discom-fort and even seasickness.Large motions also make theworking conditions of thecrew difficult and can lead tounacceptable levels of wearand tear on the vessel.

The Project

In 1992 Austal Ships Ltd, ofWestern Australia, approachedthe AME CRC to assist indeveloping a ride controlsystem for their high speedaluminium ferries. AME CRCdesigned, built and tested thecomputer programs for thesystem executive, thecontroller algorithms and theuser interface. The electroniccircuits take the measuredsignals from the instrumenta-tion, transmit them to thecentral computer and thenreceive the signals back for

onward transmission to thehydraulics. The hydraulicswere also designed, built andtested by AME CRC. AustalShips designed the actuatorsystem, including the under-water fins and flaps that createthe stabilising force.

A computer simulation wasdeveloped as a test bed fordifferent controller algorithmsand for extensive testing of

the final program. It has alsobeen utilised in the develop-ment of controllers for otherride control configurations,for example monohulls.

Full-scale sea trials areconducted on each vessel in avariety of sea conditions. Theheave, pitch and roll of thevessel are measured and subse-quently analysed to determinethe performance of the system.

Motion reductions are usuallyin the range of 35 – 50%.

Through this project AMECRC and its industry partnerAustal Ships have developed aclose working relationshipthat has facilitated the transferof technology between theorganisations.

Austal Ships has used the serv-ices of AME CRC for severalother projects, including thecomputer prediction ofmotions of patrol boats oper-ating in a seaway.

Ocean Leveller Fast Ferry Ride Control System

among other factors, on basic andapplied research.

A number of industries have soundprospects for future growth includingstate-of-the-art instrumentation tech-nology; environmentally benignantifouling substances for use in theshipping, aquaculture, and oil and gasindustries; and Australian marinebiotechnology and chemicals researchto screen our unique marine livingresources for compounds useful in theproduction of pharmaceuticals,nutriceuticals and agrochemicals.

Strategies should be considered to

support the growth and internationalcompetitiveness of these industries,services and technologies.

Renewable Energy

Our demand for energy resourcescontinues to grow. This growth will bemet in part by more efficientharvesting and processing of traditionalenergy sources, but will need supple-mentation by emerging sources ofrenewable energy, including oceanenergy.

The oceans offer several potentialsources of renewable energy.Technologies have been developed forenergy extraction from waves, tides,offshore winds and ocean thermalstratification.

A number of sites and forms of oceanenergy have been identified in Australiafor potential development. These couldmeet up to 8% of national electricityrequirements, but their remotenessimposes higher unit costs.Nevertheless, research on the potentialfor ocean energy, including the contin-uing identification of suitable sitesaround Australia, and the commis-sioning of demonstration plants,should be undertaken as part of an

33

Recreational scuba diving is a youngindustry that has made a big impacton the leisure marketplace inAustralia. Diving is a nature-basedindustry that makes significant useof marine protected areas, a use thatwill increase as the industry grows.

The Centre for Coastal Managementat Southern Cross Universityreceived a Commonwealth Govern-ment grant to conduct a baselinestudy of the impacts, economics andmanagement of recreational scubadiving in marine protected areas.The project sets the agenda for therealisation of a sustainable recre-ational diving industry in Australia.

Two surveys and diver monitoring atfour dive sites were part of theproject. The results provided a rangeof management strategies to assist inminimising environmental impact.A few relatively simple strategies

could allow for a continued increasein diving without causing anygreater impact on the underwaterenvironment.

Impacts, Economics and Management ofRecreational Scuba Diving in

Marine Protected Areas

assessment of long term energy needs.A number of Commonwealth programsencourage renewable energy use, andocean energy utilisation proposalswould be eligible for consideration.

Coastal and Marine Tourism andRecreation

Coastal and marine tourism and recre-ation are substantial and fast-growingindustries that depend on thecontinued enjoyment of well-managedcoastal and estuarine environments,and our unique marine resources.

Marine tourism involves the directinteractions of people with environ-mental resources that in some cases canbe fragile. The further development ofmarine tourism and recreation is linkedclosely with the maintenance of sitesand resources in attractive, sustainableand healthy states, and the develop-ment of appropriate onshore and near-shore infrastructure. A full under-standing of the coastal and marineenvironment is critical in addressingissues of pollution, waste disposal,erosion, habitat degradation and loss ofwater quality. A lack of data and under-standing of the causes and rates ofdegradation and recovery are major


The Australian Institute ofMarine Science (AIMS)has developed the world’sfirst wearable underwatercomputing system - calledthe WetPC®. Comprisinga Central Processing Unit(CPU), virtual display, anda 5-button keypad, it wasoriginally designed to beused by researchers tocollect and display infor-mation whilst underwater.It is now clear howeverthat there is significantpotential to market thetechnology in a widevariety of applicationsworld-wide, includingdefence (mine countermeasures, special forces),commercial diving(offshore oil and gas,construction), maritimearchaeology, research, andrecreational diving.

Two prototype SeaSlate

units (see picture) havebeen produced for theRoyal Australian Navywhich enable divers tosearch large areas of seabedwithout having to installphysical markers. The unitstake the output from aGlobal Positioning Systemand plot the diver’s swimpath in real time. The diveralso has access to a varietyof information and canenter data on seabed char-acteristics and any objectsfound during the search.

AIMS has protected thecore invention of theWetPC - its human-machine interface -through lodgement ofpatent applications in some25 countries. The keypadinterface (based around theconcept of “what you see iswhat you press”) is builtinto the handle, which

enables the WetPC to becontrolled with one hand.Control of this inventionputs Australian industry ina strong position to domi-nate this as yet untappedmarket.

The technologies havebeen licensed to WetPCPty Ltd which is now

working with otherAustralian companies todevelop a new marineindustry focused on theprovision of underwatercomputing technologies toa market which is esti-mated to be worth approx-imately $200m annually.

Underwater Computers for world markets

issues confronting the tourismindustry.

Underlying this is the need forimproved basic information aboutmarine environments, and the develop-ment, evaluation and application ofplanning tools to promote environ-mentally sustainable development ofmarine tourism and recreation.

Studies of particular destinations,including Australia’s islands and thenewer wildlife watching areas, wouldassist sustainable management plan-ning, as would economic, social and

cultural research. Data gained fromsuch studies could be incorporated inRegional Marine Plans.

Collaborating to Apply TraditionalKnowledge to Marine Resource Use andManagement

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderpeoples have very strong cultural,economic and religious affiliations withcoastal lands and sea country, and havea wealth of knowledge concerningmarine resources and the functioningof coastal systems. Much of this knowl-edge is connected to traditional andlocal uses of these resources.

European settlement has placed addi-tional and sometimes competingdemands on some marine resources,creating a need to bring traditional andwestern scientific knowledge togetherin integrated approaches to marineresource planning and management.Australia’s Oceans Policy recognises theimportance of the active participationof indigenous Australians in theseprocesses.

Extensive research has been conductedon indigenous coastal lands and seacountry over many years. Morerecently, research has turned to indige-nous peoples’ needs to achieve theirsocial, cultural, ecological andeconomic goals.

Prominent among these is the develop-ment of the capacity to co-manage theresources of their sea country. To

develop this capacity, indigenousAustralians need the skills and oppor-tunities to be involved in all stages ofrelevant research, monitoring, surveil-lance and enforcement.

Security and Navigational Safety in theAMJ

Australian maritime defence and secu-rity issues are strongly related to theunique nature of the Australian marineenvironment. The Australian DefenceForce (ADF) must know and under-stand this marine environment, and beable to use this knowledge to carry outits various functions in a successful andcost-effective manner. Australia’sdefence and security-related roles havea high reliance on marine science andtechnology in addressing needs ofsafety of navigation; protection of ship-ping in transit; protection of offshorefacilities; search and rescue; andsurveillance.

Coastwatch, a branch of the AustralianCustoms Service, is responsible for civilsurveillance of Australia’s maritimezones and is supported by the ADF’saircraft and patrol boats.

An ongoing priority will be to continuescientific and technological research

35

into the design and development ofmaritime defence and surveillancesystems.

The more general need to improvemarine navigation safety has combinedwith technology growth to prompt thedevelopment of a series of electronicchart systems. In recent years there hasalso been a marked increase in requestsfor hydrographic data from marineresearchers and other organisationsworking in the marine environment.Marine navigational safety would be

assisted by the development of a digitaldatabase of spatially referenced hydro-graphic information.

Marine Science and Technology andMarine Law and Policy

Australia must study and manage itsmarine environment and resources notonly because it is in the nationalinterest, but also because it has agreedto discharge a number of marine-related international responsibilitiesthrough its links to other nations,international organisations, and

treaties. Among these, UNCLOS isparticularly important.

Australia is also a party to a number ofother conventions and agreements thatrequire scientific information on andunderstanding of marine systems, forexample agreements supporting globaland regional meteorological andclimate change studies. Additionally,Australia has supported certain declara-tions to progress the sustainable devel-opment and management of its oceansand their resources.

Domestically, many internationalconventions are reflected in nationallaw. For example, the London

Convention is reflected in theEnvironment Protection (Sea Dumping)Act 1981.

The priorities we have are to applymarine science and technology to theprotection and preservation of themarine environment; to demonstratean ongoing commitment to the inter-national conventions to whichAustralia is a party; and to participateeffectively in international programs bygathering and disseminating relevantdata.


37


39

Program 3: Infrastructure for Understanding and Utilising the Marine Environment

Goal: To provide the physical infrastructure, appropriate skills base and information management support for Australian marine science, technologyand engineering.

Objective 1 To ensure the availability of an appropriate skills base in marine science, technology and engineering

Objective 2 To provide the physical infrastructure required for the continuity and improved performance of marine science, technology and engineering in Australia

Objective 3 To implement systematic, coordinated and long-term marine observational programs

Objective 4 To achieve better coordination of marine data management

Objective 5 To build professional expertise and knowledge through increased involvement in regional and global marine science and technology programs

Objective 6 To promote, within the community, the importance of marine science, technology and engineering for sustainable economic growth and quality of life

Infrastructure forUnderstanding and Utilisingthe Marine EnvironmentThe wide variety of activitiescontributing to understanding,sustainably using and caring for themarine environment are dependent fortheir success on the quality of thenational skills and infrastructural base.Major physical infrastructure includesspecial purpose ships, laboratories andbuildings, onshore and offshoreresearch stations, and equipment forseabed mapping and sampling. Thetimely interpretation, integration andeffective use of the information anddata collected in using these and otherfacilities requires a strong professionalworkforce in a multitude of disciplinesand marine industries, supported by avigorous graduate stream.

Skills Base

Australia needs marine researchers,technicians, engineers, and resourcemanagers with expertise in numerousfields, because of the diverse andlargely undefined nature of our marinejurisdictions, and the requirement thatit be used sustainably. The size of theAMJ also creates demands for people

skilled in navigation and surveillance.In attempting to address research issuesand problems unique to our AMJ(including those of Antarctica), manyof the sciences need improved tech-nologies and instrumentation. There isalso a recognised need for training,education and research to producescientists, engineers and technicianswho can rise to the challenge ofcomplex and changing problems,which are often multi-disciplinary.

Both educators and employers haveidentified the continued and increasingavailability of skilled personnel ascentral to the capacity of marine indus-tries to achieve their potential and totransfer technology into and out ofAustralia.

We need to identifynational needs for skilledscientists, engineers andtechnicians in the lightof Australia’s expandedresponsibilities andactivities in the marinesector, and to trainpersonnel with theknowledge, skills andabilities to meet thoseneeds.

Opportunities for train-ing graduate students inpriority research areasneed to be expanded bya scheme of scholarshipslinked to industry and by facilitatingtheir access to marine environmentsand infrastructure (including vessels).

The inadequacy of the national skillsbase in taxonomy and systematics haslong been a particular concern. Thesedisciplines are critical for describing,and hence understanding, marinespecies, biological systems, processesand ecology. Improving the taxonomicskills base, especially through schemesdesigned to foster taxonomic research,should receive high priority.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure needs are closely linkedto research programs, both ongoing andproposed. As the need for sustainableresource management grows, so shouldour capability to implement, monitorand coordinate marine science researchprograms. The need for a strongerinfrastructure base becomes even moreevident as we move to emphasise anecosystem-based and regional multi-disciplinary approach in researching,and better understanding andmanaging, our marine environment.


Program 3

Infrastructural means to assistecosystem and resource management,and to encourage technology-intensivemarine industry development, wouldinclude:

• strengthening and broadening thecapabilities of Australia’s blue waterresearch fleet;

• new multidisciplinary researchfacilities in economically importantmarine regions and adjacent toregions where the research effort iscurrently inadequate to fullysupport sustainable industry devel-opment, for example in southerntemperate waters and in the Timor-Arafura Sea region. The facilitiesshould work with existing univer-sity-based, Federal or State researchinfrastructure, and in collaborationwith regional industry, includingtourism;

• new hydrodynamic design andtesting capabilities;

• refurbished and new coastal andisland research stations;

• equipment to fill gaps in under-resourced areas of nationallyimportant and major marine

research programs, for examplelong-term monitoring programs;and

• stronger capability for advancedinstrumentation systems design.

Long-term Monitoring Programs

Baseline information on marinebiological, physical, geological andchemical characteristics is fundamentalfor effective marine environmentmanagement and the development,support and management of marineindustry.

Sound environmental management isdependent upon the comprehensive-ness and quality of measured data overlong time periods. Baseline data seriesallow an assessment of the natural vari-ability of ecosystem status over time,and enable anthropogenic impactsfrom both land- and sea-based activi-ties to be distinguished from thisnatural variability. Comprehensive andlong-term observational data are alsocritical to predicting climate variabilityand change and their impacts.

In industry, basic data are necessary toassess the nature, extent, and long-termlife or variability in existing and poten-

tial resources, to manage the sustain-able development of marine industryand to predict potential environmentalimpacts.

However, our holdings of long termdata series are inadequate to meet thepresent and future needs of industryand standards of responsible environ-mental management for ecologicallysustainable development. The long-term monitoring that is taking place isinadequate to redress the shortcomingsand is not nationally systematised.

For effective management, the estab-lishment of a system of long-termmonitoring programs and the integra-tion of State and Federal data collec-tion programs is regarded as a matter ofpriority.

Existing long-term observing programsin Australia may be considered suitablefor inclusion in a comprehensiveAustralian Ocean Observing System(AOOS). This program should involveFederal, State and Territory govern-ments, and would be an effectivenational response to the challenges setout in the Global Ocean ObservingSystem, established by the Inter-governmental Oceanographic Comm-ission in 1990.

A comprehensive AOOS should iden-tify gaps, and provide support to fillthose gaps. The AOOS should developor adopt novel technologies to provideautomated, comprehensive and cost-effective observations of key physical,chemical, geological and biologicalvariables. The AOOS should supportthe international effort to improveobservations in the South Pacific,Indian and Southern Oceans. It is veryimportant for Australia to continue toplay a role in the international science

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community to ensure its continuedaccess to high quality, satellite-deriveddata. Australia’s Oceans Policy recognisesand supports the importance of estab-lishing AOOS.

Facilities for monitoring pollution andecosystem health will be needed toaccommodate the biological status ofAustralia’s oceans. As they are estab-lished, these new observing systemsshould also become part of AOOS.

The Plan and the Oceans Policysupport the Australian, Pacific andGlobal Oceans Observing Systems asmechanisms to develop the oceans-related data capture and exchangenecessary for improving prediction andmanagement, and support:

• research aimed at improvingAustralia’s capabilities in marinemeteorological forecasting, climatemonitoring and prediction tech-niques;

• participation in global research anddevelopment programs;

• Australian contributions and accessto global data sets; and

• participation in internationalarrangements facilitating datacollection, analysis and exchange.

Marine Data Management

The need for a cross-sectoral, nation-ally coordinated approach to moreeffectively assemble, store anddistribute marine data has been identi-fied by numerous reviews of Australia’smarine environment and its manage-ment.

Increasingly larger volumes of marinescience data are being collected,analysed and stored each year byCommonwealth, State/Territory andlocal government organisations and theprivate sector. The effectiveness of datamanagement within these organisa-tions is highly variable, as are theresources available for this task. Thevolume and complexity of data nowbeing collected, however, dictate that adistributed data management modelmust be pursued. Individual organisa-tions can no longer expect to keepcomprehensive and up-to-date data-bases, nor maintain the expertise tomanage the wide variety of marine datatypes being captured.

Marine scientific data are a vital under-pinning to the understanding andsustainable utilisation of our marineresources and environment.


“The capacity for Australia to conduct marine science is intrinsically linked tothe infrastructure available for marine scientific work. Marine scientific effort isdistributed widely around Australia’s coasts and, indeed, needs to be diffuse tobe cost effective, efficient and to meet the considerable demands made of it.Despite this, there is a distinct lack of strategically located marine scienceresearch facilities around Australia’s coasts, and this is particularly true oftemperate regions and of tropical regions away from the Great Barrier Reef. It isa fundamental requirement for marine research that there be ready access tofield sites and adequate facilities for research activities near those sites. In otherwords, access alone (with a boat or 4WD vehicle) will not support intensiveresearch programs. Field and research stations are a proven cost-effective meansof providing the necessary support and facilitating the type of medium-longterm research that realises detailed understanding of marine systems and theprocesses that drive them.”

Australian Marine Sciences Association, Towards a National Marine SciencePolicy for Australia (1997).

The Oceans Policy and the Plan recog-nise that the provision of high quality,accessible and timely marine data isessential for marine planning, biodiver-sity conservation, meteorological fore-casting and marine industry develop-ment.

The main priority is to develop a morecoordinated approach to marine datamanagement, by establishing aNational Marine Data Group(NMDG) serviced by a permanentsecretariat within AUSLIG, account-able to an appropriate Ministerialbody, and linked to the Heads of(Commonwealth) Marine Agenciesand the Commonwealth Spatial DataCommittee.

Priority must also be given to strength-ening the data management capacitywithin organisations that deal withmarine data.

Regional and International Participation

The Australian marine science, engi-neering and technology community’s iswell regarded internationally. Thiscreates opportunities for research andcommercial collaborations, andtransfer of technologies to other coun-tries. Benefits of international collabo-ration flow to Australia in a range ofways including personal developmentopportunities, enhanced capacity ofregional neighbours and promotion ofAustralia’s marine capabilities.Participation in regional and globalmarine science programs providesfurther national and internationalbenefit.

Priority topics for international scienceand technology collaboration includefundamental oceanographic andgeological research, studies of tropicalbiodiversity, sea level rise and theprediction of climate variability andchange.

Australia’s regional interests are focusedon Southeast Asia and the Pacific

Island countries. The building ofcollaborations, consultative links andeducation services are all high priority.We need to improve our capability toprovide expert services overseas bycontinuing to build the size of our baseof research expertise.

Marine Science and the Community

80% of Australia’s population liveswithin 50km of the sea. Coastalcommunities and industry can partici-pate more effectively in managing theirlocal marine and coastal environmentsif they can access appropriate informa-tion and technologies. Marine science,technology and engineering centresand programs provide resources ofknowledge and expertise. Projectsdesigned to disseminate this knowledgein schools and communities cangenerate a greater public awareness ofthe value and importance of marineenvironments, and of the role ofmarine science, technology and engi-neering in maintaining and improving:

• sustainable ecosystem and speciesmanagement;

• clean and healthy marine environ-ments; and

• Australian marine industry innova-tion, efficiency, competitivenessand growth.

A further benefit of such heightenedawareness is making young peoplemore aware of marine science and engi-neering as potential career options.

The Plan and the Oceans Policystrongly support community participa-tion in their implementation, notingthat participation is the key topromoting and instituting a duty ofcare for the marine environment.Participation can be enhanced throughdissemination by specialist groups ofscientifically-informed materials con-cerning local marine environments andtheir management. Moreover, the stakethat indigenous peoples hold in coastalwaters, the detail of their traditionalknowledge and practices, and theircapacity to manage collaboratively,needs to be well promoted if thecapacity of indigenous management isto be fully utilised and appreciated bythe community.

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Appendices

MEMBERS OF THE MARINE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PLANWORKING GROUP

Dr Ralph Jensen (Chairman)Former Assistant Secretary, Science & Technology, Department of Industry, Scienceand Tourism, Canberra, ACT.

Dr Lesley BorowitzkaManager, Technical Development & Marketing, Betatene Pty Ltd; and Chairman,Glenforrest Stockfeeds Pty Ltd, Perth, WA.

Dr Nan BrayChief, CSIRO Division of Marine Research, Hobart, Tasmania.

Professor Peter Davies Director, Ocean Sciences Institute, Department of Geology and Geophysics,University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW.

Dr Chris FandryProject Director, North West Shelf Environmental Management Study, WADepartment of Environmental Protection, Perth, WA.

Mr Brian Jeffriess President, Tuna Boat Owners Association of Australia, and Immediate PastPresident, Australian Seafood Industry Council, Fullarton, SA.

Professor Craig Johnson Head, Department of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, andImmediate Past President, Australian Marine Sciences Association, Hobart,Tasmania.

Professor Tor HundloeDirector, Technology Management Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane,Qld, and Chair, Wet Tropics Management Authority, Brisbane, Qld.

Mr Don Lennard Former Executive Director, Australian Maritime Engineering CRC Ltd,Launceston, Tasmania.

Professor Helene Marsh Head, School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography, James CookUniversity, and Program Leader, Cooperative Research Centre for the Great BarrierReef World Heritage Area, Townsville, Qld.

Dr Chris Pigram Chief, Petroleum & Marine Division, Australian Geological Survey Organisation,Canberra, ACT.

Dr Russell Reichelt Director, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Qld, and Chairman,Fisheries Research & Development Corporation.

Department of Industry, Science and Resources Secretariat Mr Philip Diprose, Ms Deborah Anton, Ms Kylie Naveau, Ms Kirsty Galloway McLean.

45

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

AAT Australian Antarctic Territory

AGSO Australian Geological Survey Organisation

AIMS Australian Institute of Marine Science

AMJ Australian Marine Jurisdiction

ANZLIC Australia New Zealand Land Information Council

AOOS Australian Ocean Observing System

AUSLIG Australian Surveying and Land Information Group

CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

DSTO Defence Science and Technology Organisation

EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone

ESD Ecologically Sustainable Development

ENSO El Niño Southern Oscillation

FRDC Fisheries R&D Corporation

GBRMPA Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

GDP Gross Domestic Product

GOOS Global Ocean Observing System

IOC International Oceanographic Commission

ISR Department of Industry, Science and Resources

LCS Legal Continental Shelf

NMDG National Marine Data Group

PMSEC Prime Minister’s Science and Engineering Council

R&D Research and Development

SoE State of the Environment

SOMER State of the Marine Environment Report

UN United Nations

UNCLOS United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea


GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Aquaculture Cultivation of fish,molluscs and other aquaticorganisms in fresh or salt waterfor human use.

Benthic Sedentary marine life thatlives on the seafloor, and in itssediments.

Biodiversity The variety of all lifeforms: the different plants,animals and microorganisms, thegenes they contain and theecosystems they form. It is aconcept that emphasises theinter-relatedness of the biologicalworld. It is often considered atthree levels - genetic diversity,species diversity and ecosystemdiversity.

Biogeographic Relating to largeregions with distinct landscapes/seascapes, flora and fauna.

Bioregion A region that contains anaggregate of natural communitiesof organisms whose existence issupported, and constrained, bythe region’s unique geophysicaland climatic attributes.Bioregions may range in scale

from thousands of kilometres(e.g. Great Barrier Reef ) down toa few kilometres or less (e.g. PortDavey off south-westernTasmania).

Bioregionalisation The process ofdetermining the characteris-tics and boundaries of biore-gions.

Biota The total plant and animal lifeof a region.

Bycatch Species taken incidentally in afishery where other species arethe target. By-catch species maybe of lesser value than the targetspecies and are often discarded.

Coastal Waters All waters landward ofthe 3 nautical mile limit, butexcluding internal waters that arewithin the constitutional limitsof a State.

Cumulative Impact An accumulationof successive or coincident influ-ences or effects on environmentalattributes.

Ecologically Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment which meets theneeds of the present without

compromising the ability offuture generations to meet theirneeds. Development which iscompatible with the continuingfunctioning of essential ecologicalprocesses.

Ecosystem A dynamic complex ofplant, animal and microorganismcommunities and their non-living environment interacting asa functional unit.

Ecosystem Integrity The state of theecosystem being whole andunimpaired, which should bedetermined by reference toappropriate ecosystem indicatorsand criteria. Ecosystem integrityis regarded as being maintainedwhen those indicators remainwithin limits that are agreed aslikely to avoid a significant risk ofprogressive or irreversible changeor decline.

El Niño Southern Oscillation Climaticconditions caused by unusualeastward currents in the equato-rial Pacific Ocean, characterisedby higher sea surface tempera-tures in the Indian and eastern

Pacific Oceans, bringing droughtto Australia and seasonal climaticanomalies to many countriesaround the world.

Endemic A species that is “native” (notintroduced) and found only in agiven region.

Endemism A measure of the degree ofstrictly local species in anecosystem.

47

Habitat A geographic area that canprovide for the key activities oflife - the place or type of site inwhich an organism naturallyoccurs.

Impact Influence or effect exerted bypressures (usually human activi-ties) on environmental attributes,commonly ecosystems, habitats,communities, species or popula-tions.

Indicators Physical, chemical, biolog-ical or socio-economic measuresthat can be used to assess naturalresources and environmentalquality that are fundamental tothe SoE Reporting process.

Interannual Variations between years.

Introduced Marine Organism Anymarine organism that is notindigenous to Australia thatbecomes established and has beentranslocated to Australian coastalwaters from overseas via shippingor other human activities, such asaquaculture or fisheries andtourism.

Jurisdiction The area and matters overwhich a Government exercisesright, power, or authority.

Marine Protected Area An area of seaespecially dedicated to theprotection and maintenance ofbiological diversity, and ofnatural and associated culturalresources, and managed throughlegal or other effective means.

Monitoring Routine counting, testingor measuring environmentalfactors or biota to determinetheir status or condition and toassess changes over time.

Multiple Use Management Anapproach that aims to achieveintegration of user needs in anacceptable balance of outcomesfor users and the ecosystem orregion.

Nutriceuticals Food products designedto fulfil specific nutritional anddietary needs.

Offshore The comparatively flat zoneof variable width extending fromthe outer margin of the shore tothe edge of the continental shelf.

Pelagic Living in the sea or ocean atmiddle or surface levels.

State of Environment Reporting Atool for providing informationon the pressures influencing envi-ronmental attributes, the state orconditions of these and theresponses initiated to counteridentified pressures.

Species A group of plants, animals ormicroorganisms that have a highdegree of similarity and generallycan interbreed only among them-selves.

Taxonomy The analysis of anorganism’s characteristics for thepurpose of classification.

SELECTED REFERENCES

Australian Marine Sciences Association[Johnson, C (ed)] 1997, Towards aNational Marine Science Policy forAustralia. University of Queensland,Brisbane.

Commonwealth of Australia 1995,Australia’s Ocean Age: Science andTechnology for Managing our OceanTerritory. Report by an independentWorking Group to the PrimeMinister’s Science and EngineeringCouncil at its thirteenth meeting, 8December 1995. Office of the ChiefScientist, Department of the PrimeMinister and Cabinet, AGPS,Canberra.

Commonwealth of Australia 1995,Our Sea, Our Future, State of theMarine Environment Report (SOMER).DEST, Canberra.

Commonwealth of Australia 1996,Australian Maritime Industries:Priorities in Science and Technology.Report of the ASTEC ShippingPartnership, Australian Science,Technology and Engineering Council.AGPS, Canberra.

Commonwealth of Australia 1997,Australia’s Antarctic Program Beyond2000: A Framework for the Future. AReport to the Parliamentary Secretaryfor the Antarctic. Australian AntarcticDivision, Department of theEnvironment, Kingston.

Commonwealth of Australia 1997,Marine Industry Development Strategy.Australian Marine Industries andSciences Council, Department ofIndustry, Science and Tourism,Canberra.

Commonwealth of Australia 1997,Priority Matters: A Report to theMinister for Science and Technologyon Arrangements for CommonwealthScience and Technology by the ChiefScientist, Professor John Stocker.Department of Industry, Science andTourism, Canberra.

Commonwealth of Australia 1998,Australia’s Oceans Policy, Volumes 1 and2. Environment Australia, Canberra.

Department of Foreign Affairs andTrade 1994, United NationsConvention on the Law of the Sea.

Australian Treaty Series 1994 No.31.AGPS, Canberra.

Fisheries Research & DevelopmentCorporation (FRDC) and AustralianInstitute of Marine Science 1999,Research Priorities for FisheriesEcosystems Protection. EnvironmentAustralia, Canberra.

IMCRA Technical Group, ANZECC1998, Interim Marine and CoastalRegionalisation for Australia: anecosystem-based classification for marineand coastal environments.Environment Australia, Canberra.

Johnson, C. and Neil, D. (eds) 1996,Managing Australia’s MarineEnvironment: the Way Ahead.Recommendations of the MarineEnvironment Conference, Brisbane,February 1995. University ofQueensland, Brisbane.

McKinnon, K.R. et al 1989, Oceans ofWealth? A Report by the ReviewCommittee on Marine Industries,Science and Technology. AGPS,Canberra.

McKinnon, K.R. 1993, Review ofMarine Research Organisation. AGPS,Canberra.

Ocean Outlook Congress SteeringCommittee 1994, A Report from theCongress.

Resource Assessment Commission1993, Coastal Zone Inquiry: FinalReport. AGPS, Canberra.

Searle, B. 1997, National Marine DataPolicy: A Discussion Paper. AustralianOceanographic Data Centre, Sydney.

Standing Committee on Fisheries andAquaculture (SCFA) 1998, ResearchPriorities for Australian Fisheries andAquaculture.


© Commonwealth of Australia 1999.

This work is copyright. It may be reproduced in whole or in partsubject to the inclusion of an acknowledgment of the source and nocommercial usage or sale. Reproduction for purposes other thanthose indicated above requires the written permission from theCommonwealth, available through AusInfo. Requests and inquiriesshould be addressed to the Manager, Legislative Services, AusInfo,GPO Box 1920 Canberra ACT 2601.

Inquiries and requests for further copies of Australia’s Marine Scienceand Technology Plan and this Overview should be addressed to theGeneral Manager, Science and Technology Policy Branch,Department of Industry, Science and Resources, GPO Box 9839Canberra ACT 2601.

This document is also available on the Internet athttp://www.isr.gov.au/science/marine/marineoverview

ISR 1999/080

ISBN 0 642 720371

Design and art production: Design One Solutions, CanberraPrinted by: Goanna Print, Canberra

Front cover: Background – sunset, south east coast NSW, Tony KaracasonyiInset – The Research Vessel Lady Basten, Australian Institute of MarineScience (AIMS)A diver investigates the rich biodiversity of the Great Barrier Reef,(GBR) Environment AustraliaSeahorse, National Aquarium and Wildlife Park, Canberra

Back cover: Seals on Montague Island, Environment AustraliaPage 1: Natural sunblocking agents in reef coral organisms inspire research

into the development of novel commercial and biomedicalapplications, AIMSCrested terns, Environment AustraliaDivers investigate a wreck site, Environment AustraliaRacing yacht, Australian Maritime Engineering CRC

Page 4: S W Herald photo: M. Hallam, Environment AustraliaPage 5: Photo: M. Cuthill, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

(GBRMPA)Page 6: Negotiating the passage to Mermaid Reef, Rowley Shoals, Western

Australia, AIMSPage 7: SCUBA divers deploy an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler off

Wheeler Reef, GBR, AIMSPage 8: Narooma Breakwater, New South Wales, Environment AustraliaPage 10: One Tree Island Research Station, L. Zell, GBRMPAPage 11: A typical winter sea surface temperature pattern for the southern

Great Barrier Reef: satellite imagery shows the warm waters of theEast Australia Current offshore and cooler coastal waters inshore,AIMS

Page 12: Detail, coral reef herbivores – parrotfish and rabbitfish, TonyKaracasonyi

Page 13: SCUBA diver with survey equipment, Environment AustraliaPage 14: Southern Right Whale, Australian Antarctic Division photo by Clive

McMahon © Commonwealth of AustraliaPage 15: Divers investigating coral reef lagoon ecosystems, AIMSPage 17: Seafloor terrain of the continental slope off southern Tasmania,

imaged in detail by multibeam sonar (swath mapping) equipment.The image shows submarine volcanoes, typically 300-500 m high:their summit areas are important fishing grounds for orange roughy,Australian Geological Survey Organisation (AGSO)

Page 18: Emperor Penguin, Australian Antarctic Division photo by Dale Opulski© Commonwealth of Australia

Page 19: Hatchling green turtle, B. Legg, GBRMPADugong mother and calf, Geoff Taylor (Lochman Transparencies)

Page 20: Research vessel photo, F. Lovell, Australian MuseumResearcher, Environment Australia

Page 22: Fish, F. Lovell, Australian MuseumPage 23: ANARE helicopter, Australian Antarctic Division photo by Diana

Calder © Commonwealth of AustraliaPage 24: A diver investigates the rich biodiversity of the GBR, Environment

Australia

Page 25: Satellite data shows turbid waters extending across the Torres Straitfrom New Guinea to the tip of Cape York, AIMS

Page 26: Darwin Harbour, Environment AustraliaLighthouse, Environment Australia

Page 27: Satellite image of Heywood Shoals area: black patches and spotsindicate oil seepage at the surface of the sea, AGSO

Page 28: Woodside Offshore Petroleum’s ‘Triton’ Remotely Operated Vehiclebeing launched at the North Rankin ‘A’ gas production platform onthe North West Shelf, Centre for Marine Science and Technology,Curtin University

Page 29: The Nordmore Grid, a bycatch reduction device, CSIRO MarineResearch

Page 30: Fish, F. Lovell, Australian MuseumAtlantic salmon aquaculture and its fruits, Port Esperance, southeastTasmania, Tassal LtdBeach image, AIMS

Page 31: Shipwreck on Samaurez Reef, off the southern GBR, AIMSPage 32: High speed catamaran, Australian Maritime Engineering CRCPage 33: Specialised equipment is used to measure respiration rates of coral

and other species in situ, AIMSCoral reefs – a valuable resource for tourism, AIMS

Page 34: SCUBA divers with WetPC , AIMS and WetPC Pty LtdPage 35: Jet ski race, Sydney Harbour, Environment Australia

Detail of ‘Burraltja’, Djambawa Marawili, Baniyala, NT courtesy ofBuku Larrnggay Mulka, Yirrkala, NT

Page 36: Navy surveillance aircraft, Environment AustraliaSea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) ocean colourimage showing high chlorophyll concentrations in the temperate andpolar regions and relatively low concentrations in tropical waters,AIMS

Page 37: Shallow inshore waters, Tony KaracasonyiInset – potato cod and divers, Andrew Green

Page 38: Seals on Montague Island, Environment AustraliaPage 39: Harbour, Andrew GreenPage 40: Wave rider buoy off Wheeler Reef, GBR, AIMS

The Research Vessel Lady Basten, AIMSPage 41: Research investigating the energy of waves on coral reefs. This

information allows the development of safe engineering guidelines forconstruction in tropical shelf waters, AIMS

Page 42: One Tree Island Research Station, L. Zell, GBRMPAPage 43: Underwater laser measuring equipment being used to determine

growth rates of coral species, AIMSPage 45: Seahorse, National Aquarium and Wildlife Park, CanberraPage 46: Acropora coral, Western Australia, AIMSPage 47: A diver investigates reef fish biodiversity by sampling and census,

GBR, AIMSSeal on Kangaroo Island, Environment Australia

Photo credits

Commonwealth of Australia


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