CAPABILITY

STATEMENT
AUSTRALIAN
INSTITUTE OF
MARINE SCIENCE

COLLABORATION
 CAPABILITY STATEMENT

The Australian Institute of Marine Science is a world

authority on tropical oceans and coasts, and a trusted
scientific adviser for Australia. Our reputation is built
on more than 40 years of long-term, large-scale and
independent research.

This gives us a capability with the breadth, depth and longevity to

meet the environmental challenges and economic opportunities ahead.

We are leaders in the development and delivery of science that

enables the sustainable use of our marine estate and supports
the growth of Australias blue economy, which will be worth
$100billion per annum by 2025.

To support this growth, AIMS has turned its decades of discovery

and data collection into customised solutions for industry,
government, Indigenous groups and the wider community.
Wealso collaborate with international researchers, businesses
and governments to create global solutions to global challenges.
 WHAT WE DO
We work with a broad range of marine stakeholders
to bridge fundamental gaps in knowledge about
Australias oceans and coasts, and the environmental,
economic and social challenges they face.
This knowledge is essential for good decision-making,
planning, policy development, management, mitigation
and resource use by government, industry and the
widercommunity.
Over the next decade, we will ramp up our research
efforts to improve understanding of tropical marine
systems, identify opportunities and support sustainable
development, particularly in northern Australia.
Reduce inefficiency, complexity and cost: Fit-for-
purpose information supports more targeted decisions,
plans and operations; facilitates streamlined regulatory
regimes and approval processes; and reduces costly
approval delays, mitigation and remediation.
Reduce conflict: Better evidence supports informed
debates, reduces likelihood of litigation, and supports
the development of resource-allocation tools to balance
competing needs and stakeholders.
Drive the development of a blue economy: Our science
helps Australia realise the economic, environmental and
social benefits of our oceans and coasts by developing
the knowledge, technology and innovations to protect our
marine estates long-term health and enable the sustainable
development of existing and emerging marine industries.

To increase our capacity to explore, understand, monitor

and manage this largely unknown marine environment,
AIMS is partnering with technology and data innovators
in the private and public sector to develop and apply
HOW WE DO IT
cutting-edge technologies.

Its not just what we do that makes us stand out. Its

WHAT WE ACHIEVE
Our research delivers outcomes that benefit industry,
government and the community in a number of ways.
Improve understanding: Research reveals how
ecosystems function and change over time, increasing
our understanding of Australias oceans and coasts,
and providing comprehensive baselines and long-term
records for measuring impacts and changes.
Reduce uncertainty: Rigorous science provides robust
evidence and clarity on the extent and intensity of
impacts, on their likely sources and controls, and on
areas of corporate and regulatory responsibility.
Reduce environmental and business risk: Robust
evidence informs better mitigation, management and
adaptation strategies by industry and government, and
decreases potential damage to our oceans and coasts.
Greater certainty also reduces business risk and increases
investor confidence in new developments.
Cover page Christian Miller
PHOTO CREDITS
Clockwise from top left: Steve Clarke,
Steve Clarke, Eric Matson and Tim Simmonds.
the way we work and the people we work with.
THE WAY WE WORK
We are long term: AIMS has spent more than 40 years
creating unprecedented knowledge of tropical marine
environments. We develop long-term data sets to help
industry, government and researchers differentiate between
natural cycles in the marine environment and the impacts of
development and climate change.
We are large scale: AIMS works across countries,
regions and industries, with research vessels, labs and
facilities that enable us to cover all of northern Australia.
We can help Australia tackle national and global challenges
by undertaking local, regional, national or international
research where necessary.
We do the science; we dont take sides: Transparent,
independent and impartial research makes us an honest
broker for all marine stakeholders.
We focus on economic growth and environmental
sustainability: We focus on both non-market and
market values to achieve our research outcomes. Our
science provides the basis for decisions about sustainable
development and biodiversity conservation.
 We make science real: AIMS research is relevant to our OUR RELATIONSHIPS
partners and the nation, focuses on solutions and is readily
Relationships are an integral part of our science.
accessible. We also distill scientific complexity into user-
We collaborate and communicate with a wide range
friendly clarity with interactive tools.
of stakeholder groups to meet their needs and those
We are end to end: We collect data with ocean-going of Australia.
vessels and observation systems; combine it with
General public: We help the wider community understand
multidisciplinary research in specialised labs; and test it
the marine icons, coasts and oceans that are so beloved by
with large-scale experiments and simulations in the National
our nation, and how we can use, manage and protect them
Sea Simulator. Our analysts then turn this knowledge into
for the benefit of all Australians.
models and risk assessments; and our data and decision-
support experts translate it into user-friendly applications. Government: We work with state and federal regulatory
bodies, marine resource managers, government
We collaborate: No single agency has the capability
departments and policy-makers to improve policy,
to meet the grand challenges facing Australias marine
guidelines, regulation and management.
estate. We enhance AIMS expertise by working closely
with an extensive network of collaborators in the public Indigenous communities: We provide Traditional
and private sectors, and we often take a leading role in Owners, Land Councils, Sea Rangers and community groups
these collaborations. with scientific data and risk assessments to support their
decision-making and Sea Country planning. We also help
We co-invest: AIMS invests its core funding, intellectual
them to build their monitoring capacity in remote areas.
property and capability in partnerships where parties work
towards a common goal. Mining industry: We collaborate with mining companies
such as Rio Tinto to support their sustainable development.
We connect the dots and open doors: AIMS is an
experienced collaborator, convener and catalyst of marine Non-Government Organisations: We provide reliable and
science networks and initiatives, both nationally and independent information to non-government organisations
internationally. We are a gateway to the Australian and to facilitate public discussions about key issues.
global marine science communities.
Oil and gas industry: We collaborate with some of
worlds largest and most well-known oil and gas companies
to support their sustainable development, including Shell,
Environmental Grades of Harbour Zones
Woodside Energy, BHP Billiton, Chevron.
Environmental R & SEDIME

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Philanthropic foundations: Our scientists use innovations
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9 South Trees Inlet
restoration, ocean acidification, micro-plastics and sharks.
B 11 Outer Harbour

6 Calliope Estuary
Ports and shipping: Our research is informing the
approval processes and sustainable development of port
C 10 Boyne Estuary
12 Colosseum Inlet
facilities across Australias north.
B 13 Rodds Bay

Gladstone Harbour Zones

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 FROM RAW DATA TO REAL SOLUTIONS

THE DISTILLATION OF AIMS SCIENCE AND RELATIONSHIPS

AIMS OUR PARTNERSHIPS BENEFICIARIES

Regulators and
Industry
policy-makers
The way
Tourism
we work: Government
industry

Oil and
Universities
gas industry
Focus on economic growth
and environmental sustainability Coastal
Community
industries
Dont take sides
Make science real Global Community
Focus on solutions research including
partners Indigenous
Provide evidence for decisions
Use innovative technology
Provide end-to-end science
Work long term and large scale
Collaborate and co-invest

OUR WHAT WE ACHIEVE

CAPABILITY
Develop blue economy

Decision science Enable sustainable development

Advanced analysis and models Protect marine environment

Ecosystem function and change Reduce uncertainty, risk and cost

Environmental baselines and monitoring Reduce stakeholder conflict

Innovative technology and data tools Improve policies and decision-making

World-class research infrastructure Support Indigenous communities

 THE TOOLS OF OUR TRADE
SKILLS AND EXPERTISE
ANALYSIS AND MODELLING: synthesise our mapping,
monitoring and research data to support predictions and
inform risk assessments for industry, regulators and managers.
CORAL REEFS: include 30 years of monitoring data,
coral core archives, population studies, genetic analyses
and restoration techniques.
CUMULATIVE IMPACTS: include research to understand
the complex interplay between water-quality issues,
risingtemperatures, ocean acidification and pressures
fromfishing, tourism, shipping, ports and mineral resources.
We also develop models to predict these impacts.
DATA MANAGEMENT: consolidates and coordinates industry
data to support secure-control access and metadata discovery.
DATA VISUALISATION AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
SYSTEMS: turn complex research data into creative, easy-to-
use and easy-to-access information for policy-makers, industry,
environmental and resource managers, and community.
DECISION-SUPPORT TOOLS AND APPLICATIONS: combine
data, maps, visualisations, models and business processes
into applications, dashboards and tools for decision-makers.
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES: identify how individual species
and whole ecosystems respond to impacts, particularly
tocumulative impacts.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY:
determine the impacts of hydrocarbons, microplastics, metals,
pesticides and emerging contaminants in tropical waters.
ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL AND ADVANCED ENGINEERING:
designs, develops and customises equipment for specific
needs, including remote, sensitive and harsh environments.
MAPPING AND ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINES: identify the
distribution and condition of habitats and species, and provide
benchmarks to measure future changes and their sources.
TOWNSVILLE (HEADQUARTERS) DARWIN
PMB No.3 PO Box 41775
Townsville MC Casuarina
QLD 4810 NT 0811
TEL (07) 4753 4444 TEL (08) 8920 9240
FAX (07) 4772 5852 FAX (08) 8920 9222
EMAIL web@aims.gov.au EMAIL web@aims.gov.au
MONITORING: helps industry and resource managers keep an
eye on environmental changes; supports industry compliance,
alert systems and marine park management; and provides
feedback on the effectiveness of management protocols.
WATER QUALITY: includes assessments and analysis of
sediment, nutrients and contaminants from agricultural,
industrial and urban development runoff.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES
AUTOMATED MONITORING EQUIPMENT: includes
autonomous aerial, underwater and surface vehicles;
remote-sensing and wireless sensor networks; weather
stations and oceanographic moorings, which can assess
water quality, currents, tides, temperature and salinity.
INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY: includes observation systems
that can enter sensitive, harsh and remote environments,
and the integration of emerging smart systems to analyse,
extract and visualise the information.
MARINE OBSERVING SYSTEMS: include a collaborative
observation network that monitors a range of physical,
chemical and biological variables around Australia.
NATIONAL SEA SIMULATOR: replicates environmental
conditions, supports studies of future scenarios, and
investigates the cumulative impacts of coastal and
offshore development.
OCEAN-GOING VESSELS: travel to remote areas, enable
weeks of research at sea, and support sophisticated
laboratory work on board.
SPECIALISED LABORATORIES: support the study of
organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, ecotoxicology,
genetics, microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry
andradiochemistry.
PERTH
Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre
The University of Western Australia, M096
35 Stirling Highway, Crawley WA 6009
TEL (08) 6369 4000
FAX (08) 6488 4585
EMAIL WAadmin@aims.gov.au www.aims.gov.au