Media release

From: Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS)

Media Release 

NSW ocean observing program set for expansion

16  May,  2024

A pioneering ocean observing program based out of the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) will reinvigorate vital efforts to monitor the movements of threatened marine reptiles and mammals, enhance coastal observing and develop oceanographic models to understand the interaction of estuary outflows with coastal waters, understand the dynamics of commercially important fish species, and apply precise methods for monitoring water quality following storm events.

This significant infrastructure boost will greatly enhance Australia's ocean monitoring capabilities through the expansion of the SIMS based Integrated Marine Observing System’s New South Wales Node (NSW-IMOS). This investment into the growth of SIMS continues to enhance the Institute’s  research on the response of the NSW marine estate to climate change and inform planning and decision-making.

The expansion will allow NSW-IMOS to advance its coastal observing capability, addressing critical gaps in ocean data and contribute to the sustainable use of Australia's marine estate, building  on the 15+ years of data already collected by NSW-IMOS. The program will be supported by co-investments from key partners: The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Fisheries, the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), the  Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS, funded by the Australian Government under NCRIS), and SIMS’s university partners: The University of New South Wales, The University of Sydney, The University of Technology Sydney and Macquarie University.

"These new coastal observations will generate important information needed by the agrifood, energy, transport, tourism, infrastructure and other sectors, and build pathways to employment for STEM professionals.” said Professor Martina Doblin, Director and CEO of SIMS.

Currently there are limited observations in NSW coastal waters (less than 3 nautical miles from shore) which results in relatively large uncertainty about the impacts of large storm events and flooding, and how these events affect water quality. Furthermore, ocean conditions drive critical processes for many fished species, and these oceanographic models support the adaptive management of fisheries in the context of environmental change and variability.

Moreover, this research into the movements of marine species like sea turtles in warming ocean waters is critical as it not only measures the impacts of climate change but also aids in the development of forecasting models for tropical cyclones and East Coast Low formation, which improve the safety and hazard reduction  planning for coastal assets and people.

This research will be delivered collaboratively and benefit from SIMS’s partnership with the Taronga Conservation Society Australia, the NSW fishing industry and the National Parks and Wildlife Services.

Moreover, SIMS is poised to deliver key data needed to develop climate adaptation pathways, delivering comprehensive insights that will inform planning across ecosystem health, maritime safety, and beyond, providing economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits to NSW’s marine and coastal communities.

The program expansion has been made possible through $1.93 million in grant funding provided by the  State Government's National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) Support Program.

Selected existing literature pertaining to the data and methodology proposed in this expansion:

Aim 1: Monitor the distribution and movements of threatened marine animals in NSW waters and exploit the coastal.

• McMahon, C.R., Hindell, M.A., Charrassin, J.B. et al. Southern Ocean pinnipeds provide bathymetric insights on the East Antarctic continental shelf. Commun Earth Environ 4, 266 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00928-w
• Hoenner Xavier, Whiting Scott D., Hamann Mark, Limpus Colin J., Hindell Mark A., McMahon Clive R. (2016) High-resolution movements of critically endangered hawksbill turtles help elucidate conservation requirements in northern Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research 67, 1263-1278. https://doi.org/10.1071/MF15013

Aim 2: Enhance coastal observing and develop physical oceanographic models for coastal areas of NSW that can ultimately be used to guide studies into commercially valuable fisheries and the dispersal and impacts of contaminants from the coast.

• Kerry CG; Roughan M; Keating S; Gwyther D; Brassington G; Siripatana A; Souza JMAC, 2024, 'Comparison of 4-dimensional variational and ensemble optimal interpolation data assimilation systems using a Regional Ocean Modeling System (v3.4) configuration of the eddy-dominated East Australian Current system', Geoscientific Model Development, 17, pp. 2359 - 2386, http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-2359-2024
• Malan, N., Roughan, M., Hemming, M. et al. Quantifying coastal freshwater extremes during unprecedented rainfall using long timeseries multi-platform salinity observations. Nat Commun 15, 424 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44398-2

Aim3 : Deliver new capacity to monitor and understand movement dynamics and population structure of commercially important fish species in NSW.

• Barnett, A., Jaine, F.R.A., Bierwagen, S.L. et al. From little things big things grow: enhancement of an acoustic telemetry network to monitor broad-scale movements of marine species along Australia’s east coast. Mov Ecol 12, 31 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-024-00468-8.
• Brodie, S., Lédée, E.J.I., Heupel, M.R. et al. Continental-scale animal tracking reveals functional movement classes across marine taxa. Sci Rep 8, 3717 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-21988-5.
• Taylor, M.D., Babcock, R.C., Simpfendorfer, C.A. and Crook, D.A. (2017). Where technology meets ecology: acoustic telemetry in contemporary Australian aquatic research and management. Marine and Freshwater Research, 68(8), p.1397. doi:https://doi.org/10.1071/mf17054.

About The Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS):

SIMS is a leading research institute dedicated to advancing marine science and promoting sustainable practices for the benefit of Australia's marine ecosystems/temperate oceans. SIMS facilitates collaboration among government agencies, industry partners, and academic institutions to address key challenges in marine research and management.

SIMS conducts multidisciplinary marine research on impacts of climate change and urbanisation, eco-engineering and habitat restoration, ocean resources and technologies, and outcomes of marine management approaches.

By bringing together NSW’s leading marine scientists in a collaborative hub, SIMS ensures the efficient use of resources for research on Australia’s critical coastal environments.

Media

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