September 3, 2015

Newsletter: 
September 2015

The Marine Biodiversity Hub has been funded to extend its research program for the next six years under the $142.5 million Australian Government National Environmental Science Programme (NESP).

NESP supports collaborative biodiversity and climate science to help decision makers understand, manage and conserve the Australian environment.

Professor Nic Bax of the University of Tasmania will continue in his role as leader and principal investigator of the Marine Biodiversity Hub, which received funding of $23.88 m through the University of Tasmania.

He says Marine Biodiversity Hub research will provide accessible and nationally consistent information for on-ground action that yields measurable environmental benefits.

The research will be delivered through four themes:

  • improving the management of threatened and migratory marine species;
  • supporting management decision making;
  • assessing pressures on the marine environment; and
  • understanding biophysical, social and economic aspects of the marine environment.

An important goal of the Hub is to increase national communication and collaboration by streamlining approaches to data collection, analysis and distribution for research providers and users.

This will engage federal and state government agencies, Indigenous partners, the fisheries and oil and gas industries, and conservation organisations, and will support the implementation of priorities identified in the National Marine Science Plan (2015 - 2025).

Three new partners have joined the Marine Biodiversity Hub: the NSW Department of Primary Industries, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, and the Integrated Marine Observing System.

They join the existing seven partners: Australian Institute of Marine Science, CSIRO, Charles Darwin University, Geoscience Australia, Museum Victoria, University of Western Australia, and the University of Tasmania's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies.  Read more about their roles.

Further reading

Contact

Nic Bax, University of Tasmania