No images? Click here It is a time of change. As we approach the sixth and final year of this third Marine Biodiversity Hub, the impacts of climate heating on the environment and all its inhabitants are increasingly apparent. It is also a time of renewal. The United Nations Decade on Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) highlight the need for scientific advice in responding to this change. The change is so pervasive that the environment can no longer be repaired by simple protection or removal of pressures. We must manage our continued impacts to achieve the smaller set of future outcomes now available to us. The Hub is well placed to contribute to a managed outcome for Australia’s marine environment and globally. We have been discovering, mapping and understanding the status, origins and pressures faced by our marine species and habitats. We’ve also developed approaches to marine monitoring, coastal restoration and species declines. See our newsletter archive for further details. It is also a time of change for me as I step down after 13 years as Hub Director. A new Director will be appointed early in 2020 and I hope that they will take the same pleasure that I have in leading this diverse and rich group of scientists. The national and global contributions of our scientists are vital to managers and policy makers as they navigate the complex impacts of environmental (and social) change. And, of course, our scientists are supported by a hard-working executive team and many supporters. For the last time as Director it is my pleasure to wish you a relaxing and recuperative time with family and friends over this holiday period, and to thank you once more for your dedication and passion for improving our marine environment. Nic Bax, Marine Hub Director From the executive team, thank you all for your contributions to the NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub over the past 12 months. It has been a great year and would not have been possible without you. Nic Bax |