NEWS ARCHIVE

Marine blueprint launched

THE WESTERN Australian Marine Science Institution has welcomed the release of a blueprint for the "blue economy" – a document that will support future industry competitiveness and effective management of Western Australia's marine environment and the nation's economy.

Marine blueprint launched

The so-called ‘blue economy' is expected to inject $100 billion into the national economy by 2025, and WA is at the forefront of this growth due to the scale of its neighbouring ocean, its habitat and the resources that make up its marine environment.

With a coastline of almost 20,000 kilometres, almost one third of the nation's maritime exclusive economic zone is off WA's coast

Activities such as the nation-building oil and gas industry, rapidly increasing shipping in the northwest, ambitions for expanded sustainable fisheries, the expansion of coastal and deep water marine reserves, rapid coastal development in the southwest and expanding regional port infrastructure are all effecting the marine environment.

Emerging industries such as aquaculture in the southwest and renewable energy are also developing, along research into future opportunities such as deep seabed mining.

WA Premier Colin Barnett launched the Blueprint for Marine Science 2050 at the WAMSI research conference last week, saying the blueprint identifies what new information will be needed to improve the productivity of WA's marine industries and enhance protection of the marine environment over the coming decades.

"The state has a vast and unique marine environment that supports many growing marine industries," Barnett said.

"For example, our seafood industry is one of the safest and most sustainable in the world while expansion in our minerals and energy sectors has led to significant growth in associated marine industries and in overall shipping activity.

"Science has played a critical role in enabling our economic prosperity while preserving the cleanliness and health of our oceans.

"However, the marine ecosystem is constantly evolving and this report shows we need to know more about the ocean if we are to maintain a balance between our environmental obligations and our economic prosperity."

More than 100 areas needing more research are identified in the blueprint across the fisheries, oil and gas, coastal development, transport and environmental protection sectors. The needs of future industries were also assessed.

Key programs underpinning all marine science and sector activities are also highlighted, along with dedicated programs to support upcoming decisions on major issues such as decommissioning offshore infrastructure.

Barnett said the strategy was developed in combination with industry and the research sector.

"The strategy is about long-term thinking and finding opportunities for research that will benefit all marine sectors, moving away from the short-term project-to-project framework that characterises the current system," he said.

"I'm particularly pleased this process has been led and informed by the end-users of science. It is just this sort of strategic and collaborative planning that we need to make sure future research in WA is efficient and that it makes a real impact on our future prosperity.

"The opportunity and challenge laid down to both industry and governments of all levels and political persuasions is clear. A long-term and transformational research program is necessary to deliver the industry and community benefits from our oceans."

Barnett said he would invite high-level representatives of key marine industry sectors and the Australian government to a round table that would consider the blueprint and seek to build the financial support necessary for a major long-term program.

More than $35 million has been invested on strategic marine science and capability building since 2006, and more than 170 stakeholders from marine industry sectors and government have been interviewed or participated in focused workshops to inform the blueprint.

The blueprint outlines priority baseline research themes that will contribute to nearly all marine activities either directly or indirectly, and underpins the majority of other marine research.

Without understanding the effects of ocean current changes it is impossible to model oil spills and or the effects on subsea infrastructure.

A single focused research program over several years will accelerate answers in priority areas, while long-term (decadal) and coordinated effort against these baselines will be required.

Studies directly affecting the oil patch include creating a cumulative noise profile and researching effects from seismic and shipping activities; the impact of bottom and boundary-layer currents and seabed mobility; and a risk and cost/benefit analysis of offshore infrastructure decommissioning options.

The Kimberley coast accounts for 4% of the world's oceans rated as having ‘very low impact' from human activity, with the majority of other areas in the Arctic and Antarctic - a fact not lost on the James Price Point protestors which fought to stop Woodside building its Browse LNG plant in the region.

There is also considerable interest in the impact of oil and gas exploration on the Ningaloo Marine Park region.

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