Newsletter
28 March 2024
Welcome to the March 2024 issue of The Blue Drummer, the newsletter of the National Environmental Science Program Marine and Coastal Hub.
First we bring news of our 2024 project portfolio. There are 22 projects involving more than 30 research partners and collaborators, co-designed with research users. They continue a hub focus on these priority areas:
- Regional planning in northern Australia
- Offshore wind farms and renewable energy impacts
- Indigenous research and monitoring for sea Country
- Marine and coastal habitat restoration
- Protected places
- Threatened and migratory species and ecological communities
To better describe the projects' geographic extent, we now have a Projects map that shows hub projects by location. Try mousing over the project buttons to see the broad reach of hub projects, or filter by your research topic of interest.
Our March stories focus on co-designed research that is delivering important outcomes. They feature a long-term partnership with Parks Australia, conservation updates for migratory shorebirds, and a new approach to communication with recreational fishers on the Great Barrier Reef.
And away from the desk . . . In the north, we're distributing eye-catching posters explaining hub research for schools and communities. In the south, researchers have been surveying habitats in Australian Marine Parks, and working with Pakana Sea Country Rangers to survey seagrasses at Tasmania's Furneaux Islands . . .
We hope you enjoy this issue.
Yours sincerely,
Alan Jordan, Marine and Coastal Hub southern node leader
Damien Burrows, Marine and Coastal Hub northern node leader
A 16-year science-management partnership for Australia's oceans
An ongoing partnership between Parks Australia and the National Environmental Science Program has been fundamental to determining and managing Australian Marine Parks.
A direct line to recreational fishers on the Great Barrier Reef
Behavioural research tested through real time interventions has changed the way the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority communicates with recreational fishers about zoning compliance.
Population estimates guide new migratory shorebird listings
Eight migratory shorebird species have been added to Australia’s threatened species list, guided by hub research co-designed with the Department of Climate Change, Energy the Environment and Water.
Pakana Rangers pilot surveys in proposed Tayaritja Milaythina Muka IPA
This collaborative project is mapping seagrasses at the Furneaux Islands in Lutruwita/Tasmania to support Aboriginal-led management of these ecologically and culturally important habitats.
Planning for northern Australia's future
Investigating what comprises good planning outcomes, and the knowledge and capacity shortfalls that impede best-practice planning.
Community posters illustrate hub research from sea snakes to seagrasses
The Marine and Coastal Hub has produced seven posters as part of an initiative to engage with communities and schools where the research took place.
