Modern genomics can contribute to marine conservation and management

Genomics builds marine know-how

The Wealth from Oceans Flagship is exploring how modern genomics can contribute to marine conservation and management by providing data more effectively and perhaps yielding new types of data.

In her address to the 2006 International Marine Genomics Conference in Italy, Flagship Science Coordinator, Dr Kate Wilson, explained that integrated marine ecosystem management is a major activity within the Flagship's Regional Marine Development and Growth research theme.

"This work has a wide range of applications, ranging from the use of genetic information to assist with taxonomy of species, to examining movements of plankton in the oceans and the impact that this has on the food webs, to revealing the influence of environmental variations such as heat, salinity or pollutants," said Dr Wilson.

Dr Wilson explained how sustainable development, based on Australia's huge marine and coastal ecosystems, is a major opportunity for the coming decades.

"Achieving sustainable economic and social benefits from this development will require a new approach to ocean management and the science that guides it. This new approach takes a system view of the multiple human uses of ocean ecosystems and their management."

Accordingly, for effective marine ecosystem management, the development of national and state regional marine plans will draw heavily on Australia's marine science and socioeconomic base. Systems such as Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) are being used to build models of an entire regional ecosystem, encapsulating both the biophysics of the marine ecosystem and its interdependence on the associated human socioeconomic uses of the region.

The MSE approach then allows the possible consequences of different management actions to be evaluated. It is also used to predict the optimal monitoring strategy, including appropriate indicators, to be used to ensure successful management of the marine ecosystem.
 

Update Home

Message from the Director

Research spotlight turns on Ningaloo region

WA peak marine research group issues report

Imagery shows outer Great Barrier Reef at risk from river plumes

Littlest ship an 'ocean science giant'

ReefTemp - Daily updates to assess Great Barrier Reef bleaching

Cold-water eddy 'monsters' mighty current off Sydney

Genomics builds marine know-how

Needle hunt turns up a haystack

Flagship Award Winning Research

Meet Mr John Gunn Wealth from Oceans Acting Director
 
Meet Mr John Gunn

INDUSTRY LINK:

The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association

The Wealth from Oceans Flagship is a CSIRO initiative and part of the National Research Flagships program that aims to deliver scientific solutions to advance Australia's most important national objectives. One of the largest scientific initiatives ever mounted in Australia, it aligns closely with the Federal Government's National Research Priorities. The initiative brings together our national research resources to deliver breakthroughs in fields ranging from healthcare to light metals and the environment.

Please feel free to forward it to those in your organisation who would be interested in receiving future newsletters.

If you do not wish to receive this electronic newsletter from the Wealth from Oceans Flagship, please reply to this message with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line. Alternatively, please contact editor.oceans@csiro.au or telephone us on +61 2 9490 8006 to request the removal of your email address.

This E-Newsletter is a publication of CSIRO Communications. It does not purport to be comprehensive or to render professional advice. All material in this publication is subject to copyright. For permission to reproduce any part or all of an article, please contact the editor.

To Subscribe to this electronic newsletter
enter your email address and click Subscribe.