Oceans and Coasts

Australia is a marine nation. We have one of the largest ocean territories in the world, and it drives our climate and weather, generates employment, provides food and resources, and offers lifestyle and recreational opportunities.

Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone is the third largest in the world. Only 12.5% (approximately) of Australia's seafloor has been mapped. 40% of creatures sampled in voyages of discovery are new to science (many of the rest are new to the Australian record).

Australia’s ocean territory contributes nearly $40 billion to our economy each year through a variety of industries, such as tourism, offshore oil and gas, aquaculture, commercial and recreational fishing, and shipping.

The oxygen in every second breath we take comes from ocean algae, not trees.

The ocean influences our climate and is in turn affected by climate and climate change.

It is an indelible part of the Australian psyche. With the majority of our population living near the coast, the health of our oceans and coasts is of substantial social value.

Yet most of this rich resource remains unexplored, unmapped, unused and unknown.

CSIRO’s research spans the full range of Australia’s ocean – from the tropics to the southern polar waters, from the coasts to the deep ocean.

We concentrate on the central role of oceans in supporting economic, environmental and social prosperity in the face of major national challenges including:

• energy security
• food security
• changing climate and ocean chemistry
• coastal development and urbanisation
• national security
• environmental protection and biodiversity conservation.

Through knowing our oceans, CSIRO can help Australia secure its ongoing wellbeing.