The Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) has announced an expansion of its pioneering ocean observing program.

The initiative will focus on the movements of threatened marine reptiles and mammals, develop oceanographic models, and apply methods for monitoring water quality.

The expansion is part of the Integrated Marine Observing System’s New South Wales Node (NSW-IMOS), an effort supported by the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). 

“These new coastal observations will generate important information needed by the agrifood, energy, transport, tourism, infrastructure and other sectors, and build pathways to employment for STEM professionals,” says Professor Martina Doblin, Director and CEO of SIMS.

The program will address significant gaps in coastal data, particularly for areas less than three nautical miles from shore. 

Currently, limited observations result in uncertainty about the impacts of storm events and flooding on water quality. 

The new infrastructure will support research into commercially important fish species and the development of adaptive management strategies for fisheries.

The expansion will also contribute to the sustainable use of Australia's marine estate, building on over 15 years of data collected by NSW-IMOS.