Oceans Policy Science Advisory Group

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Oceans Policy Science Advisory Group

• Providing a framework for our Marine Nation
• Dr Kate Wilson
• June 2009

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Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,
Australia has sovereign rights and duties in its
EEZ for the purpose of exploring and
exploiting, conserving and managing the natural
resources, whether living or non-living, of the
waters and of the seabed and its subsoil
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Economic value of our oceans

• gt4 of GDP contributed by ocean energy, tourism,
  food recreation industries
• 90 of our liquid hydrocarbon comes from
  offshore, (only 20 of prospective basins under
  license)
• maritime trade 340 billion pa investment in
  ports
• maritime industries 38 billion pa (42
  increase since 2000)
• emerging ocean industries have great potential
• bio-discovery, minerals, carbon capture
  storage, renewable energy, offshore aquaculture
• - AIMS Index of Marine Industry 2008

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Production Oil 544 Kbbl/d Gas 3.8 BCF/d
85 of oil 92 of gas in Australia
Reserves Oil 4.2 Bbbl Gas 155 TCF
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A Marine Nation a national framework for marine
RD
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Opportunities and challenges for Australias
coastal and ocean domain
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A National Framework
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Oceans are vast and data poor
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Improved governance

• a national steering committee for marine research
  innovation to
• bring together all marine science providers
• provide a cohesive strategy for investment
• provide an appropriate policy interface
• provide for annual reporting accountability
• advise Government on marine RD

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Marine science in the spotlight

• "Australia has unique natural resources and
  distinctive flora and fauna. Our resource profile
  will inevitably influence our innovation
  priorities. For example, Australia has the third
  largest ocean territory in the world, so it makes
  sense for us to focus on marine science."
• - Powering ideas an innovation agenda for the
  21st century
• Australian Government

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Marine central to Governments plan
Marine research is central to understanding how
and when our climate is likely to change, and
managing the impact on precious environments like
the Great Barrier Reef and the Southern Ocean. -
Senator the Hon Kim Carr Minister for Innovation,
Industry, Science Research May 2009
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Budget backs marine science

• 120M to CSIRO to construct new blue-water
  marine research vessel
• 52M to Integrated Marine Observing System
• 55M to Australian Institute of Marine Science
• 45M to establish Institute for Marine
  Antarctic Studies
• 19M for Sydney Institute of Marine Science
• 25.2M to Australian Antarctic Division

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Thank you

• Dr Kate Wilson
• kate.wilson_at_csiro.au
• 02 9490 8258
• www.opsag.org