Overview

Humans are increasingly looking to the marine environment to deliver economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving ecosystem health. In recent years there has been significant expansion of interest in offshore energy generation, movement of goods via shipping, marine tourism, defence, carbon sequestration, biodiversity protection, as well as fishing and aquaculture.

The availability of space decreases as activity in the aquatic environment increases. This can make it difficult for industries and sectors to live and thrive, and can create conflict between users of the finite marine space. These tensions are likely to increase into the future without careful management, as Australia seeks to meet commitments of protecting 30% of land and water by 2030, and rapidly expand production of renewable energy to decarbonise. 

FRDC has a long history of investment in R&D to help fishing and aquaculture co-exist with other users of the aquatic landscape. Examples include:

• R&D to understand how commercial fishing and aquaculture and recreational fishing benefits the Australian community, for use when making trade-off decisions between ocean uses
• Spatial analysis to allow objectives of different aquatic use types to be achieved with minimal spatial overlap
• Application of innovation and technology to reduce environmental impact of fishing and aquaculture equipment
• Research, Development and Extension activities to create increase available habitat for species
• R&D explore the ecological benefits of partial spatial protection (2021-064, 2004-005)
• Spatial mapping of fishing and aquaculture in the marine environment, as well as other uses of the marine landscape to identify areas of overlap risk 

As Australia’s marine landscapes become busier it will be vital for governments, businesses and community to work together to resolve how we can continue to provide the diverse benefits that we all enjoy from the marine environment.
 

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