The latest news from the Australian Institute of Marine Science.
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September 2025 | View previous edition
Hi
Welcome to Waypoint!
From the blue economy to blue carbon and luring coral-munching starfish with their own scent, this edition covers the latest news and updates from Australia's tropical marine science agency. But first...
A message from our CEO
Last week, we had the pleasure of launching AIMS' Science to Impact: Strategy 2040.
This strategy builds on AIMS strong history of supporting the sustainable use and protection of our oceans and sharpens our focus on safeguarding Australia’s tropical ecosystems in the face of environmental change, especially climate change.
Guided by our new vision – thriving oceans through trusted science and innovation – the strategy prioritises our efforts across five research themes and elevates our capabilities and partnerships in emerging areas.
It also renews our commitment to delivering impact using systems-thinking and collaboration across disciplines, specialties, sectors and partners to develop holistic solutions.
AIMS' science remains capably supported by our world-class infrastructure and technological innovations, and continues to be delivered by its people, partnerships and collaborations, including Indigenous partners.
Thank you to those involved in developing AIMS Strategy 2040 – our staff, science colleagues, and those in government, management and industry.
Join us in driving impactful research, delivering innovative solutions and shaping sustainable ocean futures.
Prof Selina Stead
Chief Executive Officer, AIMS
News from AIMS
Can we work out where the organic carbon stored in coastal wetland soils originally came from? A new paper tackles the challenge.
A two-way sharing alliance between AIMS researchers and Indigenous ranger groups is building skills and knowledge to help sea Country.
Our latest breakthrough against coral-munching crown-of-thorns starfish: using their own scent against them.
Better understanding the potential impact that artificial light at night (ALAN) has on babies' behaviour after they emerge from beach nests.
AIMS received its second SAGE Cygnet Award, recognising significant work to deepen Indigenous Partnerships throughout research and operations.
AIMS Index of Marine Industry 2025
The economic output of Australia’s marine industries grew to $229 billion in 2023, according to the latest AIMS Index of Marine Industry.
The Index is an assessment of the contribution of Australia’s marine sector to the national economy. This is the 10th edition in the series, which is released every two years by Deloitte Access Economics, and uses data from the 2022-23 and 2023-24 financial years.
The $229 billion reflects a 19% growth in like-for-like terms compared with two years ago, supporting a 52% increase in full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs to 712,000.
This growth was predominantly driven by rebounding domestic tourism and an expanding natural gas industry.
ReefWorks demo for defence forum
Marine science and defence both appreciate the importance of developing autonomous marine technology to improve capacity, efficiency and safety.
Operating that technology in a tropical marine environment creates additional challenges.
Delegates from the Australian Defence Magazine (ADM) Townsville Defence Forum visited AIMS to inspect the capabilities of our ReefWorks tropical marine test range for emerging marine technology.
ReefWorks offers unique tropical marine test and evaluation capabilities for Australia’s uncrewed systems and advanced sensing technology industries.
Delegates toured our National Sea Simulator (SeaSim) and inspected the test tank and electronics workshop before the ReefWorks demonstration of autonomous surface vehicles (ASV) and the deployment and retrieval of buoys both from ASVs and via helicopter.
Images: Marie Roman & Phil McDowall
Long-Term Monitoring Program
Annual Summary Report of Coral Reef Condition 2024/2025
Substantial impacts from 2024 mass coral bleaching and cyclones reduce regional coral cover to near long-term averages.
WA marine heatwave & coral bleaching symposium
Around 100 scientists and managers gathered in Perth to discuss the impacts of the devastating marine heatwave that has swept through northwestern waters this year.
The Marine Heatwave Symposium was coordinated by AIMS and the Western Australian government, to share information and impacts, and discuss next steps. AIMS scientists reported that the heatwave drove the worst bleaching event on record for WA coral reefs, and released a newsletter summarising the event via the WA Coral Bleaching Group.
AIMS scientists also participated in a free public talk and panel discussion about the heatwave, with more than 100 attending in person and online.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Marine Science students visit AIMS
We are proud to support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Marine Science program (ATSIMS) at James Cook University.
Every year, groups of Year 10 students from across North Queensland travel to AIMS and experience our marine science firsthand.
This year, the students learned about:
- The National Sea Simulator (SeaSim).
- Crown-of-thorns starfish, and their natural predator, the Giant Triton sea snail.
- Tracking microplastics in the ocean and on our beaches.
- Designing the machines which help us monitor Australia’s tropical reefs.
- And the AIMS workshop, where all these innovations are made real.
The curriculum is delivered by a diverse range of industry leaders and experts and is bolstered by the involvement of Traditional Owners and Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger groups.
Images: Luke Lythgoe
AIMS in the news
- 21st Century science and traditional knowledge combine to protect sea Country | National Indigenous Times
Get social!
- Follow AIMS on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube
- Follow SeaSim on X and LinkedIn
- Follow ReefWorks on LinkedIn
- Sign up for regular survey updates from AIMS' Great Barrier Reef Long-Term Monitoring team
