IMOSStrategy2030

PAGE

IMOSStrategy2030

Executivesummary3

Director’smessage:whatwewilllooklikein20305

Introduction6

OurMissions2021-20307

Howwework8

StrategyObjectives10

Need:ournationalandinternationalcontext10

Impact:harnessingourinfluence11

Amplify:enhancingnationalabilitythroughleadership12

Capability:thepowerofourpeopleandinfrastructure13

ImplementingtheStrategyandtrackingoursuccess14

AboutIMOS

Australia’sIntegratedMarineObservingSystem(IMOS)wasestablishedin2006asajointventurebetweenseventopAustralianmarineresearchinstitutions.TheNationalCollaborativeResearchInfrastructureStrategy(NCRIS)supportsthisnationalinfrastructure,whichincludesover50facilitiesandsub-facilitiesaroundAustralia.Thefacilitiescollectobservationsandmeasurementsofoceanconditions,speciesandhabitats—fromtheopenoceantocoastalwaters.Thistimely,quality-assured,centraliseddataisfreelyavailabletoresearchers,industries,managersandpolicy-makers.Thedatasupportthesustainableuseandmanagementofourmarineestate,anddeliverbenefitstoallAustralians.

Statementofacknowledgement

WewishtothanktheAustralianGovernment,IMOSpartnersandanextensiverangeofstakeholdersfortheircontinuedsupport,whichhasbeeninstrumentalinIMOS’advancesandachievementssince2006.WealsoacknowledgethededicationofAustralia’smarinesciencecommunitythathashelpedusreveallong-termpatternsandtrends.

AcknowledgementofCountry

IMOSacknowledgestheTraditionalCustodiansandEldersofthelandandseaonwhichweworkandobserve,andrecognisetheiruniqueconnectiontolandandsea.WepayourrespectstoAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeoplespast,presentandfuture.

PHOTOCREDITS

Cover:EthanDaniels(Shutterstock)Page2,left-right:RobHarcourt,ManuwuriTraceyleeForester

Page7,top-bottom:AvigatorFortuner(Shutterstock),FabriceJaine,GraemeSnow(Shutterstock),MarieRoman,Aerometrex(AdobeStock)

Page11,left-right:PaulRigby,

PeterJansen

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Page13,left-right:ThomasMoore,RobHarcourt,CraigSteinbergPage15,top-bottom:JulianPeters(AdobeStock),DavidLade(Shutterstock),MileHighImages(AdobeStock)

IMOSStrategy2030

Executivesummary

Aswemovedeeperintothe21stcentury,Australia’sIntegratedMarineObservingSystem(IMOS)hasneverbeenmoreessentialforrisingtothegrandchallengesandrealisingthegreatopportunitiesofAustralia’soceansandcoasts.TheIMOSStrategy2030hasbeendesignedtohelpusanswerthiscentury’sclarioncall.

SinceIMOS’inceptionin2006,ouroceanandcoastaldatahavehelpedAustraliasustainablymanagethethirdlargestmarineestateintheworld.Ourdatahavehelpedforecastandpredictoceanandweatherconditions,supportedtheoperationalneedsofmarineindustries,informedmarinepolicy-makingandmore.ButthereisstillmuchthatAustraliadoesn’tunderstandaboutitsmarineestate.NorcanAustraliameetitschallengesandopportunitieswithouttheknowledgebasetomakedecisions,plan,investandmitigaterisk.

Overthecomingdecade,Australianeedstobettertrackandunderstandtheimpactsofclimatechangeandextremeweathereventsoncoastalcommunities,iconicmarineenvironmentsandmaritimeoperations.Oceanandcoastalobservingdatawillhelpdrivetheprojected$100billion-a-yearblueeconomy,technologicaladvancements,thepotentialofmarinerenewableenergyandcutting-edgeresearchoncontemporaryissues.OurregionalandinternationalneighboursalsoneedIMOSdatatocloseknowledgegapsaboutglobaloceans.

Thescaleofthesechallengesandopportunitiesrequiresacoordinatednationalmarinemonitoringsystemwiththescale,capabilities,leadershipandimpacttomatch.IMOSisthatsystem,andwehavedevelopedfiveMissionstoguideourworkoverthenext10years.

?Providedataandknowledgetoimprovedecision-makingandsupportmarineoperationalsafetyandefficiency,includingweatherforecastingandpredictionservices.

?Provideanincreasedunderstandingoftheenvironmental,economic,socialandculturalimpactsofandresiliencetoclimatechangeandextremeevents.

?Enableimprovedunderstandingofconditions,speciesandhabitatstosupportmanagementandprotectionofourpreciousmarineestate.

?Supportresearch,trainingandeducation,andfacilitateinnovativeapproachestoprovidefutureocean-monitoringcapabilitiesforindustry,scienceandmanagement.

?Engageatlocal,national,regionalandinternationalscalestoensureourcapacityandcapabilityisleveragedforgreatestimpact.

TwelveObjectivesunderpinourMissionsandaimtofulfilNeeds,growImpact,AmplifycapacityandapplyCapability.IMOSwill:

?turndataintouseful,easilyappliedinformationforendusers

?workwithstakeholderstosupportdecision-makingandtheblueeconomy

?generateinternationalsynergiesandcontinueIndo-Pacificleadership

?measuresocial,environmentalandeconomicimpactstomaximisebenefits

?leverageobservationsandinvestmentthroughpartnerships

?designourobservingsystemforimpactandnationalpriorities

?integratemultiplemarinevariablesandscales

?enhancemarinecommunication,understandingandliteracy

?empowernext-generationscientistswithdataandinfrastructureaccess

?sustainandevolveIMOScapability

?supportandenhancemarinemodellingandforecastingservices

?partnerup,articulategapsanddevelopsolutionstomarineissues.

Overthelast14years,theIMOSpartnershiphasdevelopedintoaworld-leadingobservingsystemwithinvestmentsininfrastructure,datasystemsandhumancapabilitybythefederalgovernment($24millionp.a.)andourpartners($39millionp.a.).Theimpactsofthesetargetedandsustainedobservationshavebeenprofound.AswelookforwardinthisStrategytothefutureneedsofendusersandstakeholders,itisclearwemustcontinuetoobservemanyofthesystemsandvariableswehavefocusedontodate.

However,therearealsosignificantgaps,particularlyinthecoastalzonewheremostAustralians—citydwellers,regionalcentresandFirstNationspeoples—liveandaccesstheoceans.OurStrategyencompassesthesecurrentlyunmetneedsandwillrequiresustainedandincreasedfundingifwearetoachieveourMissions,andhelpdelivertheenergy,food,jobs,security,recreationandwellbeingofallAustralians.

JohnGunn

Chair,IMOSGoverningBoard

3

Coastal

populations

Capability

Sustain&evolve

IMOScapability

Support,enhance

marinemodelling&

forecastingservices

Partnerup,articulategaps&developsolutionstomarineissues

Biodiversity

conservation&

management

Marine

sovereignty,safety&security

Food

security

Energysecurity

IMOSStrategy2030

RisingtothechallengesandrealisingtheopportunitiesofAustralia’soceansandcoasts

Need

OBJECTIVES

Turndataintouseful,easilyappliedinformation

Workwithstakeholderstosupportblueeconomy

Generateinternationalsynergies;continueIndo-Pacificleadership

Impact

Measuresocial,environmental&economicimpacts

Leverageobservations

&investmentthrough

partnerships

Designobservingsystemforimpact&nationalpriorities

Providedatatoimprovedecision-

making&supportmarineoperations

Provideincreasedunderstandingof

climatechangeimpacts&resilience

MISSIONS

Enableimprovedunderstanding

ofconditions,species&habitats

Supportresearch,training&

ocean-monitoringinnovation

Amplify

Integratemultiplemarine

variables&scales

Enhancemarinecommunication,understanding&literacy

Empowernext-genscientistswithdata&infrastructureaccess

Engageatmultiplescales

forgreatestimpact

BENEFITS

IMOSStrategy2030

4

Director’smessage:whatwewilllooklikein2030

Australia’soceansandcoastsaremoreimportantthanevertoourwayoflife.Theycontinuetobeasourceofrecreation,wellbeing,foodandcleanenergy,andamajordriverofglobalweatherandclimate.TheIMOSpartnershiphasplayedakeyroleinmaintainingthesustainableuseandmanagementofAustralia’smarineestateandgrowingtheblueeconomy.We’veachievedthisbyintegratingIMOSobservationsintoweatherandclimateforecastingtohelpsupportmaritimeindustriesandinformmanagementandpolicydecision-makingprocesses.

IMOShashelpedAustraliaweatherglobalcrisessuchasthecoronaviruspandemicbycontinuingtodeliverimportantdatastreamsthatsupportandfacilitatescience,industryandjobs.Wealsocontinuetoplayacriticalroleininformingresponsestoongoingandemergingdisturbancestoourworldandoceans,includingclimatechange.IMOShashelpedthepublic,policy-makersandindustrybetterunderstandclimatechangeimpacts,theireffectsonAustraliaandtheeffectivenessofourmitigationandadaptationmeasures.

Byintegratingobservationaldataintoaccessible,easilyappliedinformationandproducts,wehaveimprovedthesafetyandefficiencyofleisureandoperationalmaritimeactivities,helpedmonitorandmanagecriticalfoodresources,supportedrenewableenergyoperations,andinformeddecision-makingandpoliciesonoceanuseandmanagement.Ports,fishing,tourism,shippingandothersectorsbetterunderstandtheimportanceofoceanobservingdata,aswellastheconditionsincoastalregionswhereuseandstressorsaregreatest.Expansionintocoastalobservinghassupportedtheneedsofplanners,regulators,infrastructureinvestorsandthepublicinunderstandingandmanagingthechangesthatcontinuetooccurincoastalareas.

Overthepastdecade,ourdatahavehelpeddrivesignificantadvancesintechnologytostudyouroceansandcoastalwaters.Theseinnovationshavevastlyexpandedourknowledgethroughtargetedsustainedobserving.Meanwhile,ourdataandproductshaveempoweredandtrainedthenextgenerationofmarinescientists.Partnershipswithpeople,includingIndigenouscommunitiesandcitizenscientists,havealsoexpandedourobservingcapabilityintoareaswecouldnotsustainotherwise.Throughthesepartnerships,wehavegainedaricherunderstandingofouroceansandtheirroleinshapingourcommunitiesandcountry.

IMOShasmadesignificantcontributionstonationalandinternationalprograms,andservesasatouchpointandbenchmarkforothernations.Wehavecontinuedtoplayaleadershiproleintheglobaloceanobservingcommunity,andourcollaborativemodel,dataintegrationandoutputsareworld-leading.OurroleintheIndo-Pacifichasalsoincreased.Wehaveworkedmorecloselywithourregionalneighbourstobetterunderstandouroceansatscalesthatarerelevanttotheirnationsandours.

WehavegrowntheIMOScommunityanddeepenedourpartnershipswiththepublicandprivatesectors.Duringthistime,wehavecontinuedtodemonstratethatasacommunityIMOSisgreaterthanthesumofourparts,andthroughpartnershipwebuildfromstrengthtostrength.

MichelleHeupel

IMOSDirector

IMOSStrategy2030

5

IMOSStrategy2030

Introduction

TheIMOSStrategy2030isaroadmapguidingourprioritiesforinfrastructure,partnerships,leadershipandresearchoverthenext10years.TheStrategyisstructuredaroundfivekeyMissionsand12relatedObjectives.ToachievetheseMissionsandObjectives,wewilladdressnationalandinternationalNeeds,increaseImpact,AmplifynationalabilityandapplyourCapability.

ThisroadmapbuildsonthepreviousIMOSStrategy2015–2025;however,itsfundamentaldriveremainsthesame.IMOSwilldeliversustained,systematicandscientificallyrobustobservationsthatwillsupportthesustainableuseandmanagementofourvastandvaluedmarineestate.Wewillworkwithourpartnerstoaddressfundamentalquestionsandchallengesfacingouroceansandcoastalwaters,anddelivernationalbenefitstoallAustralians.

Australiahasoneoftheworld’slargestmarineestates.Itsoceanterritoryisgreaterthanitslandareaandstretchesovermillionsofsquarekilometres.Thismarineestateisnotonlylargeandextremelydiverse,butitisalsohighlyvaluedsociallyandeconomically.With90%ofAustralianslivingwithin100kilometresofthecoast,recreationandculturearecloselyentwinedwiththemarineenvironment.By2025,marineindustriesareprojectedtocontributearound$100billiontoAustralia’seconomyannually1.

Inaneraofrapidenvironmentalandsocialchange,Australiafacesnewchallengesinachievingsustainablemanagementofmarineresourcesoverthenextdecade.Successfullyaddressingthesechallengesrequiresstronganddiversepartnerships,multipleobservingplatforms,timelyaccesstorelevantdata,theabilitytointegrateandsynthesiserelevantdata,andaconcertedeffortbyengagedscientists.

IMOSandourpartnerspossessthecapabilitiestoanswerthatcallandamission-basedStrategywillguidetheway.Oureffortsandobservationswilldeliverbenefitsacrossmarinesovereignty,safetyandsecurity;energyandfoodsecurity;biodiversityconservationandmanagement;andcoastalpopulations.Wewilladdresstheneedsofcommunities,industries,scientists,policy-makersandmanagers,andultimatelysupportthejobs,recreation,healthandwellbeingofallAustralians.

Alarge,valuablemarineestatecomeswithanequallylargeresponsibilityforsustainablemanagementtobenefitAustraliaanditsregionalneighbours.Effectivemanagementrequiresaknowledgebaseandcapabilitytoregulateandmanageaccessto,useofandbenefitsderivedfromthemarineestate.Thiscanonlybeachievedthroughfocused,long-termobservationandstudy.

IMOSprovidesuswithcriticalinsituobservationsthatourmeteorologistsandresearchersusetoensureAustralia’sweatherandclimateservicesareworld-class,andtoprovideourcommunitywithinformationtomakecriticaldecisionsfortheprotectionoflifeandproperty.

NicholeBrinsmead,ChiefInformationOfficerandGroupExecutiveDataandDigital,

BureauofMeteorology

6

1NationalMarineScienceCommittee(2015),

NationalMarineSciencePlan2015–2025.

andpredictionservices.

Provideanincreasedunderstandingofthe

andresiliencetoclimatechangeandextremeevents.

Enableimprovedunderstandingofconditions,speciesandhabitatstosupportmanagementandprotectionofourpreciousmarineestate.

Supportresearch,trainingandeducation,andfacilitateinnovativeapproachestoprovidefutureocean-monitoringcapabilitiesforindustry,scienceandmanagement.

Providedataandknowledgetoimprovedecision-makingand

supportoperationalneeds,safetyandefficiencyofmarine

industriesandorganisations,includingweatherforecasting

environmental,economic,socialandculturalimpactsof

WehavedevelopedfiveMissionstoguideourwork,andtoaddressthechallengesandrealisethe

opportunitiesofAustralia’smarineestateoverthecomingdecade.WewillachievetheseMissionsthrough

strategiccollaboration,connectionstoindustry,userengagementandbest-practicedatastewardship.

Engageatlocal,national,regionalandinternationalscalestoensureourcapacityandcapabilityisleveragedforgreatestimpact.

OurMissions2021–2030

SeehowwetrackourMissionsonPage14

IMOSStrategy2030

7

Thesehigh-qualityoceanobservationshelpmonitormarineecosystems,definepatternsandtrends,andaddressfundamentalquestionsandchallengesfacingourmarineestate.IMOSdatahelpresearchers,governments,industriesandcommunitiesunderstandclimatechangeimpactsandmanyotherpressuresonmarinesystems.Wealsoimprovemarineindustryefficiency,safetyandsustainability,andhelpstrengthenAustralia’smarinesecurity.

IMOSundertakesandsupportsarangeofactivities,suchas:

?providingcriticalcontributionstoweatherandclimateforecasting,includingcontributionstoreportingbytheIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange

?workingwithgovernmentagenciessuchastheDepartmentofDefence,andmaritimeindustriessuchasoilandgas,portsandrenewableenergytocollectdataonwaves,currentsandweatherforoperationaldecision-making

?testingandimplementingnoveltechnologiestoimproveoceanobservations,reduceobservingcostsandimprovedataaccessanddelivery

?informingmodelsandoceanobservationsthatcommercialfishersuseindailyoperations

IMOSStrategy2030

Howwework

IMOSisoneoftheworld’smostcomprehensiveandsuccessfuloceanobservingsystems.Our50facilitiesandsub-facilitiesarebasedaroundAustralia,anduseawiderangeofinfrastructuretocollectobservationsandmeasurementsonoceanconditions,speciesandhabitats—fromtheopenoceantocoastalwaters.

?helpingtounderstandepisodiceventssuchascoralbleachingandmarineheatwavesbycollectingsustainedandtargeteddata

?informingmodelsandinformationtoguidemanagementofAustralianMarineParks,includingmanagementoftheGreatBarrierReef

?informingcoastalcommunitiesaboutthewaves,currentsandclimateconditionsthataffectthem

?usingmarinespeciesmonitoringdatatoinformfisheriesmanagementandstatusreports,andthreatenedspeciesmanagementatstateandCommonwealthlevels

?contributingtostateandCommonwealthStateoftheEnvironmentreportingwithlong-termobservationaltrendsinkeyoceanvariables

?improvingourunderstandingofSouthernOceandynamicsbyoperatinginremoteandharshenvironments

?contributingtotheGlobalOceanObservingSystem,whichiscallingforcoordinatedandconcertedactiontounderstandandsustainouroceanecosystems.

TheNCRISinvestmentandtheIMOScollaborativemodelhaveprovidedaquantumleapintheavailabilityofoceandatainAustralia,andinthecollaborativepartnershipsbetweendatausersacrosstheuniversity,governmentandindustrysectors.

NationalMarineSciencePlan2015–2025:DrivingthedevelopmentofAustralia’s

BlueEconomy

8

IMOSStrategy2030

Newtechnology

proving

AustralianOceanDataNetwork

MarineMicrobiomeInitiative

Network

Operatesaportfolioofplatform-basedfacilitiestoacquireoceanobservations.

Plansitsoperationsthroughinternationallypeer-reviewedscienceprocesses.

IMOSundertakessystematicandsustainedobservingofAustralia’smarineestate.

Engageswithusersacrossuniversities,governmentsandindustriestodriveuptakeandimpact.

Ourfacilities

Satelliteremote

sensing

Shipsof

Deepwatermoorings

opportunity

Ocean

radar

Wirelesssensor

networks

NationalMooring

Oceangliders

Animaltracking

Acoustictelemetry

Autonomous

underwatervehicles

Argofloats

Animaltracking

Animaltagging

9

IMOSStrategy2030

IMOSwill

fulfilthree

Objectivesto

meetthese

Needs:

Transformourdatainto

informationandproductsthat

areusefulandeasilyapplied

byresearchers,industries,

governmentandthepublic.

Workwithstakeholders

whoutilisesystematic

andsustainedobservations

ofAustralia’smarineestate

tosupportdecision-making

andtheblueeconomy.

StrategicObjectives

TheStrategy’s12ObjectivesaredesignedtoachieveourMissionsbyfulfillingNeeds,growingImpact,Amplifyingcapacity,andapplyingandbuildingCapability.

Need:ournationalandinternationalcontext

By2025,Australia’smarineindustriesarealsoprojectedtocontributearound$100billiontooureconomyeachyear.Forindustryandgovernmenttoplan,investandmitigaterisk,theyneedanevidencebaseofessentialknowledgeaboutoceansystemsandresources.Thedevelopmentofnewmarinetechnologiesandinnovationsisalsonecessarytodrivemarinesciencediscovery,industrydevelopment,jobgrowthandsustainability.

Thepriorityrequirementforsystematicandsustainedoceanobservinghasbeenstressedinarangeofhigh-levelnationalandinternationalforaoverthelastfiveyears.TheseincludetheNationalMarineSciencePlan,theNationalScienceandResearchPriorities,theNationalClimateScienceStrategy,GlobalOceanObservingSystem2030Strategy,theUnitedNationsDecadeofOceanScienceforSustainableDevelopment2021–2030andtheUnitedNationsSustainableDevelopmentGoals.

IMOSisactivelyengaged,andinmanycasesisagloballeader,inoceanobservationscience.Inparticular,weplayastrongroleinobservingtheSouthernOcean,andwearearegionalallianceintheGlobalOceanObservingSystem.

Thereisanestablishedneedandongoing

priorityforoceanobservingwithinandbeyond

Australia.Marineindustriesandorganisations

requiretheseobservationsforoperational

support.BetterunderstandingofAustralia’s

oceansandcoastsisalsocrucialformanaging

risk,developingindustriesandrealising

nationalbenefitsinaneraofunprecedented

change.IMOSwillstrivetoremainagileinthese

changingtimesbyproducingdataandoutputs

thatarerelevantandresponsivetostakeholder

needs,nationalprioritiesandemergingissues.

OrganisationsandindustriessuchastheBureauof

Meteorology(BOM),DepartmentofDefence,ports,

renewableenergy,oilandgas,andfisheriesrelyon

IMOSobservationstounderstandtheoceanstate,

trendsandprocessesaffectingtheiroperations.

Meanwhile,manyoceanprocessesthatdrive

climate,weatherandmarinesystemshavelarge

uncertainties,limitingthevalueoffuture-state

projections.Maritimeoperationsneedaccessto

morereliableinformationandmodellingabout

increasinglyextremeevents,suchastropical

cyclones.Oceanrenewableenergyfromwaves,

tides,currentsandthermalenergyconversionhold

somepromise,butalsorequireoceandatafor

developmentanddecision-making.

Collaborateasastrong

partneringlobalocean

observingandinternational

partnershipstoaddvalueto

Australiaandprovideleadership

withintheIndo-Pacificto

helpsupportourregional

neighbours.

10

Designourobserving

systemforgreatestimpact

inordertocontribute

andrespondtonational

prioritysettingand

emergingneeds.

IMOSwill

fulfilthree

Objectivesto

meetthese

Impacts:

LeverageIMOS

observationsand

coreinvestmentthrough

partnershipswithstate

andterritorygovernments

andmarineindustries

toenhancedatause,

applicabilityand

outcomes.

Measureand

analyseourimpact

acrossareasofsociety,the

environmentandtheeconomy

toensurewearemaximising

benefits.Worktoincrease

relevanceandimpactin

sectorswithunrealised

potential.

Impact:harnessingourinfluence

IMOSensuresthatimpactisachievedbyunderstandinghowobservationsprovidenationalbenefitviaourstakeholders,andtrackingwhatbenefitsthoseobservationshelpproduce.Wedothisacrossfiveoverarchingsocietalthemes:foodsecurity;energysecurity;biodiversityconservationandmanagement;marinesovereignty,safetyandsecurity;andcoastalpopulations.WeembedthesethemesintoaframeworkofOECD-derivedindicatorsofworld-leadingresearchinfrastructuretomeasureourimpact.

IMOSobservationsandmeasurementswill

driveandenhanceresearchthatdelivers

impactandeconomic,environmentaland

culturalbenefitsforAustraliaandbeyond.

Wegrowandenhanceimpactbyaligningour

strategicplanningwithnationalandinternational

priorities.Wealsoestablishpartnershipswiththe

researchsector,industryandcommunities,and

undertakedirectengagementwithresearchers,

managersandpolicy-makers.Thisapproach

providesanopportunitytocreatesolution-based

adviceincollaborationwithAustralia’smarine

researchcommunity.

IMOSStrategy2030

11

Empowerthenext

generationofmarine

scientiststhroughaccess

tounparalleledmarine

infrastructure,expertise

anddata.

IMOSwillfulfil

threeObjectivesto

AmplifyAustralia’s

marinescience:

Communicateanenhanced

understandingofthemarine

environmenttoincreaseocean

literacyincommunitieswithin

andbeyondAustralia.

IMOSStrategy2030

Amplify:enhancingnationalabilitythroughleadership

Weprovidenationalprogramswithobservationsthatsupportarangeofclimateandecosystem-basedresearch.OceanobservingsystemsinothercountrieslooktoIMOSforleadership,andhaveadoptedseveralofourinnovativeapproachestooceanobserving.

IMOSanditspartnersarealsoinauniqueandpowerfulpositiontoaddressanumberofnationalissues.Together,wesupporttheAustralianOceanDataNetworkandadiverseportfolioofoceanandcoastalobservinginfrastructureacrossabroadrangeofenvironments.Theseattributespositionourportfoliotosupportsolution-orientedresearch.ThesefeaturesmeanIMOScanamplifyournationalabilityinwaysthatsingleinstitutionscouldnotaccomplishalone.

Throughpartne