The National Marine Science Plan: informing Australia’s future ocean policy^*

* This commentary has been prepared on behalf of the National Marine Science Committee (NMSC) and white papers co-convenors. Related correspondence should be directed to [email protected]. Some of the text of this commentary draws directly from the text used in the ‘National Marine Science Plan 2015–2025: Driving the Development of Australia’s Blue Economy’ (National Marine Science Committee 2015).

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Acknowledgements

The NMSC would like to thank the more than 500 individuals from a wide range of organisations who contributed to the content and review of the National Marine Science Plan. Individuals who contributed to white papers, and white paper co-convenors, are listed in those white papers (at www.marinescience.net.au).

NMSC Membership: Australian Antarctic Division, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Australian Fisheries Management Authority, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Australian Marine Safety Authority, Australian Marine Sciences Association, Bureau of Meteorology, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Defence Science and Technology Group, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, Department of Education and Training, Department of the Environment, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Geoscience Australia, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Integrated Marine Observing System (current Chair), Royal Australian Navy, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Perth, University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, Western Australia Department of Fisheries, Western Australian Marine Science Institution.

Notes

* This commentary has been prepared on behalf of the National Marine Science Committee (NMSC) and white papers co-convenors. Related correspondence should be directed to [email protected]. Some of the text of this commentary draws directly from the text used in the ‘National Marine Science Plan 2015–2025: Driving the Development of Australia’s Blue Economy’ (National Marine Science Committee 2015).

1. ‘Marine estate’ is defined as Australia’s oceans, seas, seabed, coasts, close catchments, traditional sea country, and the living and non-living resources they contain within Australia’s marine jurisdiction (i.e. water column and seabed beyond the territorial sea baseline).

2. http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/oceancommission/documents/full_color_rpt/welcome.html.

3. European Commission ‘Blue Growth Strategy’ http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/policy/blue_growth/.

4. See note 2.

5. The 7.5% blue economy growth is calculated based on our goal to increase from $47.2 billion of current value to the Australian marine economy to $125 billion by 2025. The 2.5% GDP growth rate is taken from the 2013/2014 ABS data www.abs.gov.au/AusStats/[email protected]/MF/5220.0.

6. The National Marine Science Committee (formally referred to as the Oceans Policy Science Advisory Group) is an advisory body promoting co-ordination and information sharing between Australian Government marine science agencies and the broader Australian marine science community. NMSC is made up of representatives of Australian Government agencies and additional members who assist the group to access stakeholder, industry and research views and state/territory government considerations. A full NMSC membership list can be found at the end of the paper and at www.marinescience.net.au.

7. The eight white papers (including infrastructure) and subtheme papers underpinning this Plan can be found at www.marinescience.net.au.

8. See note 6.

9. Calculations by Geoscience Australia based on total physical mapping of Australia’s ocean floor by multi-beam sonar of Australia’s 13.86 million square kilometre marine jurisdiction.

10. Commonwealth Science Council, Strategic science and research priorities – announced 26 May 2015, www.science.gov.au/scienceGov/ScienceAndResearchPriorities/Pages/default.aspx.

11. http://www.innovation.gov.au/page/agenda.

12. Department for the Environment ‘Commonwealth Marine Reserves Review’ http://www.marinereservesreview.gov.au/.