NERP Marine Biodiversity Research Hub Section

The NERP Marine Biodiversity Research Hub is a collaborative research program funded through the National Environmental Research Program (NERP) and administered by the Department of the Environment. The NERP Marine Biodiversity Hub is a continuation of the Hub previously funded through the Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities (CERF) Program (2007-10).

This section provides new data, information and tools to support the management and monitoring of marine biodiversity across the Australian marine estate, including within Marine Protected Areas.

Geoscience Australia's role in the Marine Biodiversity Hub involves analysing marine biophysical data to develop an increased understanding of marine biodiversity and ecosystem processes, particularly for Northern Australia. To achieve this, existing marine physical and biological datasets along with new data will be collated for selected areas. These datasets will be integrated to develop models that describe linkages between seabed physical features and ecological processes that sustain biodiversity.

Project partners are:

• University of Tasmania (UTAS)
• CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (CMAR)
• Geoscience Australia
• Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)
• Museum of Victoria (Mus Vic)
• University of Western Australia (UWA)
• Charles Darwin University (CDU)

Stakeholders include:

• Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA)
• Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA)
• Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPac)
• Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS)
• World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)