SEA-MES science benefit
Our oceans are increasingly under stress. Climate change and unchecked activities pose a real threat to the ecological health of the world’s oceans. By 2025, Australia’s marine industries will contribute around $100 billion each year to our economy, with our oceans and coasts providing a further $25 billion worth of ecosystem services, such as carbon dioxide absorption, nutrient cycling and coastal protection. A blue economy is one which strikes the right balance between reaping the economic potential of our oceans with the need to safeguard their longer-term health. A blue economy is one in which our ocean ecosystem brings economic and social benefits that are efficient, equitable and sustainable.
Three hypothesis of change in the SE Australian Marine Ecosystem are being explored:
- Impacts to the ecosystem, fish communities and benthic habitat are driven by exposure to bottom-contact fishing: The Habitat Hypothesis
- Impacts to ecosystem, fish communities and benthic habitat are being driven by changes to the water column driven by changing ocean conditions: The Climate Hypothesis
- Interactions of these two impacts are being seen through changes to the food web: The Trophic Hypothesis
SEA-MES also has a series of projects contributing to science benefit and capacity building:
