A new paper published in the Australian Journal of Maritime and Ocean Affairs takes stock of the marine science supporting Australia’s seafood sector and identifies where investment and coordination need to improve. Spanning wild capture fisheries, aquaculture, and aquatic biosecurity, the authors assess the current state of research capability and set out priorities for the decade ahead, from climate-ready fisheries management and biosecurity surveillance to expanded molecular tools like eDNA and better inclusion of Indigenous knowledge.

The findings matter for anyone working in or depending on Australia’s seafood sector. Robust, well-funded marine science underpins sustainable stock assessments, early detection of disease and harmful algal blooms, and the kind of evidence base that keeps markets open and management decisions grounded in reality. Read the full paper here.