eDNA Analysis Detects Invasive Species from Biofouling
biosecurity measures that help protect polar ecosystems from invasive marine species.The research, led by Australian Antarctic Program scientists, used environmental DNA (eDNA) in water samples, to detect species known to hitch-hike on ships’ hulls.The work was conducted during a voyage from Tasmania to sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island, on MPOV Aiviq in 2022.Molecular biologist Dr Leonie Suter said the research showed that eDNA sampling could help ensure effective biosecurity practices (such as hull cleaning), and identify invasive species before they can establish.“eDNA is DNA shed by all
Australian Maritime College, HII Celebrate Near-Perfect REMUS 100 Reliability
. To date, more than 750 REMUS AUVs have been delivered to customers in over 30 countries, with more than 90% still in active service.Since the arrival of the REMUS100 at the AMC the vehicle has been maintained in-house by staff at the AMC’s Autonomous Maritime Systems Laboratory in Northern Tasmania, with remote support provided directly from HII technical staff in the U.S
Australia Opens a Wave Data Portal
;s average rate of electricity consumption.“Persistent strong winds along the vast Southern Ocean create large waves which bring renewable energy towards the shores virtually continuously,” Wolgamot said. “The south and south-west mainland coastline and the south-west coast of Tasmania in particular experience the highest wave power levels, with exceptionally high-quality waves, with minimal intermittency and relatively small extremes — two characteristics essential for uninterrupted energy production.”A project is underway to use a “Moored MultiMode Multibody&rdquo
Watch: Sleepy Joes Found Together Again in their Hundreds
Scientists have again found aggregations of hundreds of Port Jackson sharks – sometimes known as Sleepy Joes.Scientists from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies of the University of Tasmania found the sharks when they revisited the depths of Beagle Marine Park in Bass Strait using a custom-made Boxfish ROV.Most were females. Males and females often live apart except when mating, but it’s unknown why they are gathering in such numbers.Sleepy Joes usually lay their eggs in the coastal waters of Victoria and mid-to-southern NSW from late winter, so it might be a mating aggregation
Zunibal Acquires Hydroacoustic Company Echoview
Zunibal, a participated company of Nazca Capital, announced their acquisition of Echoview. The Australian company, based in Hobart (Tasmania), is a global leader in hydroacoustic science and software for the processing, analysis, and visualization of hydroacoustic data. This transaction strengthens Zunibal’s technological and innovation capabilities while expanding its range of solutions.Echoview’s technology and its team of scientists and engineers will enable Zunibal to take a qualitative leap forward in the development of technological solutions for sustainable fishing. This includes
FID Made on Australia’s Marinus Link
Shareholders of Marinus Link (MLPL) have made a Final Investment Decision to proceed with Stage 1 of Marinus Link, a proposed undersea and underground electricity and data interconnector that will enable the flow of more low-cost renewable energy between North West Tasmania with Victoria.The project includes high voltage direct current (HVDC) cables, fibre optic cables, a communications station, and converter stations at each end.The project’s cables span 345 kilometers. This includes 255 kilometers of undersea cables across Bass Strait and 90 kilometers of underground cables in Gippsland
Call for Australia to Push for Robust Global Plastics Treaty
from Discovery Bay in under 2.5 hours;● in Western Australia, Tangaroa Blue Foundation coordinated 7.3 tonnes of rubbish being removed from beaches across the state;● in Queensland, 80% of green sea turtles have ingested plastic;● in South Australia, microplastics have been detected inside seafood;● in Tasmania; high levels of microplastics have been found in waters off Bicheno; and● on the remote Torres Strait and Cocos (Keeling) Islands, pristine beaches are being buried under hundreds of tonnes of plastic pollution including from plastic bottles, thongs, lighters and polystyrene fragments.Recycling
CSIRO Science Ship Takes Students on Tasmanian Circumnavigation
Thirty university students and trainers from across Australia will get to circumnavigate Tasmania aboard CSIRO research vessel Investigator.The 10-day voyage is part of a tertiary sea training program called CAPSTAN, the Collaborative Australian Postgraduate Sea-Training Alliance Network, which is being delivered in partnership with CSIRO (Australia's national science agency), marine science industries, universities and government.The program offers a national approach to applied teaching and learning in marine science and wider science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
Xodus Delivers Jobs Guide for Australia’s Marinus Link Interconnector
Global energy consultancy Xodus has delivered a future-looking guide on the jobs that will be required to deliver a major Australian interconnector project to connect North West Tasmania with Victoria, known as the Marinus Link.Marinus Link is a proposed undersea and underground electricity and data interconnector that will enable the flow of more low-cost renewable energy between North West Tasmania with Victoria.Construction on the project, which is currently in the design and approvals phase, is scheduled to get underway in 2026 and is anticipated to create up to 3,300 direct and indirect jobs.
February 2026
