Australian Institute of Marine Science

The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) is a tropical marine research centre located primarily at Cape Ferguson, Queensland, around 50 kilometres (31 mi) outside of Townsville. Established in 1972 by the McMahon Government, the institute's primary function is research for sustainable use and protection of the marine environment. The Institute investigates topics from broad-scale ecology to microbiology.

AIMS is committed to the protection and sustainable use of Australia's marine resources. Its research programs support the management of tropical marine environments around the world, with a primary focus on the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, the pristine Ningaloo Marine Park in Western Australia and northwest Australia.

AIMS' headquarters are located on a 207-hectare coastal site 50km from Townsville, Queensland, in a scientific zone surrounded by National Park and Marine Reserve. The location was selected because of its proximity to the geographical centre of the Great Barrier Reef and access to clean seawater. This strategic position provides a fast transition from the sea to the laboratory, a key advantage in marine science.

Two smaller offices, in Perth, Western Australia, and Darwin, Northern Territory, provide direct links for research partners and clients in these regions.

Marine Science Developments

AIMS are a part of an Australian-wide focus of marine science investment projects to improve: technologies, infrastructure and response systems to Australian marine issues. As part of a Super Science Initiative (SSI), Australia back in 2012 invested AUD$387.7 million in marine and climate science to boost protection and response systems for the undersea realm (Coffin, 2012).

The Institute discovered the oldest tropical fish, a midnight snapper fish, in Dec 2020.[1] It was determined to be 81 years old.[2]

See also

References
  1. Fox, Alex. "Researchers Catch Oldest Tropical Reef Fish Known to Science". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  2. "Australian researchers find 81-year-old snapper, oldest known tropical reef fish". the Guardian. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  1. Coffin, M. (2012). Australian developments in marine science. Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union, 93(30), 289-290. doi: 10.1029/2012eo300002


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