The Aquaculture Environment Team comprises marine and social scientists and researchers who are seeking to better understand the interactions between marine aquaculture, the environment and society. We are based at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) at the University of Tasmania. Our research is focused on the coastal waters around Tasmania in southern Australia but has applications globally.
Our main objective is to improve understanding of the ways in which aquaculture interacts with marine and coastal ecosystems, and other resource users, around Tasmania. We do this to identify potential risks both for the environment and industry, to help inform management, planning, regulation and the broader community, but especially to ensure that aquaculture in Tasmania is sustainable over the long-term. It is important to us that the information we provide is reliable, rigorous, impartial and transparent to the Tasmanian and global community. We hope that our research helps people better understand aquaculture interactions, the complexity of the Tasmanian environment and how we all affect and are affected by our amazing coastal ecosystems.
The Aquaculture Environment Team has grown from small beginnings, with just a couple of focused scientists a decade ago, to a diverse group of more than a dozen committed and specialist staff. Some of the core research skills in the group include: coastal and reef ecology, fish and invertebrate biology, taxonomy, ecosystem and nutrient modelling, bio-geochemistry, habitat mapping, spatial analysis and GIS, data management, communication and a range of social science research specialties including multiple use management, conflict management, and governance and policy analysis. Check out our capabilities section for more details.
The success of the Aquaculture Environment Team stems from the collaboration, hard work and dedication of our members; with teamwork, health and safety and 'mateship' at the centre of our ethos.
