Oceans

satelite image of Earth

It is now recognised that the world's oceans play a pivotal role in climate. China and Australia are collaborating with a $20-million investment in a new research centre that will examine the importance of southern hemisphere oceans and how they influence climate change.

fish on market stall

CSIRO’s research helps ensure ecological modelling and stock assessments give fisheries and consumers across Australia clear information about good seafood choices.

school of fish

As the global population increases and climate changes continue to impact the world’s oceans, more pressure will be placed on fisheries to meet growing food security demands. Can science help the seafood industry adapt?

man snorkelling with lobster

Lifestyles of some 78 million people worldwide depend on small scale fisheries; that includes the communities of the Torres Strait and the suitably-named ornate rock lobster. Managing those small fisheries for future sustainability has been a long-term, and on-going, project.

The search for missing Flight MH370 in the Indian Ocean turned to oceanography to see what the science of surface drift modelling could suggest about the latitude of the splash site. The CSIRO final report has been delivered with more confidence than before of the likely search site - after testing on a real Boeing 777 plane part.

diver measuring bleached coral

The only way to prevent further severe coral bleaching on the world’s tropical reefs is to urgently reduce global warming, a new study reveals.

Woman scuba diving with striped fish

The east-coast population of humpback whales has seen a comeback - what could they tell us about the marine environment? Long-term data allows for better monitoring of Australia's ocean environment in the latest State of the Environment Report.

man holding jar up to the light with museum whales behind him

Plankton are the foundation of the marine food web. They are also indicators of ecosystem health and climate change and as such get a special mention in the 2016 State of the Environment Report Marine chapter because of poleward shifts in distribution.

two men in orange with blue hats throwing yellow float overboard

Throwing expensive scientific equipment overboard is all part of the job for CSIRO technicians working on the Argo float program, and it’s not often that these kinds of jobs are up for grabs.