Oceans

Aerial photo of a a ship and an oil spill

How our new technology improves oil spill response

Oil spills can cause significant environmental damage. We have developed new oil spill response technology that focuses on removing small oil droplets. And it all starts off with the humble domestic sponge ...

The International Space Station was orbiting above the Northern Territory of Australia when this photograph was taken of the Gulf of Carpentaria including (from bottom left to right) the Pellew Islands, Wellesley Islands and South Wellesley Islands. One of the station's main solar arrays drapes the left side of this photograph.

Monitoring our vast and varied coasts

Human advancement is testing the resilience of our coasts, from the molecular level to the planetary. CSIRO's technologies are helping manage our changing coasts.

ULUU seaweed-derived plastic film

Could seaweed replace plastic?

CSIRO is testing seaweed-derived polymers for use as an alternative to conventional plastics.

volunteers by a lake

Plastic pollution: how much is there?

Scientists and the Australian community are on the hunt for rubbish as part of a national plastic pollution survey. They’ve captured data on more than 270,000 items of rubbish so far. You can help too!

photo of waterway in Indonesia with lots of rubbish and the same area in the background cleaned up

Casting a global net to solve the plastic problem

CSIRO is working with Indonesia and other regional partners where COVID has exacerbated the plastic pollution issue.

coral reef

New science discovers coral seed banks

CSIRO scientists have found that corals store dormant 'seed banks' like forests do. This unexpected finding shows reefs can recover in surprising ways.

A prawn trawler on ocean with setting sun behind

Worldwide trawling impact revealed

Hidden beneath the waves, the impact of bottom trawling is often talked about but rarely properly understood. A recent CSIRO-led study has quantified that impact on a worldwide scale.

spiny lobster

A digital pathway for sustainable fisheries

An online tool called FishPath is paving the way for the sustainable management of fisheries worldwide.

Two seabirds flying in a blue sky.

Studying seabirds: recording biodiversity above ocean waves

Scientists on research vessel Investigator are tackling the challenge of studying seabirds that spend much of their life at sea.