The Blueprint
About the Blueprint
Western Australia’s coastal waters and estuaries are home to incredible ecosystems and wildlife, including many unique marine species. The 12,000-kilometre coastline is immensely valuable to marine industries and coastal populations. Any decisions that support a sustainable future for Western Australia’s marine environment must be based on the best available scientific knowledge. WAMSI has provided this knowledge for more than 18 years.
The Blueprint for Marine Science 2050 is the strategic plan for applied marine science in Western Australia. Commissioned by WAMSI and released in 2015, the document set the scene and scope for state-wide marine research, with priorities shaped by the needs of industry, government and the community. However, the landscape for the blue economy has evolved significantly since 2015, influenced by major global developments such as climate change and decarbonisation, the COVID-19 pandemic and international supply chains.
The Blueprint Refresh 2022–27, developed in collaboration with Western Australian stakeholders, presents updated research priorities that support opportunities for marine science to improve the sustainable use and management of our coastal and estuarine marine environments. Priority areas include marine data management (and data accessibility), baseline data and synthesis, shared observing effort and Indigenous knowledge.
The updated plan provides contemporary, clear direction for marine stakeholders while continuing to promote sustainable growth for the state.
Blueprint Refresh 2022-2027
The Blueprint Refresh 2022-2027 provides the contemporary view, developed with advice from key Western Australian stakeholders to refresh the scientific knowledge required to head into the future.
It represents six major marine science themes and identifies key knowledge gaps to guide future research initiatives and programs over the next five years that can be pursued by the State’s leading scientific experts and organisations.
Blueprint Refresh initiatives
Together with our partners, WAMSI has established multiple strategic research initiatives that align with the key themes identified to focus research efforts over the lifetime of the Blueprint Refresh. These indicate where WAMSI is delivering research programs that strike a balance between filling gaps in scientific knowledge and providing information to support decisions to sustainably develop the State’s marine resources.
Our strategic, multidisciplinary research increases understanding of WA’s marine environment; delivering better science to help inform decision making on some of the big picture, complex multi-sectoral issues identified in The Blueprint and Blueprint Refresh.
Research focus areas
The Blueprint Refresh is a contemporary snapshot of the existing and emerging marine science needs of Western Australia’s marine industries, managers, regulators and the wider community.
Three cross-cutting focus areas emerged from the collective stakeholder input: Traditional Owner participation, Accessible data, and Social engagement and education. Each are relevant across research themes and should be integrated into the development of any marine science program. This includes from the design and implementation phases, through to its monitoring and evaluation. These areas are central to delivering a collaborative, future-focused marine research portfolio for the State and reflect current national and global science priorities.
Collaborative science plan
Blueprint for Marine Science 2050
The Blueprint for Marine Science 2050 report is an independent, objective assessment of stakeholders priorities for future marine research in Western Australia.
