Poster Presentation Australian Marine Sciences Association 2026 Conference

Bridging the Gap: Enhancing the Impact of Australia’s Marine Observations through Streamlined Policy Reporting (140293)

Jason D Everett 1 2 3 , Claire H Davies 2
  1. Everdat Solutions Pty Ltd, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  2. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Environment, Hobart, TAS, Australia
  3. The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

 

For twenty years, Australia’s Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) has delivered high-quality, long-term datasets that are fundamental to understanding our marine estate. The Biological Ocean Observer (BOO) was developed to make these data accessible, providing an R-Shiny platform for the integration and visualisation of complex biological and biogeochemical streams. As we look toward the future of sustained observing, a key challenge remains: accelerating the translation of these data into the bespoke assessments required by decision-makers.

We explore a proposed expansion of the BOO framework designed to support the national policy landscape. By moving beyond visualisation toward automated reporting, this approach would allow policymakers to generate expert-vetted summaries of Essential Ocean and Biodiversity Variables (EOVs/EBVs) for specific regions. Such a functionality would remove the technical barriers of data wrangling and statistical analysis, enabling resource managers to focus directly on interpretation and narrative. This model offers a repeatable, efficient pathway for integrating IMOS data into critical frameworks like State of the Environment and Great Barrier Reef reporting. By streamlining the "data-to-knowledge" pipeline, we can ensure that Australia’s investment in sustained observing continues to provide an enduring, accessible foundation for marine management and resilience.