Renewed partnership secures exciting future for marine science

The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) has signed a three-year, renewable Master Services Agreement with Woodside to provide expertise and high-quality marine research services.

Working in partnership with Woodside offers AIMS a unique opportunity to expand on the provision of marine environmental baseline and monitoring studies and showcase capabilities, including:

• assessing and mapping biodiversity of shallow and deeper water communities;
• monitoring changes and investigating processes influencing marine ecosystem health and productivity; and
• measuring, analysing and modelling oceanographic processes.

AIMS Chief Executive Officer, John Gunn said the Institute had worked in partnership with Woodside for more than 20 years.

"We are very proud of this long-standing relationship and the outcomes that we have been able to achieve together," he said.

Woodside Chief Operations Officer Mike Utsler said Woodside was pleased to formalise the commitment to working together.

“Woodside recognises the value of collaboration in improving understanding of the local environment and potential impacts,” he said.

“Our long-term relationship with AIMS has enabled us to build knowledge and understanding of corals reefs adjacent to our operations and activities.

“The research outcomes of this partnership will continue to help us make the right business decisions about the sustainable design, development and operation of our facilities.”

The collaboration between Woodside and AIMS, further expanded in this most recent Agreement, continues to yield benefits to sustainable development, conservation and Australia as a whole.

Most notable of these is the establishment of one of the world’s longest and most comprehensive coral reef monitoring program at Scott Reef in remote north-western Australia.

Signing of a three-year, Master Services Agreement: Pictured (Back row, L to R): Research Program Leader (AIMS) Hamish Jolly; Senior Principal Research Scientist (AIMS) Andrew Heyward; Vice President Health, Safety, Environment & Quality (Woodside) Fiona Hick; General Manager Environment (Woodside) Jarrod Pittson; Chief Environmental Scientist Luke Smith (Woodside).

(Front row, L to R) Chief Executive Officer (AIMS) John Gunn; Chief Operations Officer (Woodside) Mike Utsler.

Image courtesy of Woodside Energy.