Sea Science and Storylines

The Australian Institute of Marine Science recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land and sea country in which we work, and Australia’s first scientists and custodians of country.

Building partnerships with Traditional Owners of sea country in Northern Australia, we are weaving traditional knowledge with western science to create better ways of understanding tropical marine environments for a sustainable future. These collaborations are based on trust, respect, and two-ways knowledge sharing, and are integral to our AIMS Strategy 2025.

AIMS scientists came together with Traditional Owners to share the challenges and opportunities in establishing Indigenous marine research partnerships on sea country. The webinar discussion, 'Sea Science and Storylines: the journey so far with the Australian Institute of Marine Science, was hosted by Duane Fraser, GBRMPA Board member and Wulgurukaba and Bidjara Traditional Owner and included the following panelists:

• Chrissy Grant, cultural and natural resource management expert and Kuku Yalanji elder
• Dr Paul Hardisty, AIMS CEO
• Libby Evans‑Illidge, Team Leader of AIMS Indigenous Partnerships
• Manuwuri Forester, AIMS Indigenous Partnerships Coordinator and Lama Lama and Nywaigi Traditional Owner
• Bob Muir, AIMS Indigenous Partnerships Coordinator and Woppaburra elder, and
• Dr Jim Underwood, AIMS scientist

The panel explored how an approach grounded in truth telling and two-way learning delivers mutual benefits for Traditional Owners and communities and an enhanced scientific understanding of northern Australia’s unique marine environment.

WATCH Sea Science and Storylines on our YouTube channel