Key points
- Pakana/Tasmanian Aboriginal Person Jam Graham-Blair is one of 22 researchers embarking on the third SEA-MES voyage to survey the southeast continental shelf.
- Jam’s family clans, the Trawulwuy/Trawlwoolway and Plangermairenner People, have a deep connection to the waters of Lutruwita/Tasmania, where they have lived for tens of thousands of years.
- The voyage marks the first use of the upgraded seafloor mapping systems on RV Investigator, enabling faster and more detailed seafloor mapping.
Generations of Pakana knowledge will inform how our ecologist and Pakana Jam Graham-Blair conducts his scientific research when he embarks on the latest Southeast Australian Marine Ecosystem Survey (SEA-MES) voyage this week.
Jam is part of a team of 22 researchers. They will spend 30 days at sea onboard our research vessel (RV) Investigator surveying changes in biodiversity and habitats along the southeast continental shelf.
The SEA-MES project is repeating a survey completed 30 years ago between Hobart and southern New South Wales. This voyage is documenting changes in the ecosystem and establishing a new baseline of the environment. Jam said the voyage was an opportunity to consolidate his science background with his cultural learnings.
“My People have had a strong connection with the waters we’re studying for tens of thousands of years, having lived on Lutruwita/Tasmania, and the Bass Strait Islands, including Flinders and Truwana/Cape Barren, for generations,” Jam said.
“A lot of the seafloor isn’t mapped so I’ll be seeing Country that no one has seen since my ancestors walked it, before it was submerged thousands of years ago as the last ice age ended."
Jam was drawn to the study of ecology because in his culture everything is relational.
"We view Country as everything, and everything within Country, the trees, the soil, the birds, the wind, the water, the kelp, the krill, and even us as humans, are small parts of the larger “All-life” whole.
"All equal in value and all intertwined and dependent on each other for health and balance. My involvement in this voyage helps produce the science that demonstrates that too,” he said.
Jam is participating in the voyage through our Indigenous Graduate Program and will be involved in seafloor mapping, marine species monitoring and testing a new AI bird monitoring tool, called Jonathan.
Toni Moate is the Director of our Marine National Facility. She said the voyage is the first time several upgraded scientific systems would be used on RV Investigator following its recent dry docking.
“This voyage is the first to use the newly upgraded seafloor mapping systems on RV Investigator, which will allow researchers to map the seafloor faster and in greater detail than ever before,” Toni said.
“This will further enhance Australia’s contribution to national and international seafloor mapping efforts, as well as allow us to make more amazing observations of the features, habitats and even submerged cultural landscapes and shipwrecks on the seafloor.”
This is the third of four voyages the SEA-MES project is conducting in the area. Their goal is to capture information across seasons to understand changes since the mid-90s survey.
Our Voyage Chief Scientist Rich Little said the marine waters of southeast Australia were warming at four times the global average. This makes it vital to understand the effects of climate change and humans on the environment.
“These marine waters are one of a series of global ocean-warming hotspots, causing species to shift their distributions and marine habitats to change rapidly,” Rich said.
“Understanding these changes is critical for the future health of this ecosystem and the industries that depend on it, including fisheries, oil and gas production and emerging renewable energy industries.”
“Our SEA-MES project will help us untangle the causes of these changes and hopefully find ways to manage or mitigate them.”
In total, SEA-MES consists of four voyages over two years to collect data on what has changed in the ecosystem over 30 years and what has caused those changes. It is also testing potential new monitoring technologies. This includes "Jonathan", the automated on-vessel AI, that automatically detects and counts seabirds, and innovative environmental DNA (eDNA) technology to improve monitoring of marine biota for improved accuracy and cost-effective management.
Jam said he was looking forward to heading back out to sea with the team. “Being on a research vessel like RV Investigator has always been a dream of mine,” he said.
“I’m excited to be part of a project that contributes to our understanding and protection of the Sea Country that my ancestors have cared for, for over 2000 generations.
“I also hope the work I do will inspire other Pakana and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to consider a career in marine science so we can continue to protect our Country.”
The voyage departed Hobart on Wednesday 13 November and returns Friday 13 December. The science team consists of 22 researchers from CSIRO, the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and three University of Tasmania students. They are working in collaboration with 15 technical staff from our Marine National Facility, as well as 23 ship crew, to deliver the science.
The voyage is supported by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), Parks Australia, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC), the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC) and Flotation Energy.
The research is supported by a grant of sea time on RV Investigator from the Marine National Facility, which is funded by the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) and operated by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, on behalf of the nation. The CSIRO Indigenous Research Grants Program provided a grant to Dr Rich Little’s team for ‘Supporting Indigenous Scientists and Community in the Southeast Australian Marine Ecosystem Survey’.