New year, new science: RV Investigator’s New Year research-lutions

By  Matt Marrison 13 January 2025 4 min read

Australia’s marine and atmospheric scientists are primed to make more exciting discoveries in the year ahead! Upcoming voyages of our ocean research vessel (RV) Investigator will serve up a smorgasbord of collaborative marine science in 2025.

The 2025 schedule boasts seven science voyages that will span the full length of Australia’s eastern seaboard, from deep into the Southern Ocean in the south to the tropical waters of the Coral Sea in the north. RV Investigator will also make an international trip to Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean to study the aftermath of the explosive eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano in 2022.

Toni Moate is Director of our Marine National Facility (MNF). She said the upcoming schedule had an exciting range of science, reflecting both the diverse capabilities of the vessel but also the wide range of challenges we face in managing Australia’s marine environment.

“We are confronted with a changing climate and warming oceans which means we need robust data to inform decision making to ensure the protection and prosperity of our marine estate and its resources,” Toni said.

“The research we’re delivering this year will address key challenges for Australia. This includes how we manage sustainable fisheries, adapt to changes in our climate and weather, mitigate the risk from natural disasters and, importantly, how we protect the incredible diversity of marine life that lives in the oceans around Australia.”

Discover more marine species

In 2024, the recorded number of new species described from RV Investigator voyages passed 150 new species. However, this is likely to represent only a fraction of the estimated 1000+ undescribed species collected during biological survey voyages of RV Investigator.

“We have two significant biodiversity survey voyages this year that will collect vital information about the marine life and health of ecosystems along Australia’s east coast from Tasmania to Queensland. We’ll also be conducting a voyage in partnership with our Kennaook/Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station to study ocean air quality and how it is changing over time,” Toni said.

“Crucially, on every voyage we undertake, we’re collecting vital ocean and atmospheric data and mapping the seafloor to help us better manage Australia’s vast ocean territory.”

In addition, RV Investigator also assisted in two significant maritime heritage discoveries during the past year, with the locations of the wrecks of SS Nemesis and MV Noongah being confirmed. However, this is just one element of the maritime heritage work supported by the vessel.

Elevate Indigenous participation

Supporting research to uncover submerged Indigenous cultural heritage sites is also a priority for RV Investigator. The vessel assisted in several surveys of Sea Country during 2024.

“We’re so pleased to have partnered with the custodians of Sea Country in several seafloor surveys, including in efforts to identify potential submerged cultural sites that may have been used by our First Nations people in times past,” Toni said. 

MNF Engagement Programs Coordinator, Dr Ben Arthur, said incorporating Indigenous knowledge into the planning and delivery of voyages was a priority for CSIRO.

“We are committed to increasing the involvement and ownership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in marine research and are seeking to elevate Indigenous participation in all aspects of our work,” Ben said.

“An exciting initiative we’re offering this year is the opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander university students to join research voyages through our Indigenous Time at Sea Scholarship.”

“This program creates the opportunity for research teams to share their collective knowledge and understanding, including supporting the integration of Indigenous knowledge systems, to increase our capacity to better manage our marine environment,” he said.

Immerse students in training at sea

Ben said the coming year would also include a dedicated training voyage to help develop Australia’s future marine researchers and experts through the CAPSTAN program. CAPSTAN, the Collaborative At-Sea Postgraduate Sea Training Alliance Network, is a tertiary training initiative delivered by CSIRO, the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) and Australian and New Zealand International Scientific Drilling Consortium (ANZIC).

“We’re really excited to be relaunching CAPSTAN in 2025, and it will see 30 university students and trainers take part in a 10-day circumnavigation of Tasmania for a unique at-sea training experience,” he said.

The training activities that the students will undertake will have real-world applications and provide data and samples for several research programs.

“The students will even be involved in a search for a shipwreck off Tasmania’s northwest coast, which is an incredibly exciting activity to be a part of,” Ben said.

The research and training delivered by RV Investigator are invaluable for increasing our capacity for understanding the marine environment to enable better management for its prosperity, productivity and conservation.

“In an ever-changing world one thing is certain, this year will be another big year of at-sea science for RV Investigator and there’ll doubtless be many more important and exciting discoveries for the collaborative teams working onboard!”

RV Investigator is part of the Marine National Facility, national collaborative research infrastructure funded by the Australian Government through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) and operated by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, on behalf of the nation.