What we do

The aim and objectives of the Torres Strait Research Program to meet identified end-user needs are to establish a coordinated and integrated research program to:

• Support the sustainable development of marine resources and minimise impacts of resource use in Torres Strait.
• Enhance the conservation of the marine environment and the social, cultural and economic well being of all stakeholders, in particular the Torres Strait peoples.
• Contribute to effective policy formulation and management decision making.

Objectives

1. To provide information on key ecological processes in Torres Strait that will improve understanding of the sustainability of the Torres Strait marine ecosystem and conservation of threatened marine species.
   
2. To provide information on status and trends of fisheries and other economically and culturally important natural resources of Torres Strait necessary for effective coordinated and integrated natural resource management.
   
3. To assist in the development and implementation of marine strategies for Torres Strait.
   
4. To provide information to support regional marine planning in Torres Strait and northern Australia.
   
5. To assess the impacts of resource exploitation on the Torres Strait marine environment.
   
6. To provide tools for the evaluation of the consequences of alternative management strategies on Torres Strait stakeholders, marine resources, communities and cultural values.
   
7. To create innovative systems to make available to Torres Strait peoples and other end-users data and information, either existing or generated by the program.
   
8. To identify candidate species for new aquaculture from the natural resources of Torres Strait that are compatible with the aspirations and lifestyles of Torres Strait peoples, and to develop the technology and knowledge base to support sustainable production in new Torres Strait based aquaculture industries.
   
9. To develop education and extension programs to enhance the involvement of Torres Strait peoples in research and development opportunities in Torres Strait.
   
10. To improve the capacity of Torres Strait communities to understand and utilise research results for enhanced economic and social development.
    
11. To improve the capacity of researchers to engage with Torres Strait communities in the design and conduct of research and in the transfer of research results.