The research priorities (not in priority order) will guide the assessment of applications submitted.
Research Priority 1
Quantify the status, dynamics and forcing factors (physical, biological) of marine mammal population structure, distribution and abundance
- continue and standardise long-term abundance and trend estimation
- improve genetic and taxonomic distinction of key taxa and their relative distributions
- improve methods for studies that define habitat use and linkages between habitats
Research Priority 2
Characterise and quantify threats to marine mammal populations, with a focus on understanding the nature and extent of interactions with humans
- interactions between marine mammals and noise
- effects of hunting on dugong populations
- marine mammal-fisheries interactions: Operational
- marine mammal-fisheries interactions: Ecological
- marine mammals and habitat degradation
Research Priority 3
Develop risk management and mitigation tools/strategies for marine mammal and human interactions and test their efficacy
Research Priority 4
Develop powerful, new, non-lethal technologies and methodologies (e.g. molecular, bio-logging, remote sensing) that best address the above objectives
