About AMMC

Whale breaching the surface of the water
(Photo: Dave Harvey)

The Australian Marine Mammal Centre is based in Hobart in the Australian Antarctic Division’s Science Branch. The Centre has 5 staff and one student plus an extensive research community throughout Australia, representing over 20 institutions. A stakeholder advisory committee and a marine mammal scientific committee worked with the Centre’s staff to review the priority research needs and to ensure cross-jurisdictional integration of the work program.

The Centre was originally established with funding from the Australian Government’s Commonwealth Environment research facility program and existing staff and resources from the Australian Antarctic Division’s marine mammal research group.

The key functions of the Centre are to:

  • Provide timely and strategic advice and support to the Government on marine mammal matters, including interactions between seismic surveys and whales, fisheries and marine mammals and dugong hunting.
  • Provide the research and conservation initiatives for the International Whaling Commission, including representation at the Scientific Committee and, where necessary, other related meetings and conventions (e.g. Convention on Migratory Species, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources).
  • Manage a marine mammal grants scheme for strategic and prioritised marine mammal research.
  • Run workshops and conferences to advance the Government’s priorities in marine mammal conservation.
  • Manage and maintain a series of centralised marine mammal databases and applications to support the management of human and marine mammal interactions.

We do not currently have any studentships or positions that require filling. However, any future opportunities will be advertised on the Australian Antarctic Division’s job page when they are available.

This page was last updated on 27 August 2015