The Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre works with coastal marine industries and communities to deliver practical research solutions for our unique coast and marine environments. These practical solutions require multidisciplinary approaches and our researchers include ecologists, economists, engineers and social scientists to ensure this work accounts for all aspects of the interaction of the community and industry with coastal and marine ecosystems. CMERC staff have strong links with local industry and community groups and is working closely with Traditional Owners to empower them as custodians of Land and Sea Country. Our activities are also supporting the education of students enrolled in CQUniversity’s Bachelors of Science and Environmental Science, which features a research-led teaching model to expose graduates to the expertise and innovation of CMERC’s world-class scientists.

Website

https://www.cqu.edu.au/research/organisations/coastal-marine-ecosystems-research-centre

Organisation type

• University Research Centre

Number of research staff

Up to 20 research staff

Address

CQUniversity Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre, 213 Alf O’Rouke Drive, Callemondah QLD 4680

Strengths and capabilities

• Coastal habitat restoration
• Ecological monitoring
• Resource Economics
• Hydrodynamic modelling
• Marine resource sustainability
• Remote sensing
• Landscape ecology
• Ecological engineering
• Environmental chemistry
• Fish ecophysiology

Facilities and major equipment

• 36,000L flowthrough tidal mesocosm aquaria system
• CMERC Facility marina frontage with pontoon in the Port of Gladstone
• Research vessel and coxswain (5.9m Baja craft)
• Liquid Chromotography Mass Spectrometry (LCMS) Triple Quad
• Gas Chromotography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS)
• Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectometry (ICPMS)
• TOV-2 Towed Video system
• Malvern Mastersizer 3000 laser diffraction particle size analyzer
• EXO2 sonde with deployable monitoring buoy, ProDSS sondes
• Diving Pulse Amplitude Modulated Fluorometer

Lead researcher

• Professor John Rolfe—Expertise in non-market valuation techniques, applying economic analysis to key issues in regional development and agricultural water quality issues relating to the Great Barrier Reef.
• Associate Professor Emma Jackson—Expertise in restoration ecology of Australian seagrasses

Key science sectors

More information about the sectors this centre is involved in:

• Biotechnology
• Engineering
• Environment and nature
• Food and agriculture
• Tropical