Dear Colleagues, 

2025 has proven to be a pivotal year for the Blue Economy CRC. With annual reporting underway, we're reflecting on the breadth and depth of what we've achieved. Our research activities, publications, events, outcomes, and most importantly, our people. I'd like to thank our Research Program Leadership Team, project leaders and partners, and our scholars for their outstanding contributions toward our milestones.

After a month in the job, I'm grateful for the warm welcome I've received. Thank you to our Board and our Chair for their guidance during this transition. To the entire BE CRC team, your expertise and commitment are what make this work possible.

Six years into our CRC journey, we're now firmly in our "prove it up and demonstrate" phase as we work toward 2029. This is where the rubber meets the road as we translate research into tangible impact for industry, government, and community.

You'll see this reflected in our new 2025–2029 Strategic Plan and our 2024/25 Annual Report, which our Chair will release next month. These documents aren't just accountability tools, they're our roadmap for delivering real-world impact. This framing matters because it shapes our choices: where we invest, how we collaborate, where we lean in, and where we step back.

Some of the highlights this quarter

October marks two months since we stocked our first finfish pen at the Bass Strait research trial site, a milestone representing years of collaboration by our trial team, partners, and funders. This moves us one step closer to proving up new open ocean aquaculture systems for Commonwealth waters around Australia.

After a two-week suspension due to a manufacturer's product safety alert, hydrogen production at our research facility has recommenced. We're looking forward to seeing the green hydrogen-fuelled buses back on the roads.

This month, we also contributed our global and local expertise to the Commonwealth's Offshore Electricity Infrastructure framework consultation. As offshore industries converge, our multiple-use insights across renewable energy, aquaculture, marine planning, and marine research become increasingly valuable.

Lastly, I was pleased to join many of our NZ and global partners at the Aquaculture New Zealand Conference in Nelson. Partnership was a common thread throughout the event, and the collaboration between Blue Economy CRC and the NZ Ministry of Primary Industry took centre stage as Michael Nielsen and I shared insights on global open ocean aquaculture governance and what that could mean for New Zealand and Australia.

I'm energised by what's ahead. Let's make it count.

University of Wollongong and Blue Economy CRC win major ASEAN project

The University of Wollongong's Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) and the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre have been selected to develop the ASEAN Blue Economy Implementation Plan (2026-2030), supported by the Government of Australia through the Australia for ASEAN Futures Initiative (Aus4ASEAN Futures).

This significant project will establish a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable ocean-based economic development across the ASEAN region over the next five years. The partnership brings together ANCORS' deep expertise in ocean law, maritime security and marine policy with the Blue Economy CRC's industry-focused research and technical capabilities across aquaculture, renewable ocean energy, and sustainable governance of maritime sectors.

Welcome to the team Kelly Hoareau

On behalf of our Board and Executive team, we are delighted to welcome Kelly Hoareau to the team as our Blue Policy and Planning Coordinator. 
 
As a Blue Economy PhD Scholar (thesis under examination), Kelly is an environmental and ocean stewardship professional with cross-sector experience spanning academia, government, and industry. Her work focuses on enabling knowledge systems, capacity strengthening, and resource mobilisation to support the development of sustainable ocean economies.

Historic milestone for Commonwealth waters aquaculture

The Bass Strait Blue Economy Zone (BEZ) aquaculture research trial has reached a pivotal milestone with the successful stocking of Tasmanian Atlantic salmon in August 2025, marking Australia's first commercial-scale aquaculture operation in Commonwealth waters. This three-year research initiative, located 12 kilometres off Burnie in Tasmania's northwest, represents a critical step toward unlocking Australia's vast offshore aquaculture potential while establishing groundbreaking regulatory frameworks for the region.

Celebrations for our recent PhD graduates 

We are delighted to share our three most recent Blue Economy CRC PhD graduates!

We encourage you to visit the link below to view our recent graduates including snippets of their time with us and their research. 

New CEO appointed following international search

Following a competitive international search, we are pleased to announce that the Blue Economy CRC has appointed Angela Williamson as Chief Executive Officer.

Chair of the Blue Economy CRC, Greg Johannes, looks forward to the future with Angela at the helm.

“The calibre of our team’s work over six years has built a strong reputation that attracted high-quality candidates from Australia and overseas. The marine industries face significant challenges right now, and the CRC must navigate the natural complexities of leadership transition while delivering multi-million-dollar projects under public scrutiny.”

Trans-Tasman governance partnership

In a strategic move that positions both Australia and New Zealand as global leaders in offshore aquaculture governance, the Blue Economy CRC is collaborating with New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries to conduct a comprehensive desktop assessment of domestic and international offshore aquaculture governance models.

This partnership establishes a model for how Trans-Tasman cooperation can solve complex challenges neither nation could address as effectively alone. The governance innovations emerging from this collaboration will create lasting economic and environmental benefits while strengthening the ties between ocean economies for decades to come.

Alternative Energy Solutions for Australian Aquaculture 

The project team has completed comprehensive data gathering on current energy use patterns and decarbonisation activities across the Australian aquaculture sector. This foundational work has enabled detailed analysis of technology options for carbon reduction, specifically suited to Australian aquaculture operations and conditions.

To facilitate knowledge sharing and stakeholder engagement, an Aquaculture Industry Policy Round Table is being scheduled for late October 2025, bringing together industry representatives, technical experts, and government stakeholders to review draft findings and provide input on key project deliverables.

Green hydrogen powering Metro Tasmania's
zero-emission bus trial

Green hydrogen produced by the Blue Economy CRCs Hydrogen Production and Research Facility is powering electric buses across Hobart as part of Metro Tasmania's Zero Emission Bus trial. Three Hydrogen Electric Buses are operating across various routes in Hobart on the path towards zero-emission public transport in Tasmania.

The hydrogen fuel cell electric buses are now operational, with the trial continuing until June 2027. The Tasmanian Renewable Hydrogen Industry Development Fund allocated AUD$11.3 million to the hydrogen electric bus trial with Blue Economy CRC supplying 100% green hydrogen.

New Research Report: Hydrogen Powering of Vessels 

Supporting the transition of Australia’s maritime sector towards zero emissions.

Latest research led by the team at BMT, highlights the imperative transition to sustainable energy sources in decarbonising the maritime sector. 

With hydrogen emerging as a promising alternative to conventional fossil fuels, this research evaluates the feasibility of adopting hydrogen as a marine fuel for Australia’s domestic maritime fleet, barriers to adoption and strategies to mitigate them.

Welcome to our new PhD Scholars

As we celebrate our 3 recent graduates, we are pleased to introduce three new PhD Scholars to join us!

Alessia Frattini (UTAS) 
Hydroacoustics in Aquaculture

Ainsley Leaning (Griifth University)
Ecosystem characterisation for marine spatial planning using hydroacoustics

Qinming Wu (UWA): 
Nonlinear wave-induced loads on monopiles supporting offshore wind turbines

Advancing sustainable ocean food production through innovative engineering

Our expert research team at the Australian Maritime College, University of Tasmania has successfully completed groundbreaking hydrodynamic testing of the innovative SeaFisher offshore aquaculture fish pen - pioneering the future of developing open ocean aquaculture systems capable of withstanding harsh marine environments. 

Bridging research and practice with industry internship

Over the past 3 months, PhD scholar Reza Abbasi completed an internship with International Marina Consultants. He sat down with us and shared his thoughts on the experience.

"With over 120 years of combined team experience in the planning, appraisal, and design of world-class marinas and associated waterfront facilities, IMC provided a rich environment for professional growth."

Webinar recording: Blue Economy symposium

The Blue Economy Symposium held as part of OMAE, focuses on the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic development, featuring research on aquaculture, renewable energy and offshore technology.

We recently held a webinar highlighting five presentations from the Blue Economy Symposium, providing an opportunity to hear high-quality research and insights from industry leaders on the current and future directions of the Blue Economy.

Jess takes 3rd place at 25th International Seaweed Symposium

PhD Scholar Jess Roach recently attended the 25th International Seaweed Symposium in Victoria, British Columbia, on the traditional territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees), Xwsepsum (Esquimalt), and W̱SÁNEĆ Nations.

This year’s symposium welcomed 723 delegates from 43 countries, including 165 students with Jess taking home third place for best student oral presentation. Jess sat down and gave us a day-by-day account of her experience.

Ocean wave energy under the spotlight in Europe

Earlier this month at the European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference in Madeira, Portugal, Hugh Wolgamot of The University of Western Australia presented succinctly the findings of the Ocean Wave Energy in Australia Report (led by UWA & partners) - a comprehensive overview of the ocean wave energy sector in Australia, published by the Blue Economy CRC.

New publication: The Salmon Gut/Growth Relationship

We congratulate Harriet R. Goodrich on her recently published research into digestive tract function in Atlantic Salmon.

“This is some of the first evidence connecting the gut to resilience under warming and hypoxia in fish, with broad relevance for aquaculture. These findings can help industry consider which traits or organ systems may support resilience and stable production as the climate changes.”

New publication: Size matters! 

Congratulations Max Canepa on his publication on size with respect to effects of suboptimum summer conditions on Atlantic salmon production.

“Tasmania’s salmon industry is already preparing for the effects of climate change, with predicted summer conditions pushing the limits of what fish can tolerate. These results highlight the importance of fish size when planning for climate resilience in aquaculture.” 

Biofouling research takes PhD Scholar Robin to Nelson, NZ

PhD Scholar Robin Cappaert completed a student exchange in Nelson, New Zealand, hosted by Plant & Food Research, including a tour of the labs and experimental aquaculture facilities.

The team welcomed Robin with open arms with meetings on how his research complements theirs and brainstorming future collaborations, particularly related to machine learning applied to aquaculture/biofouling.

To reach out to the CRC direct please use the contact links on the CRC website or email enquiries@blueeconomycrc.com.au.