Smart aquarium

An experimental sea simulator, SeaSim, was launched this week at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in Townsville.

SeaSim is a research aquarium that replicates, as closely as possible, the conditions of the open ocean, a reef lagoon or flooding rivers.

It will help researchers better understand the impact of ocean warming and acidification, outbreaks of natural predators such as the crown-of-thorns starfish, and pollution.

“It’s awesome,” said AIMS marine researcher Mike Hall. “When we started planning SeaSim we visited over 40 marine aquariums around the world to identify key attributes of the perfect research facility. What we’ve built takes the best in the world and adds new technologies and an incredible level of automation and control.”

Opened by the Minister for Innovation, Senator Kim Carr, the construction of the $35 million facility was supported with capital funding from the Australian Government under the Super Science Marine and Climate initiative, and AIMS’ resources.

“In each tank we can automatically control many parameters - from water temperature to ocean acidification to salinity to lighting to nutrients and water quality etc.

“SeaSim will allow marine scientists the world over to test observations, assumptions and models. It will allow the development of technologies to assist aquaculture and fisheries management.

“It’s not the be-all - it still has walls unlike the open ocean. But it will fast track marine discovery,” said Hall.

John Gunn, the CEO of AIMs, said researching the crown-of-thorns starfish would be a high priority for SeaSim.

“We need to understand why starfish populations periodically boom, leading to massive reef destruction. Is it due to nutrients in flood waters or are more complex factors at play?”

Other projects planned include creating small reef communities to induce coral spawning on demand to accelerate research, coral bleaching and factors that contribute to some coral communities surviving very high temperatures, developing a ‘model’ coral to help marine science understand coral biology and modelling the impact of sediment, pollution, dredging and other water quality factors on marine life.

The Australian Government committed a further $30.9 million over four years to AIMS in this year’s budget, including support for the facility to become fully operational in the 2013-14 financial year.