Australia needs to invest more heavily in maritime surveillance, critical undersea infrastructure protection, and scientific research to safeguard its national interests, according to a white paper published by Marine Science.

The paper, Maintaining Sovereignty, Securing and Defending Australia, highlights the Australia’s vast maritime coastline and growing security challenges in the region, and states that advances in science and technology will be essential to protecting Australia's borders, trade routes and marine resources over the next decade.

Australia manages one of the world's largest maritime jurisdictions, covering approximately 13.86 million square kilometres. The paper notes that the nation's security and economic prosperity depend heavily on safe and secure access to the surrounding oceans. Nearly 99% of Australia's international trade by volume moves through its ports, while undersea cables carry most of the country's international digital communications.

The authors (Sarah Lothian, Prakash Gopal, Rachel Nichols, Frances Anggadi, Michelle Voyer, Sean Andrews) warn that increasing geopolitical tensions, cyber threats and vulnerabilities in critical maritime infrastructure pose significant risks. Disruptions to shipping routes, undersea communications cables or offshore energy infrastructure could have major economic consequences for Australia.

The paper’s findings align closely with themes emerging across Industry Skills Australia's (ISA) maritime workforce planning activities. As the industry adopts new technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomous operation systems, advanced surveillance capabilities and low-emissions vessel technologies, demand for new and evolving skills is expected to increase. ISA's workforce planning and industry engagement activities have identified the need for training and qualifications that equip workers to operate, maintain and support these technologies, while also strengthening capability in marine science, data analysis, environmental monitoring and maritime operations.

Through initiatives such as the Maritime Skills Pipeline Project and broader workforce planning activities, ISA is helping to identify future workforce requirements and inform the training system's response to the sector's changing needs.

"Australia's national security is closely linked to the health, management and protection of its marine environment," the paper states. It argues that scientific research can play a critical role in helping government agencies respond to evolving maritime threats.

The findings come as Australia continues to implement recommendations from recent defence and security reviews focused on protecting maritime trade routes, critical infrastructure and regional stability. The authors of the Marine Science paper say a coordinated national approach will be needed to ensure Australia's sovereignty and economic security in an increasingly complex strategic environment.