We’re pleased to announce the Science in Sea Country issue, a new open access special collection in Marine and Freshwater Research: https://connectsci.au/mf/collection/354/Science-in-Sea-Country

Inspired by the AMSA2023 conference with the same theme, this collection showcases representative marine science studies with Australian Indigenous perspectives, including ways to concurrently apply Indigenous and Western science, through the investigation of pipi abundance and size (Fredericks et al. 2025) and urchin barren dynamics (Chewying et al. 2025). Another article provides an exemplar for appropriate Indigenous participation in a Western science study, investigating the recovery of mangroves after a hailstorm (Benkendorff et al. 2025). Case studies in Western Australia show how government conservation programs can support country opportunities for Indigenous youth and bolster the longevity of long-term conservation programs (Guildea et al. 2024), whereas an assessment of marine Indigenous programs across Australia, Canada and New Zealand compares social equity in state-led development programs (Conrad et al. 2025). And finally, two perspective articles highlight the importance of shellfish to Indigenous Peoples (Gibbs et al. 2024) and provide rationale and useful strategies for including Indigenous knowledge in Australian aquaculture and coastal management (Gibbs et al. 2025).

We hope that this collection accentuates the outstanding contribution of Indigenous scientists and Indigenous knowledge to our understanding of Australia’s marine environment.