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New white paper explores future of environmental DNA (eDNA) in marine park management

Monday 31 August 2026

Parks Australia and the Minderoo Foundation have developed a White Paper to explore how environmental DNA (eDNA) is seeking to strengthen the monitoring and management of our nation’s marine parks.

The White Paper titled, Catalysing the uptake of environmental DNA (eDNA) into marine park management across Australia, was developed through the Ocean Discovery and Restoration program.

The paper examines opportunities and barriers to integrating eDNA into marine park monitoring and identifies scalable approaches for using the technology to better understand ecosystem health.

Parks Australia, Director of Information Systems, John de Majnik said the work draws on more than 6,000 eDNA samples collected from within and around Australian Marine Parks.

A team taking DNA samples .
Environmental DNA (eDNA) samples show the diversity of marine life in our oceans. Credit: Minderoo Foundation

Dr Eric Raes, Senior Advisor for Ecosystem Intelligence at the Minderoo Foundation said “this White Paper charts the way forward to bring powerful eDNA technology into the conservation and management of marine protected areas and beyond. Accessibility of eDNA information has stepped up over recent years. Today, anyone can take an eDNA sample in their blue backyard and get the results back in a few weeks – importantly, this information can make its way to protecting marine biodiversity.

This collaboration between Minderoo Foundation and Parks Australia recommends a path forward to government and stakeholders based on:

  • Integrating eDNA into a strategic, nationwide monitoring program;
  • Incorporating eDNA results into park management strategies;
  • Including local and Indigenous communities in ocean monitoring; and
  • Using eDNA to identify invasive and endangered species.

Other innovations in the white paper include using AI to query complex data and approaches to analyse the secrets of dark biodiversity that are hiding in the deep ocean.

“A clear pathway in the years ahead involves a participatory approach with Traditional Owners, rangers, industry and local communities that all have a role in collecting, interpreting and stewarding our ocean,” said Dr Raes.

The aim is to combine technological innovation with local and cultural knowledge, while developing trust and long-term sustainability in marine monitoring.

Meanwhile, the White Paper builds on the CSIRO eDNA Roadmap and proposes near- and longer-term opportunities to operationalise the integration of eDNA and genomics into Parks Australia's monitoring programs.

While focused on marine parks, the paper's findings have potential applications across broader ecosystem monitoring including the high seas.

The data underpinning this White Paper can be accessed at: https://marine-parks.minderoo.org