The museum is committed to supporting the heath of Sydney’s waterways through exhibitions, programs and projects. Our location on Sydney’s waterfront means we can put the public right in the story. 

Inside the museum, the Sydney Harbour Gallery is a space developed to show all the ways that science, community, and industry are working together under, above and along the edges of Sydney Harbour to make a safe and sustainable future for everyone. It includes a digital interactive with 365 days of vessel traffic in the harbour, artificial reefs and structures built to increase biodiversity (life) in the harbour, and the aerial drone that completed the world’s first drone-based rescue in 2018. The Sydney Harbour Gallery was developed in collaboration with the Port Authority of NSW, Reef Design Lab, The Little Ripper Group, and the Sydney Institute of Marine Science. 

Suspended above the museum foyer, the stunning Artwork Au Karam Ira Lamar Lu - Ghost Nets of the Ocean is an installation created by Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous collaborating artists from Erub Arts on Erub (Darnley Island), Torres Strait, Australia. Made from abandoned fishing nets and recycled plastics, ghost nets are colourful woven sculptures featuring an outrigger canoe, fish, turtles, squid and jellyfish. These works show peoples connections to the sea and inspire awareness of ocean pollution, recycling and promote conservation of the marine environment.

The Museum is also host to The Seabin Foundation’s Ocean Health Lab —a world first solar-powered converted shipping container dedicated to storing, triaging, and analysing marine litter captured from 30+ Seabins operating 24/7 in Sydney Harbour. Debris is collected by environmental technicians and brought to the lab where it is studied by research scientists. The lab specialises in microplastics, which are tiny pieces of plastic less than 5mm in size. Each Seabin catches 1000+ microplastics every 24hrs. The Ocean Health Lab team offer educational tours, encouraging solution-oriented conversations so that we can work together for cleaner oceans.  

Our Learning teams run regular programs in science and sustainability and we currently offer two onsite programs for Primary School Students, Solutions to Ocean Pollution and Underwater Microbeasts. The first is a collaboration with the Seabin Project, with students analysing a Seabin ‘catch’ to understand the sources of marine pollution, while underwater microbeasts take advantage of the museum’s waterfront precinct to explore the beauty, diversity and importance of plankton for ocean health. Students catch their own plankton samples from the wharf and dive into a microscopic world buzzing with activity. Both programs are supported by virtual excursions and offsite events during special celebrations like National Science Week to ensure that all students across the country have the opportunity to learn more about our oceans.

Thanks to effective management and restoration efforts the health of Sydney’s waterways is improving. Government, industry, universities, and communities are working together to control pollution and ensure sustainable coastal development, restore depleted habitats, and support biodiversity.