AIMS was established first in Townsville, near the geographic centre of the Great Barrier Reef, to facilitate coral reef research in support of management of the Great Barrier Reef. Since its beginnings in 1972, the Institute has expanded the geographic scope of its research to extend across northern Australia to the northwest of Western Australia. An effective network of national and international collaborators enhances the Institute's research. AIMS has established a reputation for high quality, relevant strategic basic marine science, and is internationally recognised for its expertise in research on coral reefs, mangrove systems, oceanography (biological and physical) and natural products chemistry.

The reporting period, 1996-1997, is the final year of the triennium during which the Institute changed to project-based management and established its current strategic directions. During 1996-1997 AIMS has continued to provide high quality research outputs relevant to the protection and sustainable use of Australia's marine resources. In undertaking this research AIMS seeks to ensure effective use of its resources and strong links to users of its research. Against the Institute's strategic directions, indicators of AIMS success during the reporting period are summarised in this report.

In 1995 the Government included a set of performance indicators into the Resource Agreements signed between AIMS and the then Ministers of Finance and Industry, Science and Technology. These indicators were established to ensure that external earnings targets did not distort the efforts of the science Authorities to a narrow portion of their overall functions. These indicators are identified in this summary and have been listed in Appendix 5.