The Australian National Moorings Network comprises a series of national reference stations and regional moorings designed to monitor particular oceanographic phenomena in Australian coastal ocean waters.  The moorings network as a whole measures physical, chemical and biological parameters of these waters.  The national reference stations are designed to deliver long-term time series observations and they significantly increase the number of such observations available for Australia both in terms of variables recorded, temporal distribution and geographical context.  Prior to IMOS, existing reference stations were simple waypoints where regular boat-based water samples were taken.  The inclusion of moored instrumentation at these sites significantly improves the quality and quantity of data that can be collected and used to inform management.  The regional moorings monitor the interaction between boundary currents and shelf water masses and their consequent impact upon ocean productivity and ecosystem distribution and resilience.  Operation of the moorings network facility is coordinated nationally and distributed between several sub-facilities: