Marina Industries Association releases two major industry research reports

Marina Industries Association © Marina Industries Association

2025 Health of the Australian Marina Industry Survey (HAMIS)

A $3.2 billion industry
The MIA's HAMIS now in its eighth iteration and conducted by research partner Michigan State University — found Australia's marina industry in robust shape. Across 305 marinas, the sector contributes an estimated $3.2 billion to the economy, supports nearly 24,000 jobs and provides business premises to over 1,000 small businesses. Total gross revenues reached $965 million, with $171 million paid in wages and $115 million invested in capital expenditure.

Forty per cent of Australian marinas completed the survey — a participation rate widely recognised as the strongest of any marina research project anywhere in the world, and one that ensures the data is statistically reliable and consistent.

Andrew Chapman AM CMM, MIA President, presented the key findings at the Marinas26 International Conference & Trade Exhibition on Queensland's Gold Coast late last month commenting, "We are very proud of this ongoing research project, and its value to industry is underlined by the strong participation."

Operational snapshot and environmental commitment
The average Australian marina has 188 vessel storage spaces, generates $3.2 million in annual revenue, maintains an 85.4% occupancy rate, employs 10 staff and engages 40 contractors. 61% of marinas rent space to an average of eight business tenants.

Environmental stewardship is increasingly on the industry agenda, with 46% of marinas planning to install solar within three years and three-quarters rating proactive environmental initiatives as highly important.

Challenges
However, the survey also identified persistent headwinds: labour attraction and retention remain difficult, and which is reflected in and elaborated in in the MIA's Employment & Salary Survey.

Lead Researcher Dr Ed Mahoney warned that bureaucratic delays in permitting, and approvals are hampering marina expansion at a time when storage and service capacity is already under pressure and said, "The recreational boating industry is currently facing a significant challenge related to storage and service capacity. The enhancement and expansion of the industry is being hindered due to bureaucratic hurdles that delay the necessary permitting and approval processes."

Summary data is available on the MIA website. The full report — containing 48 data tables — is provided to all survey participants and is available to other parties for AU$5,400 + GST.

2026 MIA Employment & Salary Survey

Record participation, clear findings
The 2026 MIA Employment & Salary Survey drew the largest sample in the association's history, with 96 marinas, boatyards and clubs participating across seven states and territories. The record participation delivers the most representative picture of the Australian marine workforce to date — and the data tells a consistent story: the industry is growing, but the workforce pipeline is not keeping pace.

Wages: settling into a new normal
After the inflationary surge of 2022-24, salary movement has moderated into a reliable rhythm of steady, single-digit increases. Across-the-board freezes have all but disappeared. Tracked across eight years of survey history, base salaries for key roles have climbed meaningfully — a reminder that competing for talent has become steadily more expensive, and that benchmarking against the market matters more than ever.

Talent supply remains the core challenge
The Marina Manager role remains the single hardest position to fill — a pattern that has held in every survey year, with vacancies typically taking one to three months to close. Despite improvements in staff turnover, fill times for senior roles have not improved, pointing to a supply-side problem: there simply are not enough qualified candidates entering the industry. An ageing workforce compounds the issue, with succession planning emerging as a top challenge alongside rising wage expectations and a shortage of trained staff.

Positive outlook
Despite the headwinds, the sector is confident. No respondent forecast a significant reduction in headcount, with the clear majority expecting to hold steady or grow. The findings describe an industry that is growing steadily, competing harder for skilled people, and increasingly willing to invest in developing them.

The full Employment & Salary Survey report — including detailed salary benchmarks by role, breakdowns by facility type and region, and eight-year trend data — is provided exclusively to participating facilities. To register interest in future surveys, contact Chris Stone, Operations Manager, MIA at

The MIA's Commitment to Research

The MIA is committed to conducting comprehensive, globally recognised research to ensure industry has access to timely and accurate information.

"The conduct of credible, valid and reliable research is one of the key pillars of the MIA's leadership support services. These two reports give the industry an unparalleled evidence base — for advocacy, for investment planning, and for everyday operational decision-making." — Suzanne Davies, CEO, Marina Industries Association.