Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100367
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,000.00
Summary
Predicting fisheries bycatch of protected species in dynamic seascapes. This project aims to advance global capacity to predict where and when incidental catch (bycatch) of protected non-target species (seabirds, marine turtles) occurs in longline fisheries, by harnessing the power of big data analytics. Using innovative interdisciplinary techniques, this project expects to generate new knowledge in marine ecology and fisheries oceanography. Expected outcomes include new institutional and discip ....Predicting fisheries bycatch of protected species in dynamic seascapes. This project aims to advance global capacity to predict where and when incidental catch (bycatch) of protected non-target species (seabirds, marine turtles) occurs in longline fisheries, by harnessing the power of big data analytics. Using innovative interdisciplinary techniques, this project expects to generate new knowledge in marine ecology and fisheries oceanography. Expected outcomes include new institutional and disciplinary collaborations, advances in theory, and the development of novel digital tools for management authorities and industry. This should provide significant benefits, such as reduced costs to the fishing industry, risk reduction in decision-making, and progress towards international sustainable development goals.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL230100201
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,400,000.00
Summary
Increasing the sustainability and resilience of coral reef fisheries. This project aims to increase the sustainability and resilience of coral reef fisheries in Australia and overseas. This project expects to deliver solutions-oriented research that pioneers the first global assessment of coral reef fisheries sustainability, locates the most resilient reefs, and uses these as models to increase resilience in other locations. Expected outcomes include new knowledge, partnerships, and decision-sup ....Increasing the sustainability and resilience of coral reef fisheries. This project aims to increase the sustainability and resilience of coral reef fisheries in Australia and overseas. This project expects to deliver solutions-oriented research that pioneers the first global assessment of coral reef fisheries sustainability, locates the most resilient reefs, and uses these as models to increase resilience in other locations. Expected outcomes include new knowledge, partnerships, and decision-support tools that provide benefits by: 1) leaving a global legacy of resilient coral reef fisheries, 2) generating national security benefits through increased engagement with and improved resource stewardship in neighbouring countries, and 3) enhancing Australia's research capacity by training 7 future research leaders.Read moreRead less
Seafood safety: high throughput diagnostics for ciguatoxin risk assessment. This project aims to develop a novel, high throughput platform for rapidly assessing ciguatoxins. Species of the marine microalgae Gambierdiscus produce ciguatoxins, which accumulate in fish through marine food chains to cause the often debilitating human illness called ciguatera fish poisoning. Ciiguatera fish poisoning is a growing and substantial risk for the $2.2 billion Australian commercial fishing industry. This s ....Seafood safety: high throughput diagnostics for ciguatoxin risk assessment. This project aims to develop a novel, high throughput platform for rapidly assessing ciguatoxins. Species of the marine microalgae Gambierdiscus produce ciguatoxins, which accumulate in fish through marine food chains to cause the often debilitating human illness called ciguatera fish poisoning. Ciiguatera fish poisoning is a growing and substantial risk for the $2.2 billion Australian commercial fishing industry. This serious illness is increasingly impacting more southerly areas of Australia due to environmental changes. The outcomes of this project include new knowledge of the risk of ciguatoxins at Australian 'hot spot' sites, extensively field tested methods for detecting Gambierdiscus and ciguatoxins in situ and key data to inform policy to safeguard the seafood industry and consumers.
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Forecasting coral reef recovery with new data-driven dispersal models. This project aims to combine innovative mathematical methods and new genetic data to accurately predict the larval dispersal patterns of reef fish and corals. Larval dispersal is central to the ecology of coral reefs, and has vital implications for conservation. Most marine organisms spend their early life dispersing in the ocean, but our understanding of where these tiny larvae go is limited by sparse data and unvalidated mo ....Forecasting coral reef recovery with new data-driven dispersal models. This project aims to combine innovative mathematical methods and new genetic data to accurately predict the larval dispersal patterns of reef fish and corals. Larval dispersal is central to the ecology of coral reefs, and has vital implications for conservation. Most marine organisms spend their early life dispersing in the ocean, but our understanding of where these tiny larvae go is limited by sparse data and unvalidated models. Applied to extensive case-studies from Australia and across the western Pacific Ocean, these methods will be used to forecast and understand the recovery of fish and coral populations following severe disturbances. This will provide benefits such as enabling us to prioritise conservation actions in the aftermath of severe disturbances, including the catastrophic 2016 mass coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef.Read moreRead less
Novel governance for marine ecosystems in rapid transition. This project will develop the governance knowledge required to manage rapidly changing marine ecosystems. Australia has the third largest marine estate globally, and its ecosystems support critical economic and sociocultural values. However, human pressures are tipping marine ecosystems into alternate states, inspiring new interventions to sustain industries and communities. New interventions necessitate transitions in governance. Expec ....Novel governance for marine ecosystems in rapid transition. This project will develop the governance knowledge required to manage rapidly changing marine ecosystems. Australia has the third largest marine estate globally, and its ecosystems support critical economic and sociocultural values. However, human pressures are tipping marine ecosystems into alternate states, inspiring new interventions to sustain industries and communities. New interventions necessitate transitions in governance. Expected outcomes include a comparative understanding of novel marine interventions now underway globally, and practical guidance on how to diagnose and implement responsible marine governance. Significant benefits include enhanced governance and sustainability of Australian and international marine ecosystems.Read moreRead less
Conserving coral reef fish and sustaining fisheries in the anthropocene. This project aims to re-evaluate principles for designing marine reserves to conserve reef fish and sustain fisheries under current and future scenarios of habitat quality and population connectivity. The project will integrate advanced genetic methods, novel field experiments and new quantitative approaches to optimise reserve network design to promote population recovery, persistence and yield for a range of fish species. ....Conserving coral reef fish and sustaining fisheries in the anthropocene. This project aims to re-evaluate principles for designing marine reserves to conserve reef fish and sustain fisheries under current and future scenarios of habitat quality and population connectivity. The project will integrate advanced genetic methods, novel field experiments and new quantitative approaches to optimise reserve network design to promote population recovery, persistence and yield for a range of fish species. It will recommend optimal reserve size, spacing and location for geographic regions subject to different levels of habitat degradation and fishing pressure. It will benefit Australia and our regional neighbours by providing the critical science necessary for the successful management of shared coral reef assets and resources.Read moreRead less
Zooplankton: the missing link in modelling the ocean carbon cycle. What is arguably the biggest gap in our ability to close the ocean carbon cycle, and thus improve future forecasts of carbon sequestration and fisheries? The answer is our modelling of zooplankton, the most abundant animals on Earth. This project aims to build a next-generation ecosystem model that resolves zooplankton groups, their traits and key processes, generating novel insights into carbon sequestration and fisheries. Expec ....Zooplankton: the missing link in modelling the ocean carbon cycle. What is arguably the biggest gap in our ability to close the ocean carbon cycle, and thus improve future forecasts of carbon sequestration and fisheries? The answer is our modelling of zooplankton, the most abundant animals on Earth. This project aims to build a next-generation ecosystem model that resolves zooplankton groups, their traits and key processes, generating novel insights into carbon sequestration and fisheries. Expected outcomes include new methods for zooplankton modelling, leading to a paradigm shift in how we model carbon cycling. This should provide significant benefits, including vastly improved estimates of carbon sequestration and fisheries production, vital for carbon budgets and food security in Australia and globally.Read moreRead less