Centre for Fish, Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystems - inner header

Ecosystems and community ecology

Research on aquatic ecosystems and community ecology is a very active area in the Centre with researchers and their students completing research in freshwaters, estuaries and catchments, and the coastal marine environment.

Freshwaters

Freshwater research is led by Drs David Morgan and Stephen Beatty and Associate Professor Alan Lymbery.  It includes research in south-western Australia and Northern Australia and focusses on describing the communities of fish and the impacts of threatening processes e.g. land clearing, salinisation, fishing, invasive pests and other environmental change, on these communities and their ecology.

Estuaries

The Centre has a long history of research on the estuaries of Western Australia, starting with research led by Professor Ian Potter on the Swan and Peel-Harvey systems in the mid-1970s.  Research by Professor Potter and his postdoctoral research fellows, higher degree students and staff has been completed over three decades and continues on the estuaries of the Swan, Peel-Harvey, Leschenault and south coast estuaries. This includes examination of benthic invertebrates and fish communities and developing indicators of estuarine health for both rivers and estuaries.

Modelling and stock assessment

Research on modelling, stock assessment and social and economic evaluation work on recreational fishing pressure and human behavioural response to management is being undertaken in the marine and estuarine environment. This research has relevance for the management of commercial and recreational fisheries and the conservation of fish stocks and protection of biodiversity.

Stock enhancement and restocking

Collaborative work with the Challenger Institute Aquaculture Centre, led by Greg Jenkins, has facilitated the restocking of black bream in the Blackwood River. This research has received international recognition at the 3rd and 4th International Symposia on Stock Enhancement and Sea Ranching. The collaboration with Challenger has also allowed a range of aquaculture related research to be undertaken by researchers and postgraduate students.

For further information see associated web sites that are listed on our Links page.