Mission

The overarching aim of the Biodiversity and Resources theme within the broader network is to better understand the adaptive capacity of marine biodiversity at genetic, species and ecosystem levels in the overall context of vulnerability to climate change risks. This information is vital to enable us to usefully inform policy and management decision-making for the long-term conservation of Australia’s marine assets and to enhance the adaptive capacity of Australia’s marine based industries. There is also a clear need to develop adaptation strategies for industry stakeholders that optimise the socio-economic goods and services provided by Australia’s marine resources.

Theme Leader
Dr Alistair Hobday is a Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research. His research spans a range of topics, including spatial management and migration of large pelagic species, environmental influences on marine species, and the impacts of climate change on marine resources. He leads the Marine Climate Impacts area within the CSIRO Climate Adaptation National Research Flagship, and has been co-editor of two recent reports on the impacts of climate change on (i) fisheries and aquaculture, and (ii) Australian marine life. He is interested in developing methods to enhance human and biological adaptation as a partial solution to climate change.

Co-theme Leader
A/Prof Stewart Frusher is the program leader of Sustainable Fisheries at the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute.  His research interests have lead him to explore new methods and techniques to estimate key fisheries parameters that can be used to ensure sustainability.  As co-theme leader for the Network he is fulfilling his interest in climate change impacts and adaptation on marine fisheries and ecosystems.