GBR Seabed Biodiversity Project
Torres Strait Mapping
Education
1987 PhD (Population ecology of tropical fish)
1981 Honours (Zoology, Marine Ecology)
1980 Bachelor of Science
Employment history
1999- Principle Research Scientist and Project Leader, Tropical Shelf Ecosystems
Cleveland Marine Laboratory
1993-1999 Senior Research Scientist and Sub-Program Leader, Tropical Continental Shelf Ecology Cleveland Marine Laboratory
1989–1993 Research Scientist, CSIRO Cleveland Marine Laboratory
Project: Population biology and fishery dynamics of tropical rock lobster in Torres Strait.
1988 Experimental Scientist, CSIRO Cairns Marine Laboratory
Project: Biology and fishery dynamics of tropical rock lobster in Torres Strait.
Professional distinctions
The Elsie Marion Cornish Prize for Botany (1979)
The JG Wood Memorial Prize for Botany (1980)
Australian Commonwealth Postgraduate Scholarship Award (1983-1986)
Lizard Island Research Station – Australian Museum Doctoral Fellowship (1983-1987)
Research interests
• 25 years experience researching marine biology and ecology.
• 4 years university teaching, tutoring and laboratory demonstration in biometrics, biology and ecology
• Design of large-scale resource and environmental rapid surveys for estimating abundance of target stocks, and large-scale characterization of seabed habitats and biodiversity. Biophysical modelling and spatial prediction of seabed biodiversity.
• Use of ground-truthed remote-sensing for marine habitat characterization and survey optimisation; including acoustic data for mapping seabed habitat.
• Design and implementation of large-scale experiments to assess anthropogenic impacts (eg trawling) on seabed habitats and biotia. Environmental risk assessments.
• Population dynamics of marine fauna; biology and ecology of tropical fishes, lobsters and large sessile megafauna, and fisheries stock assessment.
• Quantitative use of manned and remote submersibles and towed camera systems for mapping seabed habitats and resources, and researching marine fauna in deeper waters.
• Extensive experience in undertaking research in remote and difficult tropical environments, including diving and vessel operations.
• Extensive project leadership and management, including research teams of up to 12 staff, and multi-agency and multi-disciplinary collaborations involving up to 50 staff. Completion of more than 25 projects, totalling more than $15mill in external grants.
• 18 years extension, including but not limited to the Torres Strait Lobster Fishery, to seek input and knowledge for science direction and provide feedback of the results of research.
• Formal participation in provision of fisheries scientific advice and research planning for Torres Strait for the Australian Fisheries Management Authority.
• Participation and presentations into numerous other management advisory committees and/or issues driven sub-committees re implications of research results and provision of support for the development of policy.
Key publications
Most relevant to CERF Hub:
Pitcher, C.R., Venables, W., Ellis, N., McLeod, I., Pantus, F., Austin, M., Cappo, M., Doherty, P., Gribble, N. (2002) GBR Seabed Biodiversity Mapping Project: Phase 1 Report to CRC-Reef. CSIRO/AIMS/QDPI Report, pp. 192.
Pitcher, C.R., Condie, S., Ellis, N., McLeod, I., Haywood, M., Gordon, S.R., Skewes, T.D., Dunn, J., Dennis, D.M., Cotterell, E., Austin, M., Venables, W., Taranto, T. (2004). Torres Strait Seabed & Water-Column Data Collation, Bio-physical Modeling and Characterization. Final Report to the National Oceans Office. CSIRO Marine Research. Pp. 117.
