WildFish Research
About
WildFish Research is an independent science-based consultancy that provides high quality, rigorous and cost-effective research and advisory services to public and private entities. WildFish Research specializes in delivering fundamental research and advice for sustainable natural resource management and conservation. WildFish Research has the capacity to undertake projects of varying sizes and scope and is focused on delivering scientific endeavors and outcomes to international peer-review standards. WildFish Research has global associations with teams of experts across many disciplines and has access to world-class laboratories, scientific equipment and associated infrastructural project support.
Professor Charles Gray has over 30 years’ experience developing, managing and delivering high-level aquatic ecological, environmental and fisheries-related research, and science-based management projects. He has led numerous multidisciplinary projects, worked collaboratively with university and government scientists, recreational, commercial and indigenous fishing communities, and fisheries and conservation management agencies. He is experienced in assembling, supervising and mentoring research-management teams, project and strategic planning and reviewing, and providing natural resource management advice. Charles is particularly recognized for his work in developing practical and cost-effective monitoring and assessment programs in multi-method, small-scale fisheries; designing and managing strategic survey and evaluation programs of biodiversity and fisheries resources in estuarine and coastal systems; and assessments of exploited species. He has published more than 150 scientific articles and reports, and provided advisory material and presented research findings and their management consequences to a range of international and regional audiences. He holds a PhD from the University of Sydney and is a Professorial Visiting Fellow at the University of New South Wales.
Email: charles.gray@wildfishresearch.com.au
Phone: +61 481213114 (0481213114)
Services
WildFish Research offers a range of science-based services having demonstrable experience in:
- Multidisciplinary research project design, implementation and management
- Strategic scientific planning, review and development
- Scientific experimental design and survey methodologies
- Development of practical scientific sampling tools and protocols
- Quantitative modeling and analytical techniques
- Monitoring and evaluating aquatic resources and biodiversity
- Fish and invertebrate life-history and population assessment studies
- Surveys and assessments of recreational, commercial and indigenous fisheries
- Observer-based fisheries programs
- Human dimensions of natural resource management
- Risk and environmental assessments and impacts
- Conservation and fisheries-based management strategy development
- Research and management program support
- Team development and support
- Delivery of focused high-quality outputs and outcomes
Projects
WildFish Research has recent project involvement with:
- United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Italy
- Australian Government – Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Torres Strait Regional Authority
- New South Wales Government – NSW Department of Primary Industries, NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts
- Humane Society International
- Australian Marine Conservation Society
- Australian Research Council
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Australia
- University of New South Wales, Australia
- University of Sydney, Australia
- Federal University of Paraná, Brazil
- National Centre of Science and Technology, Republic of Kazakhstan.
Publications
Recent research reports by WildFish Research include:
- On-the-water management solutions to halt the decline and support the recovery of Australia’s endemic elasmobranchs
- Development of a Bait Fishing Industry in the Torres Strait
- First implementation of an independent observer program for the Charter Boat Industry of NSW: data for industry-driven resource sustainability (pdf)
- Optimising the collection of relative abundance data for the pipi population in New South Wales (pdf)
- Observer-based study of commercial line fishing in waters off New South Wales (pdf)
- Integrating fishery-independent and -dependent data for improved sustainability of fisheries resources and other aspects of biodiversity (pdf)
Recent journal publications by WildFish Research include:
- Gray GME, Gray CA (2017) Beach-user attitudes to shark bite mitigation strategies on coastal beaches; Sydney, Australia. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 22, 100-109. (doi:10.1080/10871209.2017.1295491)
- Gray CA, Kennelly SJ (2017) Evaluation of observer- and industry-based catch data in a recreational charter fishery. Fisheries Management and Ecology 24, 126-138. (doi:10.1111/fme.12210)
- Possatto FE, Broadhurst MK, Gray CA, Spach HL, Lamour M (2017) Spatiotemporal variation among demersal ichthyofauna in a subtropical estuary bordering World Heritage-listed and marine protected areas: implications for resource management. Marine and Freshwater Research 68, 703-717. (doi:10.1071/MF15345)
- Gray CA (2016) Assessment of spatial fishing closures on beach clams. Global Ecology and Conservation 5, 108-117. (doi:10.1016/gecco.2015.12.002)
- Smoothey AF, Gray CA, Kennelly SJ, Masens OJ, Peddemors VM, Robinson WA (2016) Patterns of occurrence of sharks in Sydney Harbour, a large urbanised estuary. PLoS One 11, e0146911. (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0146911)
A full list of research publications by Prof Charles Gray can be accessed here.