Dr William Robbins Email & Phone Number

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

I am under contract with the WA state government as the Research Scientist responsible for science delivery across coastal Kimberley Western Australian Marine Reserves (>3.5 mill ha). Working with regional staff and aboriginal joint managers, I develop and implement remote State Government marine monitoring and research activities. Specific roles include:• Prioritizing marine monitoring with scientists and regional/aboriginal joint managers• Implementing long-term monitoring of Kimberley marine values, including benthic habitats (coral reef, seagrass, subtidal mapping), water quality, crocodiles, fish, sharks and mangroves. This involves survey design, risk assessment, supervision, and collaborative fieldwork• Developing programs using drop cameras, remote-piloted aircraft, underwater remote operated vehicles, satellite imagery/GIS, and other methodologies to obtain scientific data• Supervising a team of research scientists and technical staff• Advising managers, researchers, and joint managers on contemporary marine issues• Drafting ministerial documents briefing notes on pertinent environmental concerns• Annual acquittal of >AUD $530k budgets

Australia

Wildlife Marine is a research/consultancy business which I founded in late 2011. It conducts research in contemporary marine issues to international peer-review standards, and is one of the few internationally-recognised independent consultancy businesses in Australia. Examples of work undertaken or collaborated on include:Consultancy (non-confidential projects):• Developing and refining programs to limit human-shark interactions• Risk assessment of threatened marine-associated species• Reviewing State Government marine management policies• Analysis of Government strategic plans to aid management planning• International workshops for environmental and fisheries staff• University-level teaching of fisheries and ecology courses• Documentary presenter (i.e. Sharkweek 2017, National Geographic, and the Emmy-winning "Sharks of the Coral Canyon") Research (non-confidential projects):• Experimentally assessing and reducing human-shark interactions• Multi-species shark capture, acoustic and satellite tagging, tracking and monitoring• Assessing aerial technologies to aid environmental monitoring• Underwater surveys of marine biota and habitat structure• Quantifying ecological interactions between marine predators and prey• Genetic population structures and interactions in reef shark species• Rresearching surgeonfish ecological specializations on coral reefs• Assessing commercially-important whiting species for stock management• Flatback turtle tagging, and managing public interactions• Expert advice to national sustainability workshops

Nsw Department Of Primary Industries

I originally joined Cronulla Fisheries to upgrade and manage their premier fish ageing laboratory. Once the laboratory was running smoothly, I branched out to lead or collaborate multiple cutting-edge research programs into fish and sharks in NSW. Selected projects include:• Managing field collections for multiple State Government projects• Determining the efficacy of aerial shark detection programs• Co-managing the State's Inshore Telemetry Movement Program• Reducing recreational fishing bycatch of Endangered species • Teaching age and growth analysis of commercial fish stocks• Advising managers on commercial harvest strategies • Investigating shark attacks in New South Wales

Townsville, Australia

My doctoral studies investigated the abundance, growth, demography and genetics of Indo-Pacific reef sharks. I conducted research in diverse locations, including the Seychelles, Papua New Guinea, French Polynesia, Oman, Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, and my PhD included gaining skills in the following areas:• Design and implementation of fisheries-independent sampling • Leading remote area field operations in Australian and overseas • Visual and remote video census of sharks across multiple reef habitats• Field collection of fish and shark samples for laboratory analysis• Wild capture, tag and release of fish and sharks from beaches and boats• Processing sharks and fishes for age, diet and demography analysis• Design and development of a biopsy probe for wild tissue collections• Age and growth determination and analysis of sharks and fishes• Analysis of shark genetic population structure across the Indo-Pacific

Townsville Area, Australia

I led or co-ran multiple contracts for Government and private agencies including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Department of Environment and Heritage and National Geographic. I also collaborated with the environmental monitoring of multiple Queensland ports, identifying introduced marine pests. Tasks performed included: • Ensuring scientifically rigorous sampling design • Stakeholders negotiations to ensure client requirements were met• Field preparation, budgeting, design and testing of equipment• Establishing safe navigational corridors for passage between reefs• SCUBA surveys of benthic habitats, coral and algae cover• Visual census of tropical and temperate reef herbivores and predators • Deployment and retrieval of environmental monitoring gear • Biological collections (diving, sledge, benthic grab, etc)• Fish and shark biopsy collections for genetic stock analysis• Analysis, writing and editing of reports

Townsville, Australia

As manager of the Marine Biology Department’s primary fish ageing facility, I led research into fish ageing methodologies, and undertook the following tasks:• Writing computer macros to automate data analysis• Training staff and students in laboratory protocols• Procurement and allocation of laboratory resources• Conflict resolution between laboratory users• Lead analyst for international fish demography collaborations • Determination of temperate and tropical fish age interpretation• Wild and captive validation of predatory and herbivorous fish species