Eva McClure

My research focuses on understanding how marine ecosystems, environmental change and human activities influence fish and fisheries. My work combines field ecology, quantitative modelling and collaborative partnerships with industry, government and the public to improve fisheries management, marine conservation and biodiversity monitoring across tropical marine systems.

My interest in fish and fisheries began long before my research career. Growing up on Queensland's Great Barrier Reef, my parents operated a commercial coral trout fishing business, where I developed an early appreciation for both marine life and the fishing communities that depend upon healthy oceans.

After completing a Bachelor of Marine Studies at the University of Queensland, I worked as a marine research assistant while contributing to ecological and conservation projects throughout Australia, South America, French Polynesia and the Philippines. I later completed a Master of Marine and Antarctic Science at the University of Tasmania, including research in the Norwegian Arctic and a thesis investigating fish bycatch mitigation in the Antarctic Toothfish fishery with the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).

I completed my PhD at James Cook University in 2019, investigating the relative importance of marine reserves, habitat and environmental conditions in shaping coral reef fish communities in the Philippines and on the Great Barrier Reef. Since then I have worked with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, and undertaken postdoctoral research at Griffith University and James Cook University.  At Griffith University I contributed to projects spanning artificial intelligence for ecological monitoring, and at JCU I have worked with colleagues on remote reef fish ecology in the deep and shallow reefs of the Coral Sea Marine Park, long-term monitoring of Great Barrier Reef reef fish, and am now developing projects in marine biosecurity and tropical fish life-history research.

My current research centres on the ecology, demography and sustainable use of fishes with commercial, recreational and ecological significance. I am particularly interested in how fishing, habitat change and environmental variability influence fish populations, and in developing innovative approaches, including emerging technologies and partnerships with industry, government and engaging the public to improve fisheries science and marine conservation. I also currently co-lead the scientific quality assurance team for the PADI AWARE Global Shark & Ray Census, based in the Fish and Fisheries Lab, helping build global citizen science datasets that support research and conservation of sharks and rays.

Please get in touch if you're interested in talking about collaborations or potential student projects via eva.mcclure@jcu.edu.au and check out our work at Fish and Fisheries Lab via https://www.fishandfisheries.com/