Marine Biology & Aquaculture
Sterling Tebbett
- Adjunct Research Fellow
- sterling.tebbett@jcu.edu.au
David Bourne
- Professor, Promotional Chair, Marine Biology
- david.bourne@jcu.edu.au
Sean Connolly
- Adjunct Professor
- sean.connolly@jcu.edu.au
Mark Hamann
- Professor, Promotional Chair
- mark.hamann@jcu.edu.au
Yui Sato
- Adjunct Research Fellow
- yui.sato1@jcu.edu.au
Agnes Le Port
- Adjunct Research Fellow
- agnes.leport@my.jcu.edu.au
Andrew Hoey
- Professor
- andrew.hoey1@jcu.edu.au
Ludwig Lopata
- Professor, Personal Chair
- andreas.lopata@jcu.edu.au
Gregory Maes
- Adjunct Senior Lecturer
- gregory.maes@jcu.edu.au
Gemma Galbraith
- AIMS@JCU Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Reef Connectivity
- gemma.galbraith@jcu.edu.au
Closing the life-cycle of high-value Lysmata debelius shrimp in captivity
This project aims to enable captive breeding of the high-value ornamental shrimp Lysmata debelius, a species currently sourced exclusively from wild harvest. While demand remains strong, commercial aquaculture production has been constrained by low larval survival and prolonged development. Through a collaboration between James Cook University’s Aquaculture Breeding & Reproductive Technologies Lab, JCU’s Tropical Aquafeed Innovations Lab, and Monsoon Aquatics, the project will investigate how broodstock nutrition, larval feeding strategies, and hatchery management influence survival, development, and settlement. The outcomes will support practical, scalable life-cycle closure methods, reducing pressure on wild populations and strengthening Australia’s ornamental aquaculture capability.
A global assessment of fisheries co-management
This project delivers a global assessment of fisheries co-management. It administers a structured survey to conservation practitioners and government officials working on fisheries co-management arrangements in coastal nations worldwide, recruited primarily through the Wildlife Conservation Society and WWF site networks, with broader outreach to practitioners in other NGOs and government agencies. The instrument captures governance characteristics, governance quality (effective, equitable, responsive, and robust), and perceived social and ecological outcomes. The work develops a typology of co-management systems and examines the conditions shaping their emergence, persistence, and impact, with findings disseminated through peer-reviewed synthesis articles.
Corals of the future: adaptation potential of Australian reefs to a changing climate (Old ID 27635)
Oceans are changing. Coral reefs are natural wonders of high socio-economic value but are under threat. Conservation genomics can inform managers where to move or establish reserves to prioritize biodiversity protection. This DECRA will help prepare Australia’s prized reefs against future decline by identifying “bright spot” reefs that protect three of the most fundamental biological processes found in nature: dispersal, symbioses, and adaptation. Outcomes include quantifying unknown genetic baselines to help managers optimise protection to sustain future reef ecosystem services. This will boost Australia’s standing as a global leader in the next conservation planning revolution using genomics.
Safe Adoption of Food Entomology – Boosting Uptake, Guidance and Standards (SAFE-BUGS): Detecting Allergens in Edible Insects to Enhance Food Safety, Safeguard Public Health, and Build Consumer Trust in Singapore.
Singapore aims to produce 30% of its food locally by 2030, and edible insects are a promising way to help meet this goal. They are nutritious, require little land or water to farm, and produce far fewer greenhouse gases than livestock. Products such as cricket protein bars and mealworm snacks are already appearing in shops.
However, there is a concern for people with shellfish and house dust mite allergies. Because insects are closely related to prawns and crabs, their proteins can be similar. This means some people with shellfish and/or mite allergy might also react to insect-based foods. Right now, doctors advise all shellfish-allergic consumers to avoid insects entirely, but this is challenging and may be more restrictive than necessary.
We will use advanced laboratory methods to identify the exact insect proteins that trigger allergic reactions and test how food processing affects them. Together with SFA’s allergen team, we will design, establish and implement reliable food tests.
At the same time, we will study 60 allergy-suffering consumers. We will use safe, standard methods such as skin tests and blood tests that check reactions to hundreds of allergens at once. A small group will also eat insect-containing food products under strict supervision.
The results of this study will provide food companies and regulators with clear testing methods and give doctors better tools to advise sensitised consumers. This will protect people with allergies while allowing Singapore to safely benefit from sustainable insect proteins.
Science evaluation of coastal wetland systems repair projects across GBR catchments (Old ID 23139)
There is a lack of scientific data to support and give surety that on-ground wetland repair investment achieve water quality and biodiversity returns in the GBR catchments. Most existing and future wetland improvement projects have the objective of reducing invasive aquatic weeks, improving water quality and increasing usable habitat and marine connectivity for aquatic species, however, scientific data evaluating the degree to which this actually happens is not available. This is particularly true for long-term impacts beyond the first few years of remedial management. Scientific data and long term evaluation methods are therefore particularly necessary to track the progress against broader program objectives, in particular those contained in a number of policies and planning documents.
Small Equipment PC2 Aquatic Recirculation research system
PC2 Aquatic Recirculation system.
Advanced Developmental and Cellular Imaging Platform for Aquatic Reproductive Biotechnology
This project will establish an Advanced Developmental and Cellular Imaging Platform for Tropical Aquatic Organisms at James Cook University. The platform will provide high-resolution time-lapse imaging of eggs, embryos and larvae, enabling quantitative assessment of developmental performance, hatchery outcomes and reproductive interventions across aquaculture and marine species. The system will support current research in aquaculture breeding, reproductive biotechnology, cryopreservation and an Australian Economic Accelerator-funded gene-editing project in barramundi, while providing future fluorescence imaging capability for cellular tracking and germ-cell research. The infrastructure will be operated as a shared resource supporting researchers, HDR students and industry collaborations across JCU.
Advanced Developmental and Cellular Imaging Platform for Aquatic Reproductive Biotechnology
This project will establish an Advanced Developmental and Cellular Imaging Platform for Tropical Aquatic Organisms at James Cook University. The platform will provide high-resolution time-lapse imaging of eggs, embryos and larvae, enabling quantitative assessment of developmental performance, hatchery outcomes and reproductive interventions across aquaculture and marine species. The system will support current research in aquaculture breeding, reproductive biotechnology, cryopreservation and an Australian Economic Accelerator-funded gene-editing project in barramundi, while providing future fluorescence imaging capability for cellular tracking and germ-cell research. The infrastructure will be operated as a shared resource supporting researchers, HDR students and industry collaborations across JCU.
ATSIMS Engaging Science Grant
The Engaging Science Grant supported the delivery of ATSIMS, providing First Nations secondary students with immersive, hands-on experiences in marine science while strengthening connections with Traditional Owners, Rangers, researchers and industry. The funding enabled students to build STEM skills, explore career pathways, and deepen their understanding of Sea Country through place-based learning.
Coral bleaching, reef fish community phase shifts and the resilience of coral reefs
- 2006
- Blackwell Publishing
- Researchers:David BellwoodAndrew Hoey
Regional-scale assembly rules and biodiversity of coral reefs
- 2001
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Researchers:David BellwoodTerry Hughes
Confronting the coral reef crisis
- 2004
- Nature Publishing Group
- Researchers:David BellwoodTerry Hughes
Influence of age and moderate-intensity exercise training on heart rate variability in young and mature adults
- 2003
- Human Kinetics
- Researchers:Anthony LeichtAndrew Hoey
Influence of intensive cycling training on heart rate variability during rest and exercise
- 2003
- NRC Reserch Press
- Researchers:Anthony LeichtAndrew Hoey
Start Date:
01 Jan 2007
Start Date:
01 Jan 2025
Start Date:
01 Jan 2016
Start Date:
01 Jan 2016
Start Date:
01 Jan 2017
Start Date:
01 Jan 2022