JCU > Research Portfolio > Prof Colin Simpfendorfer

About

Prof Colin Simpfendorfer is a Professor of Marine Biology in the College of Science and Engineering. He has more than 25 years of experience in researching sharks, and has published extensively in the scientific literature on shark biology, ecology, fisheries and conservation. His expertise on sharks has been recognized by his appointment as the Co-Chair of the IUCN’s Shark Specialist Group.

Colin is a graduate of James Cook University, having undertaken both his undergraduate and postgraduate training in Townsville. After completing his PhD he worked on shark fisheries at the Western Australian Fisheries Department before moving to Florida to work at the Centre for Shark Research at Mote Marine Laboratory. He returned to JCU in 2007 to lead the Fishing and Fisheries Research Centre, where he has helped build a research group focused on improving our understanding of sharks and how best to conserve and manage their populations.

Interests

Research

Status and sustainable use of elasmobranch populations
Science for the conservation of elasmobranch populations
Nursery areas for sharks
Analytical tools for acoustic monitoring studies

Experience

2006 to present - Professor, James Cook University (Townsville, Queensland)
1999 to 2006 - Senior Scientist, Mote Marine Laboratory (Sarasota, Florida, USA)
1993 to 1999 - Senior Research Scientist, Western Australian Fisheries (Perth, Western Australia)
1987 to 1993 - Academic Level A, James Cook University (Townsville, Queensland)

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

Awards

2013 - Advisor of the Year Award, Advisory Panel Category - Highly Commended
2011 - JCU Faculty of Science and Engineering Dean's Research Award (Group)

Other

2012 to 2015 - Co-Chair IUCN Shark Specialist Group

Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

Buddle A, Otway N, Van Dyke J, Thompson M, Murphy C, Dowland S, Simpfendorfer C, Ellis M and Whittington C (2020) Structural changes to the uterus of the dwarf ornate wobbegong shark (Orectolobus ornatus) during pregnancy. Journal of Morphology, 281 (4-5), pp. 428-437, DOI:10.1002/jmor.21109.
Currey-Randall L, Cappo M, Simpfendorfer C, Farabaugh N and Heupel M (2020) Optimal soak times for Baited Remote Underwater Video Station surveys of reef-associated elasmobranchs. PLoS One, 15 (5), Article: e0231688, DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0231688.
Dwyer R, Krueck N, Udyawer V, Heupel M, Chapman D, Pratt H, Garla R and Simpfendorfer C (2020) Individual and population benefits of marine reserves for reef sharks. Current Biology, 30 (3), Article: e5, pp. 480-489, DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2019.12.005.
Grant M, Smart J, Rigby C, White W, Chin A, Baje L and Simpfendorfer C (2020) Intraspecific demography of the silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis): implications for fisheries management. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 77 (1), pp. 241-255, DOI:10.1093/icesjms/fsz196.
Kyne P, Jabado R, Rigby C, Dharmadi , Gore M, Pollock C, Herman K, Cheok J, Ebert D, Simpfendorfer C and Dulvy N (2020) The thin edge of the wedge: extremely high extinction risk in wedgefishes and giant guitarfishes. Aquatic Conservation: marine and freshwater ecosystems, 30 (7), pp. 1337-1361, DOI:10.1002/aqc.3331.
Martin G, Espinoza M, Heupel M and Simpfendorfer C (in press) Estimating marine protected area network benefits for reef sharks. Journal of Applied Ecology, , DOI:10.1111/1365-2664.13706.
Martins A, Heupel M, Oakley-Cogan A, Chin A and Simpfendorfer C (2020) Towed-float GPS telemetry: a tool to assess movement patterns and habitat use of juvenile stingrays. Marine and Freshwater Research, 71 (1), pp. 89-98, DOI:10.1071/MF19048.
Martins A, Heupel M, Bierwagen S, Chin A and Simpfendorfer C (2020) Diurnal activity patterns and habitat use of juvenile Pastinachus ater in a coral reef flat environment. PLoS ONE, 15 (2), Article: e0228280, DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0228280.
Mizrahi M, Duce S, Khine Z, MacKeracher T, Maung K, Phyu E, Pressey R, Simpfendorfer C and Diedrich A (2020) Mitigating negative livelihood impacts of no-take MPAs on small-scale fishers. Biological Conservation, 245, Article: 108554, DOI:10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108554.
Schlaff A, Heupel M, Udyawer V and Simpfendorfer C (2020) Sex-based differences in movement and space use of the blacktip reef shark, Carcharhinus melanopterus. PLoS One, 15 (4), Article: e0231142, DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0231142.
White W, Baje L, Appleyard S, Chin A, Smart J and Simpfendorfer C (in press) Shark longline fishery of Papua New Guinea: size and species composition and spatial variation of the catches. Marine and Freshwater Research, , DOI:10.1071/MF19191.
Baje L, Smart J, Grant M, Chin A, White W and Simpfendorfer C (2019) Age, growth and maturity of the Australian blackspot shark (Carcharhinus coatesi) in the Gulf of Papua. Pacific Conservation Biology, 25 (4), pp. 403-412, DOI:10.1071/PC18069.

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 241+ research outputs authored by Prof Colin Simpfendorfer from 2002 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Save Our Seas Foundation - Grant

SOSF Global Sawfish Search

Indicative Funding: $253,655 over 3 years
Summary: This project will enhance global conservation efforts for sawfishes by using environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques to undertake a global survey of their current distribution. eDNA represents a cost effective, accurate and simple method for broad-scale surveys of rare and threatened species such as sawfishes. Field and laboratory techniques will be validated for all five sawfish species, a global sampling plan developed and implemented, and the results synthesized to produce revised current distributions of sawfish species.
Investigators: Colin Simpfendorfer and Dean Jerry in collaboration with Madalyn Cooper, David Morgan, Peter Kyne and John Carlson (College of Science & Engineering, Murdoch University, Charles Darwin University and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
Keywords: Sawfish; Threatened Species; eDNA; Sawfish; marine conservation

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors - Global Partnership for Sharks & Rays (GPSR)

Global Shark Trends Project

Indicative Funding: $134,766 over 3 years (administered by Simon Fraser University)
Summary: This project will deliver planning tools and communicate knowledge of the trajectories and extinction risk of shark and ray populations. We will provide the first indices of the effects of fisheries exploitation (and other threats) upon chondrichthyans for incorporation into intergovernmental processes, (inc. 5th Global Biodiversity Outlook and UN Sustainable Development Goal annual reporting. These indicators have the potential to set the ocean conservation agenda for the next decade beyond 2020 as decision-makers look forward to developing targets out to 2030. Critically, these outcome-focused indicators and priorities can help maximise the effectiveness of conservation actions and reduce the risk of squandered investment.
Investigators: Nick K Dulvy and Colin Simpfendorfer in collaboration with Cassie Rigby and Melissa Joyce (Simon Fraser University and College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Shark; Conservation; ICUN Red List; Ray Crystal-Structure; population status

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation - Research Grant

Global Shark and Ray Initiative (activity support)

Indicative Funding: $105,542 over 4 years (administered by Wildlife Conservation Society)
Summary: The purpose of this grant is to enable the necessary coordination among the GSRI partners to deliver the Global Shark and Ray Conservation Strategy. Continuing to work together, the GSRI will maximize collective expertise, investments, and respective strengths to support the delivery of the goals and objectives of this collaborative strategy. Supporting this continued coordination will ensure the success of concurrent collaborative GSRI projects and enable the design and implementation of others.
Investigators: Colin Simpfendorfer (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Shark; Fisheries Management; Ray; Conservation

Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission - Contract Research

Operational Planning for Shark Biological Data Improvement Terms of Reference

Indicative Funding: $40,450
Summary: The objective of this study is to compile, review and prioritise a list of biological data gaps for the WCPFC key shark species and propose a practical plan for filling them
Investigators: Colin Simpfendorfer and Andrew Chin (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Shark; Life History; research planning

WWF Hong Kong - Contract Research

A Practical Guide to the Effective Creation and Management of MPAs for Sharks and Rays

Indicative Funding: $38,299
Summary: This project will translate the outcomes of a larger project on shark and ray MPAs into a practical guide for use by marine park managers and policy makers. The guide will be developed with WWF and made widely available.
Investigators: Colin Simpfendorfer in collaboration with Cassie Rigby (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Shark; Marine Protected Areas; Environmental Management

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors - Global Partnership for Sharks & Rays (GPSR)

Maximising outcomes for shark and ray MPAs

Indicative Funding: $740,629 over 2 years
Summary: This project will investigate the benefits of using marine protected areas (MPAs) for shark and ray conservation. It will combine work reviewing the current state of knowledge, synthesis or shark and ray movement data to better inform MPA design, identification of socioeconomic factors that affect MPA success, and spatial modelling to identify the areas where MPAs will be of greatest benefit. I will include partnerships with AIMS and Simon Fraser University.
Investigators: Colin Simpfendorfer and Amy Diedrich in collaboration with Michelle Heupel and Nick K Dulvy (College of Science & Engineering, Australian Institute of Marine Science and Simon Fraser University)
Keywords: Marine Protected Areas; movement ecology; Shark; Conservation Planning; ray; Spatial Planning

Department of the Environment and Energy - National Environmental Research Program - Marine Biodiversity Hub

Exploring the status of Australia's hammerhead sharks

Indicative Funding: $64,709 over 5 years (administered by AIMS)
Summary: Hammerhead sharks are the focus of conservation management through recent listing on CITES and CMS. However, the state of knowledge of hammerhead sharks in Australia requires exploration. Data on hammerhead interactions with fisheries, life history and ecology will be gathered to address this need. Collected data will be used to construct a series of conceptual models of population structure of hammerhead sharks in Australia. This analysis will refine the status of these speciews and identify re3quired research or management. This project precedes targeted research to provide information required for effective management of these populations.
Investigators: Colin Simpfendorfer and Andrew Chin in collaboration with Michelle Heupel and William White (Australian Institute of Marine Science, Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation and College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Fisheries Management; hammerhead sharks; status assessment

ACIAR - Research Grant

Sustainable management of the shark resources of Papua New Guinea: socioeconomic and biological characteristics of the fishery

Indicative Funding: $161,192 over 6 years (administered by CSIRO)
Summary: The shark fishery in PNG is the country's5th most important export fishery worth about K8 million annually. Sharks are also important to the artisanal fishery and are a potential resource for ecotourism. It is also highly likely that the shark resources of PNG are shared with neighbouring countries, e.g. Australia, Indonesia, and adjacent South Pacific island nations such as the Solomon Islands. Sharks and rays are particularly vulnerable to over-exploitation due to their life history characteristics, and declines can affect livelihoods of communities. The PNG National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has identified a need to improve fisheries management, underpinned by an assessment of the shark and ray fisheries.
Investigators: William White, Ludwig Kumoru, Colin Simpfendorfer, Sharon Appleyard and Andrew Chin in collaboration with Jonathan Smart (Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation, National Fisheries Authority, Papua New Guinea and College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Shark; Ray; Papua New Guinea; Fishery; Management; Conservation

Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA/APSOI) - Contract Research

Ecological Risk Assessment for Deepwater Chondrichthyans

Indicative Funding: $10,012
Summary: Australia is obliged to fulfil elements of the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) Scientific Committee work plan to provide advice o the impacts of fishing on associated species. James Cook University undertook preliminary work to develop an ecological risk assessment (ERA) for deepwater sharks by compiling input values of species productivity attributes from the scientific literature and other sources. The ERA was then progressed at a workshop with SIOFA Contracting Parties. JCU will now provide expert review of SIOFA ecological risk assessment data, outputs and reports and assist with the preparation of a scientific paper for publication.
Investigators: Colin Simpfendorfer and Cassie Rigby (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Deepwater Ecology; Shark; Ray Crystal-Structure; Ecological Risk Assessment

Australian Institute of Marine Science - Contract Research

JCU - AIMS Shark Collaboration

Indicative Funding: $178,119 over 3 years
Summary: Funding will support a joint post-doc between JCU and AIMS to assist with collaborative projects the ecology and conservation of sharks.
Investigators: Colin Simpfendorfer and Michelle Heupel in collaboration with Andrew Chin (College of Science & Engineering and Australian Institute of Marine Science)
Keywords: Shark; Ecology; Coral Reef Ecosystems; Hammerhead Sharks

CSIRO - Contract Research

Australian Sawfish Population Viability Analysis

Indicative Funding: $15,000
Summary: Sawfish are the most threatened group of elasmobranch. Australia is home to 4 species and is one of the last refuges where viable populations exist. However, data is limited and the threats in Australia have not been adequately assessed. This project will use population viability analysis to examine the potential effects of fishing on Australian populations.
Investigators: Colin Simpfendorfer (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Sawfish; Threatened Species; Fishing; Pristidae; population viabilityh

Department of Agriculture and Water Resources - Contract Research

Life history attributes data for deepwater sharks ecological risk assessment

Indicative Funding: $25,454
Summary: This project will gather information on the life history of deepwater shaks from the Pacific and Indian Oceans for use in developing a qulaitative isk assessment for deepwater fisheries.
Investigators: Colin Simpfendorfer and Cassandra Rigby (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Deepwater ecology; Shark; Ray; Ecological Risk Assessment

Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

Conservation Biology of Wedgefishes and giant guitarfishes (Order Rhinopristiformes) (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Marine Sanctuaries for Wide-Ranging Animals: A Case Study of the Cook Islands Shark Sanctuary. (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Multi-scale patterns in movement and space use of sharks on inshore reefs (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Conservation Genomics and Ecology of True Sea Snakes (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Assessing ecological risk posed to common rays by prawn trawling (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
A holistic approach to shark fisheries science and management: The role of contempory indigenous knowledge (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Distribution, Abundance and Conservation Threats of Elasmobranchs in the River Systems of Papua New Guinea (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Resolving the global occurrence and distribution of sawfishes using genetic techniques (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Habitat Use, Movement Patterns and Trophic Ecology of Sharks and rays within Mangrove Forests (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

Completed

Spatial ecology of true sea snakes (Hydrophiinae) in coastal waters of North Queensland (2016, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Improving understanding of spatial ecology through network analysis of acoustic monitoring data (2016, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Movement of an exploited coral reef teleost across multiple temporal and spatial scales (2015, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Habitat and dietary selectivity of nearshore shark populations (2015, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Life history of deepwater chondrichthyans (2015, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Diversity in Shark Nursery Area Function in the Great Barrier Reef (2015, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Movements, Habitat Use and Connectivity of Reef-associated Sharks: Implications for Management and Conservation (2015, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Investigation of Coral Trout (Plectropomus spp.) Movement Patterns and Resource Use: A Multidisciplinary Approach Using Acoustic Telemetry and Dietary Indicators (2016, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Understanding the risk to flatback turtles (Natator depressus) from expanding industrial development in Western Australia (2017, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Population genomics informs conservation and management of the Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis) at local, regional and oceanic scales (2017, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Life history and demographic modelling of shark species caught in Indo-Pacific fisheries (2017, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Refining the ecological role of stingrays in coral reef ecosystems (2019, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Large bodied fish communities and drivers of use in the shallow waters of a coastal habitat mosaic (2015, Masters , Secondary Advisor)
Functional roles of reef sharks on the Great Barrier Reef (2020, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
The biology and ecology of Carcharhiniform sharks in the Gulf of Papua prawn trawl fishery;; (2020, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Ecological energetics of climate change for tropical sharks (2020, PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Ecology of rays on tropical coral reefs (2020, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)

Data

These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit the JCU Research Data Catalogue.

Martins, A. (2020) Tidal-diel patterns of movement, activity and habitat use by juvenile mangrove whiprays using towed-float GPS telemetry. James Cook University
Martins, A. (2020) Diurnal activity patterns and habitat use of juvenile Pastinachus ater in a coral reef flat environment. James Cook University
D'Anastasi, B. (2018) Conservation genomics of Western Australian Aipysurus group sea snake species. James Cook University
Harry, A. (2012) Data for: Comparison of the reproductive ecology of two sympatric blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus and Carcharhinus tilstoni) off north-eastern Australia with species identification inferred from vertebral counts. James Cook University

Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.