JCU > Research Portfolio > Prof Colin Simpfendorfer

About

Prof Colin Simpfendorfer is the Director of the Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture. 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.

Teaching

BS1001: Introduction to Biological Processes (Level 1; TSV)
EV3014: Managing Tropical Fisheries (Level 3; TSV)
EV5014: Managing Tropical Fisheries (Level 5; TSV)
MB5610: Fishing Gear and Technologies (Level 5; TSV)

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

Campbell M, McLennan M, Courtney A and Simpfendorfer C (2018) Post-release survival of two elasmobranchs, the eastern shovelnose ray (Aptychotrema rostrata) and the common stingaree (Trygonoptera testacea), discarded from a prawn trawl fishery in southern Queensland, Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research, 69 (4). pp. 551-561
Grant M, Smart J, White W, Chin A, Baje L and Simpfendorfer C (2018) Life history characteristics of the silky shark Carcharhinus falciformis from the central west Pacific. Marine and Freshwater Research, 69 (4). pp. 562-573
Chin A, Simpfendorfer C, White W, Wardell G, McAuley R and Heupel M (2017) Crossing lines: a multidisciplinary framework for assessing connectivity of hammerhead sharks across jurisdictional boundaries. Scientific Reports, 7.
D'Alberto B, Chin A, Smart J, Baje L, White W and Simpfendorfer C (2017) Age, growth and maturity of oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) from Papua New Guinea. Marine and Freshwater Research, 68 (6). pp. 1118-1129
Dulvy N, Simpfendorfer C, Davidson L, Fordham S, Bräutigam A, Sant G and Welch D (2017) Challenges and priorities in shark and ray conservation. Current Biology, 27 (11). pp. R565-R572
Huveneers C, Stehfest K, Simpfendorfer C, Semmens J, Hobday A, Pederson H, Stieglitz T, Vallee R, Webber D, Heupel M and Harcourt R (2017) Application of the Acoustic Propagation Model to a deep-water cross-shelf curtain. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 8 (10). pp. 1305-1308
Lawson J, Fordham S, O'Malley M, Davidson L, Walls R, Heupel M, Stevens G, Fernando D, Budziak A, Simpfendorfer C, Ender A, Francis M, di Sciara G and Dulvy N (2017) Sympathy for the devil: a conservation strategy for devil and manta rays. PeerJ, 5. pp. 1-30
Matley J, Tobin A, Simpfendorfer C, Fisk A and Heupel M (2017) Trophic niche and spatio-temporal changes in the feeding ecology of two sympatric species of coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus and P-laevis). Marine Ecology-Progress Series, 563. pp. 197-210
Matley J, Heupel M, Fisk A, Simpfendorfer C and Tobin A (2017) Measuring niche overlap between co-occurring Plectropomus spp. using acoustic telemetry and stable isotopes. Marine and Freshwater Research, 68 (8). pp. 1468-1478
Pazmiño D, Maes G, Simpfendorfer C, Salinas-de-León P and van Herwerden L (2017) Genome-wide SNPs reveal low effective population size within confined management units of the highly vagile Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis). Conservation Genetics, 18 (5). pp. 1151-1163
Schlaff A, Heupel M, Udyawer V and Simpfendorfer C (2017) Biological and environmental effects on activity space of a common reef shark on an inshore reef. Marine Ecology - Progress Series, 571. pp. 169-181
Simpfendorfer C and Dulvy N (2017) Bright spots of sustainable shark fishing. Current Biology, 27 (3). pp. R97-R98

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 186+ 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.

Shark Conservation Fund - Small Grant

Improving the understanding of threatened wedgefish and guitarfish to inform CITES assessments

Indicative Funding: $32,248
Summary: There is limited biological and ecological information on guitarfish and wedgefish globally that impedes the development of suitable management. This project aims to investigate the global species diversity and abundance of wedgefish and guitarfishes using Baited Remote Underwater Systems, estimate the population productivity and intrinsic risk of extinction of wegefish and guitarfish, and identify trends in catch rates and species composition and any demographic patterns in Indonesian tangle net fishery catch. Results of the study will be critical in improving the conservation and management outcomes for these vulnerable elasmobranchs and provide key data to inform the preparation of proposals for CITES CoP18 proposals.
Investigators: Brooke D'Alberto, Andrew Chin, Colin Simpfendorfer and William White (College of Science & Engineering and Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation)
Keywords: Rhinobatiformes; Extinction risk; Threatened species; CITES; Life History; BRUVS

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

ACIAR - Research Grant

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

Indicative Funding: $151,192 over 5 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

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

Global Shark Trends Project

Indicative Funding: $63,634 (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

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

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority - Science for Management Award

Examining coral reef carrying capacity and trophic roles of grey reef sharks in the central Great Barrier Reef

Indicative Funding: $1,500
Summary: This project addresses questions around (1) reef predator carrying capacity, (2) reef shark trophic relationships, and (3) space-use of grey reef sharks in tropical coral reefs through ecosystem-based analysis. The research will explore biological and environmental variables to infer fine-scale reef community characteristics and mechanisms driving shark movement. Complementary methodologies such as underwater visual census, diver operated video, and baited remote underwater video used in conjunction with acoustic telemetry and tissue analysis will define predator-prey relationships at the reef level. Surveying multiple reefs open and closed to fishing will help define anthropogenic influences on trophodynamics and community structure.
Investigators: Stacy Bierwagen, Colin Simpfendorfer and Michelle Heupel (College of Science & Engineering and Australian Institute of Marine Science)
Keywords: Trophodynamics; Ecological modelling; Ecological Behavior; Community Ecology; Acoustic Telemetry; Fishing Impacts

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

Global Shark and Ray Initiative (activity support)

Indicative Funding: $68,902 over 3 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

Save Our Seas Foundation - Grant

SOSF Global Sawfish Search

Indicative Funding: $124,877
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

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

A holistic approach to shark fisheries science and management: The role of contempory indigenous knowledge (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
A Challenging Environment in a Changing World for Juvenile Sharks: Ecological Energetics of Climate Change with Implications Toward Conservation (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Resolving the global occurrence and distribution of sawfishes using genetic techniques (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM)
Conservation Approaches for Hammerhead Sharks in Australian Waters. (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM)
Examining Coral Reef Carrying Capacity and Trophic Roles of Grey Reef Sharks in the Central GBR. (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM)
Assessing ecological risk posed to common rays by prawn trawling (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM)
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Marine Sanctuaries for Wide-Ranging Animals: A Case Study of the Cook Islands Shark Sanctuary. (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Conservation Biology and Ecology of Guitarfishes and Wedgefishes (Order Rhinopristiformes) from the Arabian Seas Region: Implications for Management (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM)
Diversity, Abundance and Distribution of Batoids on Coral Reefs (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM)
Distribution, Abundance and Conservation Threats of Elasmobranchs in the River Systems of Papua New Guinea (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Effects of Environmental Variation on Habitat Use and Movement of the Blacktip Reef Shark, Carcharhinus Melanopterus. (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Conservation Genomics and Ecology of True Sea Snakes (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Habitat Use, Movement Patterns and Trophic Ecology of Sharks and rays within Mangrove Forests (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
The Biology and Ecology of Carcharhiniform Sharks Caught in the Gulf of Papua Prawn Trawl Fishery. (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM)

Completed

The biology and ecology of the blacktip reef shark Carcharhinus melanopterus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) and implications for management (2013, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Recreational fishing of sharks in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area: species composition and incidental capture stress (2013, Masters , Secondary Advisor)
Scaling up to form marine protected area networks: the role of coordination of initiatives and institutional collaborations in the Philippines (2014, PhD , Associate Advisor)
The ecology of shark-like batoids: implications for management in the Great Barrier Reef region (2014, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Large bodied fish communities and drivers of use in the shallow waters of a coastal habitat mosaic (2015, Masters , Secondary Advisor)
Movements, Habitat Use and Connectivity of Reef-associated Sharks: Implications for Management and Conservation (2015, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Diversity in Shark Nursery Area Function in the Great Barrier Reef (2015, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Life history of deepwater chondrichthyans (2015, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Habitat and dietary selectivity of nearshore shark populations (2015, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Movement of an exploited coral reef teleost across multiple temporal and spatial scales (2015, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Improving understanding of spatial ecology through network analysis of acoustic monitoring data (2016, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Spatial ecology of true sea snakes (Hydrophiinae) in coastal waters of North Queensland (2016, 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)
Life history and demographic modelling of shark species caught in Indo-Pacific fisheries (2017, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
The endocrine control of embryonic diapause in the Australian sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon taylori (2013, Masters , Primary 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)

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.

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.