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Remote monitoring of recreational fishing activity at FADs and ARs Scholarship

Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) and Artificial Reefs (ARs) provide improved opportunities for recreational fishing. The substantial investment in these enhancements warrants measuring their effectiveness. Contemporary approaches for monitoring recreational fishing associated with FADs and ARs are required depending on placement (offshore or nearshore) and implementation (for fish communities requiring time to become established).

Important dates

Opens: 24-04-2025 Closes: 30-05-2025

Applies to

Domestic International Postgraduate Coursework

At a glance

This project seeks to inform novel approaches for the collection and use of data for recreational fishing associated with FADs and ARs in Western Australia, including remote monitoring, such as:

  1. Time-lapse cameras mounted in situ on FADs or echosounder buoys to monitor vessel activity
  2. Time-lapse cameras mounted below the water to complement in situ echosounder buoys to quantify seasonal variability in fish abundance across the FAD network,
  3. Shore-based cameras to monitor fishing activity for nearshore ARs.
  4. Smartphone data and apps which capture human and vessel movements (e.g., Cuebiq, Deckee)
  5. Satellite imagery for observing vessel traffic around nearshore ARs.

Eligibility guidelines

To be eligible, you must meet the entry requirements for a Masters or PhD at ECU.

Specifically, the preferred candidate must have

  • Bachelor's degree (Weighted Course Average Mark or WAM > 65) in statistics, data science, quantitative marine science, or a related discipline  (if applying for Masters).
  • Master’s or 1st-class Honours degree in statistics, data science, quantitative marine science, or a related discipline (if applying for PhD).
  • Demonstrable experience in multi-modal survey design methodologies and analysis, as well as large-scale data management.
  • Strong skills in data analysis, including data visualisation.
  • Proficiency in coding using R or other relevant platforms.
  • Experience with data corroboration and data integration (desirable).

Terms and Conditions

All scholarships are awarded at ECU’s discretion.

How to apply

To apply please send your CV, academic transcripts, 1-page proposal, and a brief document (at most 2-pages) addressing the following criteria.

  • Understanding and experience with multi-modal survey design and methodology.
  • Experience with large data management and quantitative analysis, including data visualisation.
  • Proficiency in R programming or other relevant languages or software.

In your 1-page proposal, describe how data from multi-modal surveys could enhance our understanding of vessel movements and recreational fishing activities around Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) and Artificial Reefs (ARs). Discuss the opportunities and challenges you foresee in integrating and corroborating data from different sources, and how this could improve the reliability of insights drawn from the data.

Applications due by May 30th, 2025.

Further information

Please contact Dr Johnny Lo or Dr Eben Afrifa-Yamoah for further details.

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