School of Science

Shannon Burchert

Overview of project

This project aims to compare spatial distributions of key fish species from recreational fishing surveys and charter reported fishing in Western Australia to understand their spatio-temporal structure. Baldchin groper (Choerodon rubescens), West Australian dhufish (Glaucosoma hebraicum), Samsonfish (Seriola hippos) and Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) were selected as key species as they form a substantial proportion of recreational catch in Western Australia, have different life history characteristics and distributions in a multispecies fishery allowing methodological approaches to be generalised for a wider application. Geostatistics in fisheries research is becoming far more expansive as spatially rich datasets become available, where these resources can potentially be used to inform fisheries management decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours) at Charles Darwin University (CDU) – Graduated 2016
• Bachelor of Environmental Science, majoring in Marine and Coastal Management at Charles Darwin University (CDU) – Graduated 2015

Other Qualifications

• Provide First Aid through FirstAidPro Tasmania – 2018
• Certificate II Maritime Operations through Charles Darwin University – 2017
• Short Range Operator Certificate of Proficiency through Australian Maritime College – 2017
• Provide Advanced CPR through St Johns Darwin – 2017
• Shipboard Safety Skillset through Seafood and Maritime Industries Training Darwin – 2015
• Chief Fire Warden Training through Fire and Safety Australia – 2015

Research

Research Interests

• Recreational Fishing
• Marine and Coastal Management
• Sustainable Fisheries
• Aquaculture

Past Research employment history

• Recreational Fishing Survey Officer for the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (WA DPIRD) – 2018 to current
• Aquaculture Research Scientist for the Northern Territory Government Department of Primary Industry and Resources (NTG DPIR) – 2017 to 2018
• Aquaculture Technician for the Northern Territory Government Department of Primary Industry and Resources (NTG DPIR) – 2014 to 2017

Other work

• Research Assistant/Field Technician for PineTech Pacific (Aust) Pty Ltd – 2018
• Organisational Committee Member for the Australian Marine Science Association (AMSA) Conference – 2017
• Volunteer Research Assistant for AusTurtle – 2017
• Deckhand/Turtle Tour Guide for Sea Darwin – 2017 to 2018
• Deckhand for Darwin Sunset Sailing – 2014
• Volunteer for Volunteer Eco Students Abroad (VESA) in South Africa – 2012

Past Teaching

• Laboratory Demonstrator for SCI1192 Physical Environments (ECU) – 2021

Scholarships and Awards

• Understanding Spatial Characteristics of Recreational Fishing Scholarship (ECU/DPIRD) – 2018
• Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship – 2017
• Northern Territory Airports sponsorship to attend the annual Territory Natural Resource Management Conference – 2016
• Funding from Territory Natural Resource Management for Honours project – 2016

Recent Publications

Journal Article

• Munksgaard, N., Burchert, S., Kaestli, M., Nowland, S., O'Connor, W., & Gibb, K. S. (2017). Cadmium uptake and zinc-cadmium antagonism in Australian tropical rock oysters: Potential solutions for oyster aquaculture enterprises. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 123, 45-56. DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.09.031

Conference Publications/ Presentations

• Shellfish Quality Assurance Presentation at the Australian Marine Science Association (AMSA) Conference Darwin – 2017
• Poster titled ‘Naturally High Heavy Metals: Bottlenecks to Tropical Rock Oysters Farming to Support Indigenous Economic Development in the Northern Territory’ presented at the Australian Mangrove and Saltmarsh Network Conference Darwin – 2016

Supervisors

Contact

Miss Shannon Burchert
PhD Student
Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research 
School of Science
Email: s.burchert@ecu.edu.au