April 18, 2018

Childhood love hooks graduate on career in marine science

PhD thesis explored link between fish habitats and marine park conservation

Growing up on the NSW South Coast, Dr Matt Rees always loved being in and around the water. 

He was only young when his father gave him his first fishing rod, and it wasn’t long before Matt was hooked. Pun intended.

What he did not know was that his new obsession with fishing would lay the groundwork for his future career exploring the deep.

“As a kid, I spent so much time on the water fishing that I began to notice patterns in my fishing success among varying conditions and locations,” Matt said.

“At the time, I just wanted to catch more fish, but looking back, I now realise I was in the early stages of becoming a marine research scientist.”

Today (April 18), Matt officially became Dr Rees when he graduated from the University of Wollongong with a Doctor of Philosophy from the School of Biological Sciences.

His research has focused on how seafloor habit maps can be used to predict the distribution of fish, and how the design of marine protected areas can help improve conservation.

Matt said marine science was a natural path for him to take, one that led him to postgraduate studies where he spent his days once again immersed in the breathtaking waters of the South Coast.

Combining his scientific knowledge with the use of baited underwater technology, Matt explored how the connectivity of habitats – such as seagrass and rocky reefs – can create healthy and diverse fish populations in marine protected areas. His thesis findings could have implications for conservation and protection efforts both in Australia and around the world.

“Currently, broad habitat types are used as a quick way to set up marine protected areas. As different habitats tend to comprise different species, representing the diverse range of habitat types within marine parks boundaries has been a way of aiming to protect as many species as possible,” he said.

“My research took this approach a step further by exploring how the connectivity of habitats to one another influences the fish populations we see. I found that reef habitat next to large beds of seagrass had a greater number of individuals and species of fish compared to reefs isolated from seagrass.

“As seagrass is a crucial nursery habitat for many juvenile reef fish, I found that connectivity of these habitats is important to maintain healthy fish populations, and should be considered when planning marine protected areas.

“These findings are timely, as seagrass habitat are declining at an alarming rate in certain parts of NSW and around the world."

For Matt, the highlight of his PhD was spending his days doing what he loves: exploring the immense underwater world and getting the chance to interact with some of the most fascinating species on earth.

“I was lucky enough to do my fieldwork in some of Australia’s most beautiful coastal landscapes, in Jervis Bay Marine Park, Batemans Marine Park, and the world-heritage listed Lord Howe Island Marine Park,” Matt said.

“I’ve also observed some of our incredible marine life during my PhD, such as black marlin, seals, and sea turtles in Jervis Bay, and galapagos sharks and tiger sharks at Lord Howe Island.”

Matt’s passion for the ocean extends beyond his research. He is the co-creator of the Fish Thinkers blog – with his friend and fellow researcher Lachlan Fetterplace – which promotes sustainable fishing and aims to break down the barriers between science and the general public. Matt and Lachlan are showcasing the importance of science communication and educating their readers on why looking after our oceans matters. To that end, Matt regularly organises beach clean ups in the Illawarra region.

Now that he has finished his PhD, Matt has relocated to Perth, where he is based in the Australian Institute of Marine Science as a postdoctoral researcher. His work now focuses on coral reef sharks and rays.

He said the support of his supervisors was integral to completing his PhD and to taking the next step in his career as a marine scientist.

“The mentorship of Professor Andy Davis at UOW and Dr Nathan Knott from NSW Fisheries was incredible. Their knowledge of marine ecology and new survey methods, such as baited underwater cameras, helped me develop exciting and important research questions.”