Dr David C Smith, seeking to balance the use and conservation of marine resources.

Dr David C Smith: generating sound advice for marine resource management

Dr David Smith leads research that supports the balanced use of marine resources, focusing on sustainable fisheries and ecosystem conservation.

• 15 November 2007 | Updated 14 October 2011

• Current activities
• Background
• Academic qualifications
• Achievements

Current activities

The interplay of science and policy is a particular interest for Dr David C Smith, who leads the Sustainable Ocean Ecosystems & Living Resources in the Wealth from Oceans Flagship.

As leader of a research team seeking to balance the use and conservation of marine resources, Dr David C Smith is well placed to improve the provision of science advice to resource management.

With a focus on fisheries and aquaculture, this research combines the physical, biological, mathematical and computer sciences to understand marine systems and develop marine observation and management support systems.

These methods and tools are being applied to: 

• the Gulf of Carpentaria, Torres Strait and Great Barrier Reef ecosystems
• domestic and internationally shared shark, tuna and billfish fisheries and ecosystems
• demersal fisheries and ecosystems off south-eastern Australia.

Background

After finishing his tertiary studies, Dr Smith studied various commercial species in Australia’s south-east fishery – red spot whiting, rock lobster and abalone – and established a fish ageing laboratory before trading biology for research management.

Dr Smith joined CSIRO after more than ten years of senior fisheries research management with the Government of Victoria.

There he was Director of the Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute, and Research Director Marine and Freshwater Systems for Primary Industries Research Victoria.

During this time he worked closely with senior resource managers, scientists and industry representatives on matters ranging from aquatic protected areas to the assessment of state and Commonwealth fisheries.

Academic qualifications

Dr Smith has been awarded a:

• Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
• Doctor of Philosophy from the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

His doctoral research investigated the biology of jackass morwong, a popular commercial species in eastern Australian waters.

Achievements

Dr Smith retains his link with Victorian fisheries as a member of the Victorian Fisheries Co-Management Council, a statutory body that supports the sustainable management of Victorian fisheries and habitats.