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Prof Colin Buxton

BSc Hons, MSc cum laude (University of Cape Town), PhD (Rhodes University)

Professor & Head of School
Contact Details
Telephone: +61 3 6227 7277
Fax: +61 3 6227 8035
Location: Hobart Campus, Marine Research Laboratories, Taroona, 1
Email: Colin.Buxton@utas.edu.au

Career Summary

Following appointments at the Port Elizabeth Museum (Marine Biologist), Rhodes University (Associate Professor) and Australian Maritime College (Head of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Environment), I joined the University of Tasmania as inaugural Director of the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute.

  • 1980-1987:Marine Biologist,Port Elizabeth Museum
  • 1987-1989:Lecturer, Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science (DIFS), Rhodes University.
  • 1990 1993:Senior Lecturer, DIFS (1993 acting Head of Department).
  • 1994-1995:Associate Professor, DIFS.
  • 1996:Senior Lecturer and Post Graduate Course Co-ordinator, Faculty of Fisheries & Environment at the Australian Maritime College (FM&E - AMC)
  • 1996-1998:Director, (FM&E - AMC).
  • 1998 to present:Director and Professor, Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI), University of Tasmania.


    Current research grants include:

  • FRDC 2004/002 - Spatial Management of Reef Fisheries and Ecosystems: Understanding the Importance of Movement (Buxton, CD; Barrett, NS & Semmens, JM.).
  • FRDC 2004/013 - Towards Integrated Multi-Species Management of Australia's SE Reef Fisheries: A Tasmanian Example (Frusher, SD; Buxton, CD; Barrett, NS; Tarbath, D; Jarman, SN; Semmens, JM & Elliott, N.).
  • FRDC 2004/313 - Tasmanian Fisheries and Aquaculture Research and Development Plan 2003-2005 (Laws, E; Buxton, CD; Ibbott, T).
  • FRDC 2003/200 - Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture Subprogram: Facilitation and administration (Buxton, CD; Wadley, V; Wellby, F).
  • TAFI Agreement between UTAS and DPIWE (Buxton, CD).

    I have extensive experience on Boards and Committees including:
  • Tasmanian Fishing Industry Training Board (1997-1998)
  • Tasmanian Fisheries Research Advisory Board (1998-present)
  • Board Aquaculture CRC(1998-2001)
  • Board Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (1998-present)
  • Tasmanian Marine & Marine Industries Council (1999-present)
  • Sustainable Aquaculture of Finfish CRC (Chair of Bid Committee 2000;Member of the Board 2001-present)
  • Board Aquafin CRC Holdings Pty Ltd (2002-present)
  • Board Aquafin CRC Pty Ltd (2002-present)
  • Gordon River Scientific Reference Committee (Chair)(2004 - present)
  • WA Rock Lobster Scientific Reference Committee (2004 - present)
  • FRDC Effects of Trawling Sub-committee (1996-98)
  • Australian Fisheries Management Forum (was Standing Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture) ' Research Sub-Committee (1998-2005)
  • Chair of 6 Research Advisory Groups (Crustacean, Abalone, Scalefish, Marine Environment, Aquaculture and Recreational Fisheries (1998 - present)


    Research Interests

    My research career has focussed on the biology, ecology and fisheries of inshore reef associated fishes, particularly those of the family Sparidae, that are important to recreational and commercial fisheries. I was particularly interested in examining life-history changes in exploited populations using MPAs as a baseline for unexploited populations.
    My research in South Africa made a significant contribution to the fundamental understanding of the biology and ecology of sparid fishes. For example: research on age and growth contributed to the understanding and interpretation of otolith microstructure; research on reproduction contributed significantly to the understanding of sparid sexuality; and research on movement, migration, distribution and abundance contributed to an understanding of habitat utilisation. This work has had a significant application in the management of species important to coastal fisheries.
    A continuation of this research theme at TAFI in Tasmania is now providing similar insights for several important fisheries, including abalone and rock lobster. Here I have continued work on MPAs particularly attempting to understand their impacts on the coastal environment, and the assessment of the efficacy of MPAs as a fisheries management tool. I am also at the forefront of the national debate on ecosystem based fisheries management.
    Research highlights include:

  • I was one of the first to use MPAs to demonstrate the impacts of exploitation on the distribution and abundance reef fish species important to coastal fisheries. This demonstrated the role of MPAs as a research tool, especially in the understanding of the effects of fishing.
  • A comprehensive review of sparid sexuality that demonstrated the alternate reproductive styles of these species. This work provided an important understanding of the biological basis for input management controls in a number of species.
  • A study of the effects of exploitation on various life-history characters (size at maturity, size at sex change, growth, mortality) of two important reef fishes resident in the Tsitsikamma National Park
  • The modification of the yield-per-recruit model to incorporate sex change in reef fishes and the correlation of model predictions with field observations.
  • Development of a vision and 5 yr Fisheries and Aquaculture Strategic R&D plan for Tasmania. This underpinned a major turnaround in the success and quantum of Nationally Competitive Grant funding to TAFI.
  • A demonstration that MPAs do not offer a significant alternative to traditional methods for lobster and abalone in Tasmania, with wider implications for quota managed species worldwide.

    Research Areas:

    • Marine Biodiversity Research Group  Read More

    Selected Publications:

    • BARRETT, N. S., BUXTON, C. D. & EDGAR, G. J, 2009, 'Changes in invertebrate and macroalgal populations within Tasmanian marine reserves in the decade following protection. ', Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology , 370, pgs. 104-119
    • PEDERSON, H. G., BARRETT, N.S., FRUSHER, S.D., BUXTON, C.D., 2008, 'The effect of predator-prey and competitive interactions on size at emergence in black-lip abalone (Hailotis rubra) in a Tasmanian. ', MPA. Mar. Ecol. Prog., 366, pgs. 91-98.
    • BARRETT, N.S., EDGAR, G.J., BUXTON C.D & HADDON, M. , 2007, 'Changes in fish assemblages following 10 years of protection in Tasmanian marine protected areas. ', J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. , 345(2), pgs. 141-157
    • Buxton, C., Haddon, M and Bradshaw, M, 2005, 'Regional impact assessment for the marine protected areas proposed for the south east region.', FRDC Final Report, FRDC Project Number 2005/083, pgs. 204
    • Buxton, C., Barrett, N., Haddon, M., Gardner, C and Edgar, G, 2006, 'Evaluating the effectiveness of marine protected areas as a fisheries management tool.', FRDC Final Report, FRDC Project Number 1999/162, pgs. 393

    Full Publication List

    Current and Supervised Project/s:

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