Fisheries Scientific Committee

The Fisheries Scientific Committee is an independent body established under Part 7A of the Fisheries Management Act 1994. The main functions of the Committee are related to:

the listing of species, populations, ecological communities and key threatening processes in the schedules of the Fisheries Management Act 1994;
advising the Minister on the identification of critical habitat;
reviewing draft joint management agreements and the performance of parties under the agreements;
Advising the Director-General on the exercise of Department of Primary Industries functions under threatened species legislation of the Fisheries Management Act 1994; and
Advising the Minister and the Natural Resources Commission on matters relating to the conservation of threatened species, populations or ecological communities.

The Committee consists of seven scientists, with expertise in the biology of fish, aquatic invertebrates and marine vegetation; population dynamics, aquatic ecology and genetics of small populations.

The Committee comprises:

Committee member	Position on the FSC	Expertise
Dr Shane Ahyong	Scientist employed and nominated by the Australian Museum Trust.	Aquatic invertebrate biology (especially crustaceans), invasive species, phylogenetics and systematics.
Dr Nick Whiterod	Scientist nominated by the Australian Society for Fish Biology.	Fish biology, aquatic ecology and population dynamics. Experience in research and management of threatened freshwater fish. Particular expertise in Murray Darling Basin Species.
Dr David Harasti	Scientist employed in the Department of Primary Industries and nominated by the Secretary.	World leader in Syngnathid fishes, particularly seahorses and seadragons. Marine ecology, conservation biology, and the management of marine threatened species (marine focused).
Dr Meaghan Duncan	Scientist employed in the Department of Primary Industries and nominated by the Secretary.	Freshwater fish ecologist and molecular biologist. Threatened species recovery, fish passage, environmental flows, Murray–Darling Basin, eDNA and genetics (freshwater focused).
Dr Trevor Wilson	Scientist employed and nominated by the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust.	Dr Wilson has expertise in aquatic ecology and population dynamics.
Jane Frances	Scientist with expertise in fisheries sciences and natural resource management selected by the Minister.	Aquatic biologist with 35 years' experience in natural resource management and animal and plant pests and diseases, with specific expertise in evaluating biosecurity impacts to native and threatened species and improving the productivity and competitiveness of aquatic industries.
Prof Joy Becker (University of Sydney)	Scientist employed by a tertiary educational institution, selected by the Minister.	Veterinary science, animal health, disease management, fish biology, genetics and sustainable aquaculture in both freshwater and marine environments (freshwater and marine focused).

Contact the committee

Executive Officer, Fisheries Scientific Committee
c/- NSW Department of Primary Industries
LMB 3020
NOWRA NSW 2541

Email: fsc@dpird.nsw.gov.au