Research interests

• Biology and ecology of estuarine and coastal fish and invertebrates
• Ecology of estuarine ecosystems
• Biological oceanography
• Fisheries and environmental assessments
• Sustainable use of natural resources

Background

Charles Gray attained his PHD from the University of Sydney for his research on the influences of oceanography and sewage outfalls on the dynamics of fish larvae in Sydney’s coastal waters. Since then his research focus has primarily involved investigating: (1) the status of estuarine fisheries resources, (2) bycatch and discarding issues in the estuarine commercial fisheries of NSW, and (3) the biology and ecology of key estuarine fish and invertebrate species. This research has involved working closely with industry and management and has been pivotal in shaping the sustainable management of the state’s estuarine fisheries resources. This has also lead Charles to assist in the development of projects concerning the assessment of small-scale fisheries elsewhere in the world. Most recently Charles has lead a project developing the research tools required for undertaking surveys of biodiversity and population appraisals of NSW’s estuarine fisheries resources. Charles also has several research collaborations with scientists and students at universities, including studies on the genetics of estuarine fish, the impacts of stocking prawns in estuaries and the biology and ecology of crabs and sharks.

Charles is based at the Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre of Excellence, of which he is also the Deputy Director. Here he oversees the scientific research activities concerning the state’s wild harvest fisheries (i.e. recreational and commercial). This research covers a wide range of topics including the development of more sustainable fishing gears and practices such as bycatch reduction devices, quantification of levels of bycatch and discarding in fisheries, assessments of recreational and commercial fisheries, and the biology, ecology and stock assessments of key fish and invertebrate species. This research underpins the advice provided to management for the sustainable harvesting of the public owned fisheries resources of NSW.

Qualifications

• BSc (Univ. Syd)
• MSc (Univ. Syd)
• PhD (Univ. Syd)
• Diploma in Frontline Management (NSW TAFE)

Current Projects

• Evaluating the estuarine fisheries resources of NSW
• Comparative assessment of reproduction and growth of coastal fish and invertebrates
• Size and age at maturity and timing and location of spawning of dusky flathead
• Age validation and growth of key recreational fish species
• Biology and fishery of estuary perch
• Biology and population structure of luderick
• Life history and biology of black bream
• Movements and biology of coastal sharks in NSW

Select Publications

Silberschneider V and Gray CA (2008) A synopsis of biological, fisheries and aquaculture-related information on Argyrosomus japonicus (Pisces: Sciaenidae), with particular reference to Australia. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 24, 7-17.

Ochwada F, Scandol J and Gray CA (2008) Predicting the age of fish using linear models of biometric data: a case study of two estuarine species from NSW Australia. Fisheries Research 90, 187-197.

Rotherham D, Underwood AJ, Chapman MG and Gray CA (2007) A strategy for developing scientific sampling tools for fishery-independent surveys of estuarine fish in New South Wales, Australia. ICES Journal of Marine Science 64, 1512-1516.

Rotherham D, Gray CA, Broadhurst MK, Johnson DD, Barnes LM and Jones MV (2006) Sampling estuarine fish using multi-mesh gill nets: effects of panel length and soak and setting times. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 331, 226-239.

Gray CA, Johnson DD, Broadhurst MK and Young DJ (2005) Seasonal, spatial and gear-related influences on relationships between retained and discarded catches in a multi-species gillnet fishery. Fisheries Research 75, 56-72.

Gray CA, Jones MV, Rotherham D, Broadhurst MK, Johnson DD and Barnes LM (2005) Utility and efficiency of multi-mesh gill nets and trammel nets for sampling assemblages and populations of estuarine fish. Marine and Freshwater Research 56, 1077-1088.

Gray CA, Broadhurst MK, Johnson DD and Young DJ (2005) Influences of hanging ratio, fishing height, twine diameter and material of bottom-set gillnets on catches of dusky flathead Platycephalus fuscus and non-target species in New South Wales, Australia. Fisheries Science 71, 1216-1227.

Gray CA andKingsford MJ (2003) Variability in thermocline depth and strength, and relationships with vertical distributions of fish larvae and mesozooplankton in dynamic coastal waters. Marine Ecology Progress Series 247, 211-224.

Gray CA (2002) Management implications of discarding in an estuarine multi-species gill net fishery. Fisheries Research 56, 177-192.

Gray CA (1997) Field assessment of numerical impacts of coastal sewage disposal on larval fishes relative to natural variability. Environmental Biology of Fishes 50, 415-434.

Gray CA (1996) Do thermoclines explain the vertical distributions of larval fishes in the dynamic coastal waters of south-eastern Australia? Marine and Freshwater Research 47, 183-190.

Book Chapters

Kingsford MJ and Gray CA (1996) Influence of pollutants and oceanography on abundance and deformities of wild fish larvae. In: Schmitt, R.J., Osenberg, C.W. (ed's) The design of ecological impact assessment studies: conceptual issues and application in coastal marine habitats. Pages 235-255 (Academic Press, Santa Barbara).

Broadhurst MK, Kennelly SJ and Gray CA (2007) Strategies for improving the selectivity of fishing gears. In: Kennelly, S.J. (ed). By-catch reduction in the world’s fisheries. Pages 1-21. (Springer Publishing, Netherlands). ISBN 978-1-4020-6077-9.

Conference proceedings

Gray CA (2003) Southeast Australia estuarine commercial fishery observer program. In: Proceedings of United States National Marine Fisheries Service Small Boat Workshop.

Rotherham D, Gray CA (2006) Developing fishery-independent sampling tools for surveys of estuarine ichthyofauna in New South Wales: an experimental framework. Proceedings of the 2005 Australian Society for Fish Biology Conference.

Gray CA (2006) A scientific assessment program to test the reconciliation of an estuarine commercial fishery with conservation. Presentation given in the estuaries session at 4th World Fisheries Congress, Vancouver, Canada, May 2004. American Fisheries Society Symposium 49, 2006, 1593- 1596.

Broadhurst MK, Kennelly SJ and Gray CA (2006) Working laterally towards perfect selectivity in fishing gears. Keynote presentation given in the bycatch session at 4th World Fisheries Congress, Vancouver, Canada, May 2004. American Fisheries Society Symposium 49, 2006, 1303- 1309.

Professional associations and activities

• Australian Society for Fish Biology (Executive 2005 – 2009)
• Australian Society for Fish Biology 2008 Workshop & Conference (Chair Steering Committee)
• International Fisheries Observer & Monitoring Conference 2009 (Steering Committee Member)
• Research Fellow University of Wollongong

Fields of Research

• 060205 – Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl. Marine Ichthyology)
• 050202 – Conservation and Biodiversity

Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)

Key/phrase list of research interests

• Fish biology
• Aquatic ecology
• Fisheries assessment
• Natural resource management