My research interests focus on the integration of ecological, economic and social information and its application to problem solving in the coastal zone. The coastal zone is the focus of human settlements in Australia and many other countries, and the challenges are diverse and cumulative. I have a long history of fisheries research, including publishing the only book solely dedicated to fisheries management in Australia. Previously I was a Director of the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.

My more recent work has focussed on the issue of the unprovoked shark bite, which is a high profile and expanding area of research. I continue to work on broader issues of environmental impact in the coastal zone, including port developments, desalination, and coastal infrastructure.

I am interested in working with potential HDR students in the areas of shark ecology and shark attack mitigation, urban ecology, environmental impact assessment with a focus in the coastal zone, and fisheries and aquaculture.