Sustainable Fisheries (Community Outreach)

The University of Newcastle works with coastal communities and environmental partners to share practical knowledge about the sustainable management of fisheries, aquatic habitats and nature-based tourism. In 2025, this included training for community practitioners in Samoa and contributions to local waterway and marine education in New South Wales.

Community training for sustainable coastal resources in Samoa

Through the Moata’a Living Lab, the University works with the Moata’a Village Council, the National University of Samoa, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP) and Samoa’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to support mangrove conservation, community learning and coastal livelihoods. The mangrove ecosystem provides habitat for fish and other marine life, while also contributing to coastal protection and opportunities for locally led ecotourism.

As documented in the NIER 2024–2025 Annual Report, University researchers led by Associate Professor Troy Gaston delivered Mangrove Masters workshops for Moata’a community members and ministry staff. The program develops practical skills to identify signs of mangrove decline, monitor ecosystem health and take informed management action. Fieldwork also examined coral and fish communities in the neighbouring lagoon, water quality and food-web relationships, connecting hands-on environmental training with the health of coastal resources.

The University’s September 2025 research-impact account, Supporting environmental sustainability in Samoa, describes how the community’s Young Women Committee leads restoration, with local groups participating in clean-ups and planting more than 2,500 seedlings over recent years. By pairing scientific monitoring with local knowledge and community leadership, the Living Lab helps protect the ecosystems on which fisheries, coastal livelihoods and sustainable tourism depend.

^{Field research associated with the University’s Pacific coastal-environment programs.}

Community fisheries stewardship on the Central Coast

In 2025, University of Newcastle researchers and students contributed to the Central Coast Council’s “Carp to Croc” fishing program, which combined community participation, environmental education and aquatic ecosystem management. The April–May program engaged 101 local fishers, who removed 296 invasive European carp from local waterways. The program raised awareness of the ecological impacts of invasive carp while also supporting research to inform future management. University of Newcastle students collected tissue samples from captured fish to investigate their role within aquatic food webs and improve understanding of their effects on local ecosystems. Delivered in partnership with Central Coast Council, OzFish Unlimited, BCF, WaterNSW and NSW Department of Primary Industries, the initiative demonstrates how community-based fishing activities can be combined with research and environmental education to support the sustainable management and health of aquatic ecosystems.

Coastal education with the Newcastle community

In 2025, the University of Newcastle worked with the City of Newcastle to deliver community education focused on local marine and coastal environments through the Natural Connection Summer Program. University marine-science students led groups of community members of different ages through Newcastle’s beaches and rock pools, sharing knowledge about local marine species and habitats and the importance of protecting aquatic ecosystems. The program provides an accessible pathway for the community to develop greater understanding of aquatic ecosystems and the importance of their sustainable management.

The broader collaboration with the City of Newcastle to undertaken outreach on the Hidden Life of Sand in 2025, educating community members on the value of beach environments to support biodiversity, sustainable fisheries, and coastal protection.

^{University research student Hayden Swift and City of Newcastle participants at a Hidden Life of Sand community activity. Image source.}

Earlier fisheries knowledge exchange

The University also has a longer record of engaging fishing and conservation communities. At the Fishers for Fish Habitat Forum held in November 2022, University marine researcher Associate Professor Troy Gaston shared research and practical perspectives on fisheries management and fish-habitat protection with fishers and other stakeholders. The University news report on the Fishers for Fish Habitat Forum records this earlier knowledge exchange, which complements ongoing community and Pacific partnerships.

By combining community training, applied fisheries research and environmental outreach, the University supports informed management of coastal resources. These partnerships help local practitioners and communities protect aquatic habitats and the livelihoods that depend on them.