{{Short description|Director of the Centre for Marine Futures at the University of Western Australia}} {{Infobox scientist | name = Jessica Meeuwig | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_date = | birth_place = | field = Marine Science | work_institutions = University of Western Australia | alma_mater = McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada | known_for = Campaigning for Marine Conservation | prizes = Conservation Fellow of the Zoological Society of London (appointed 2012) }} {{scholia}} Professor '''Jessica Meeuwig''' is the inaugural director of the Centre for Marine Futures at the University of Western Australia (UWA). In 2012 she was appointed as a Conservation Fellow of the Zoological Society of London<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/201201194287/appointments/darwins-footsteps|title=In Darwin's footsteps|publisher=News.uwa.edu.au|accessdate=25 November 2014}}</ref> and was also named as one of the 100 most influential people in Western Australia by ''The West Australian'' newspaper.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sciencewa.net.au/topics/technology-a-innovation/item/1025-wa-science-awards-2012-finalists-announced/1025-wa-science-awards-2012-finalists-announced|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140814081625/http://sciencewa.net.au/topics/technology-a-innovation/item/1025-wa-science-awards-2012-finalists-announced/1025-wa-science-awards-2012-finalists-announced|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 14, 2014|title=WA Science Awards 2012 finalists announced|author=SNWA|publisher=Sciencewa.net.au|accessdate=25 November 2014}}</ref>

==Career== After being awarded a PhD with Distinction by McGill University,<ref name="convbio">{{cite web|url=http://theconversation.com/profiles/jessica-meeuwig-110|title=Jessica Meeuwig|work=The Conversation|date=24 March 2011 |accessdate=25 November 2014}}</ref> Meeuwig became deputy director of the conservation organisation Project Seahorse.<ref name="bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.uwa.edu.au/people/jessica.meeuwig|title=UWA Staff Profile : The University of Western Australia : The University of Western Australia|publisher=Uwa.edu.au|accessdate=25 November 2014}}</ref> She worked in south east Asia on the science and management of reef fisheries, including the application of novel statistical approaches to understanding catch and effort data. On moving to Perth, Meeuwig worked for the WA Department of Environment and Conservation and the Australian Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts in policy and planning positions.<ref name="bio" /> At UWA, she worked on the "Marine Futures" project prior to being appointed as inaugural director of the new Centre for Marine Futures.

===Research=== Meeuwig's PhD research was on the subject of statistical modelling of aquatic ecosystems. She now focuses on how marine fish communities are affected for good or ill by human activities, such as resource extraction or protection.<ref name="convbio" /> Her research projects include investigating the displacement of humpback whales as a result of coastal development, researching how sharks and fish use underwater banks and canyons, and how marine sanctuaries generate ecological and economic benefits.<ref name="convbio"/>

==Environmental campaigns== Meeuwig is well known in Western Australia for her campaigning to protect the marine environment. She is a strong advocate for the creation of marine parks in Western Australia,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2010/04/oil-and-gas-prospecting-highlights-need-for-marine-reserves/|title=Oil and gas prospecting highlights need for marine reserves|date=12 April 2010 |publisher=Australiangeographic.com.au|accessdate=25 November 2014}}</ref> an idea opposed by the WA state government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/no-moore-marine-parks-20111019-1m804.html|title=Western Australia Marine Parks Norman Moore Says No|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=19 October 2011 |accessdate=25 November 2014}}</ref>

===Opposition to Western Australian shark cull=== In response to the deaths of 7 swimmers attacked by sharks between 2010 and 2013, the government of Western Australia implemented a shark culling scheme in 2014 – a policy which generated considerable controversy in WA. Meeuwig made a submission opposing the scheme to the State Environmental Protection Agency, backed by 300 of the world's leading marine scientists.<ref name="margriver">{{cite web|url=http://www.margaretrivermail.com.au/story/2404036/300-experts-against-shark-cull/|title=300 experts against shark cull|author=Fairfax Regional Media|date=8 July 2014|work=Augusta-Margaret River Mail|accessdate=25 November 2014}}</ref> She has analysed the data from a similar scheme in Queensland and found no statistical evidence that it has proved effective in reducing deaths from shark attacks.<ref name="convarticle">{{cite web|url=http://theconversation.com/has-queensland-really-saved-lives-by-killing-thousands-of-sharks-23437|title=Has Queensland really saved lives by killing thousands of sharks?|author=Jessica Meeuwig|date=21 February 2014|work=The Conversation|accessdate=25 November 2014}}</ref>

==Awards and recognition== *2009 WA Coastal Award for Excellence in Marine Science and Education (team award) *Conservation Fellow of the Zoological Society of London (appointed 2012) *2012 Finalist, WA Science Ambassador of the Year

==Select publications and bibliography== *{{cite Q|Q55845483}} *{{cite Q|Q57035134}} *Bushmeat and food security in the Congo Basin: linkages between wildlife and people's future. JE Fa, D Currie, J Meeuwig. Environmental Conservation 30 (01), 71-78 *Biology of a seahorse species, Hippocampus comes in the central Philippines. NC Perante, MG Pajaro, JJ Meeuwig, ACJ Vincent. Journal of Fish Biology 60 (4), 821-837

==References== {{reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Meeuwig, Jessica}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Fellows of the Zoological Society of London Category:McGill University alumni Category:Academic staff of the University of Western Australia Category:Australian oceanographers