Dr Justin McDonald is a marine ecologist specialising in marine invasive species. He has worked in academia, consulting and government.
His previous academic work has included everything from analysing changes in seagrass communities from video imagery, to identifying and mapping benthic faunal communities, to tropical sponge ecology.
As a consultant, Dr McDonald has worked on effects of desalination plant discharge to domestic and international vessel surveys to detect introduced marine pests. In government, he worked for the Ministry of Forestry and Agriculture - Biosecurity in New Zealand. In this role he managed marine biosecurity surveillance for ports and harbours around New Zealand.
In 2011 Dr McDonald accepted a role as the Principal Research Scientist and marine biosecurity research and monitoring team leader at Fisheries. He now leads a team of scientists and technical staff responsible for protecting the aquatic resources of Western Australia from invasive species.
His current work includes designing surveillance programs through to managing emergency responses and providing strategic advice.
He has played a key role in numerous responses to marine pests such as the Mediterranean fan worm (Sabella spallanzanii), sea squirt Pyura stolonifera, Asian paddle crab (Charybdis japonica) and Asian green mussel (Perna viridis).
Dr Justin McDonald PhD DipGD DipEd
Principal Research Scientist, Biodiversity and Biosecurity
T: (08) 9203 0255
E: Justin.McDonald@fish.wa.gov.au