Associate Professor Carissa Klein
Associate Professor

Carissa Klein

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 56074

Background

Carissa Klein is an ARC Future Fellow at The University of Queensland and Deputy Director of The Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science. She is a conservation scientist and leads a research group called The Ocean Conservation Team, a group of students and post-doctoral researchers focused on developing science to support marine and coastal conservation. Her team's research is motivated by real-world conservation management and policy problems and is done in partnership with numerous non-government organisations (e.g. Wildlife Conservation Society), government departments (e.g., Sabah Parks in Borneo), and foundations (e.g., Minderoo) around the world. Her research group specialise in integrating social, economic, and ecological information to develop solutions that improve outcomes for nature and people. Their generally falls into three themes: land-sea conservation planning, marine spatial planning (ocean zoning), and sustainable seafood.

Carissa has degrees in Chemistry (BA, 2000), Environmental Science (BA, 2000), Environmental Science and Management (MS, 2006) and Conservation Science (PhD, 2010). Her postgraduate studies were at The University of California, Santa Barbara and The University of Queensland. She has received numerous competitive awards, including two that acknowledge her achievements in setting up successful and lasting international collaborations: The Asia Pacific Economic Corporation Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education (ASPIRE) and the American Australia Association Sir Keith Murdoch Fellowship.

Availability

Associate Professor Carissa Klein is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Ecology Environmental Sciences

Qualifications

  • Masters (Coursework) of Science, The University of California, Santa Barbara
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Sustainable Seafood

    Global per capita seafood consumption has over doubled since the 1960s. Fisheries and aquaculture provide more than 3.1 billion people with ~20% of their animal protein. Although aquaculture is a rapidly increasing seafood source, fisheries remain important not only as a direct source of seafood, but indirectly, providing fishmeal required for many types of aquaculture. This reliance on fishing has caused widespread declines in fisheries, which comes with severe ecological and socioeconomic consequences. Our research focuses on improving the sustainability of the seafood we eat, focusing on seafood trade and consumption.

  • Marine Protected Areas and Ocean Zoning

    Protected areas are the cornerstone of most marine and terrestrial biodiversity conservation strategies worldwide. The principal focus of our protected area work is on developing techniques for designing protected areas that incorporate ecological and evolutionary processes, habitat condition, and socioeconomic knowledge. Given that most protected area design programs involve some form of zoning, like in the Great Barrier Reef, we also develop methods for zoning the ocean for multiple uses (e.g., fishing, energy use, recreation, mining, aquaculture) and multiple types of protected areas (e.g., IUCN I-VI). This work has been pursued in partnership with government and non-government institutions involved in marine zoning exercises in Australia, UK, Papua New Guinea, USA, and Malaysia. For example, we supported the Malaysian government in zoning their first multi-zone marine park (1.02 million hectares). Our zoning work has been supported by many external organisations, including the Australian Government, World Wildlife Fund Malaysia, and The Wildlife Conservation Society

  • Land Sea Conservation Planning

    We produce quantitative models that predict how various land-uses – including oil palm, agriculture, urban development, and forestry – impact seagrass, mangrove, and coral reef ecosystems and marine species. These models were developed to inform conservation and management decisions. Using decision science, we develop methods for determining the most cost- effective strategies for conserving coastal ecosystems, answering questions like: Should we protect or restore the land or sea to conserve sea grass? Where is the best place for developing agriculture or forestry to minimise negative impacts on coral reefs?

Search Professor Carissa Klein’s works on UQ eSpace

104 works between 2007 and 2024
All (104) Journal Article (95) Book Chapter (3) Conference Publication (3) Other Outputs (3)

1 - 20 of 104 works

2024

Journal Article

Cumulative human impacts on global marine fauna highlight risk to biological and functional diversity

O'Hara, Casey C., Frazier, Melanie, Valle, Mireia, Butt, Nathalie, Kaschner, Kristin, Klein, Carissa and Halpern, Benjamin S. (2024). Cumulative human impacts on global marine fauna highlight risk to biological and functional diversity. PLoS One, 19 (9 September) e0309788, e0309788. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309788

Cumulative human impacts on global marine fauna highlight risk to biological and functional diversity

2024

Journal Article

Quantifying global redundant fisheries trade to streamline seafood supply chains

Kuempel, Caitlin D., Arnett, Emma and Klein, Carissa J. (2024). Quantifying global redundant fisheries trade to streamline seafood supply chains. PLoS One, 19 (7) e0305779, 1-12. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305779

Quantifying global redundant fisheries trade to streamline seafood supply chains

2024

Journal Article

Spatial and life history variation in a trait-based species vulnerability and impact model

Fleury, Aharon G., O’Hara, Casey C., Butt, Nathalie, Restrepo, Jaime, Halpern, Benjamin S., Klein, Carissa J., Kuempel, Caitlin D., Gaynor, Kaitlyn M., Bentley, Lily K., Richardson, Anthony J. and Dunn, Daniel C. (2024). Spatial and life history variation in a trait-based species vulnerability and impact model. PLoS One, 19 (6) e0305950, 1-16. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305950

Spatial and life history variation in a trait-based species vulnerability and impact model

2024

Journal Article

Nitrogen loading resulting from major floods and sediment resuspension to a large coastal embayment

Grinham, Alistair, Costantini, Tony, Deering, Nathaniel, Jackson, Cameron, Klein, Carissa, Lovelock, Catherine, Pandolfi, John, Eyal, Gal, Linde, Michael, Dunbabin, Matthew, Duncan, Brendon, Hutley, Nicholas, Byrne, Ilha, Wilson, Craig and Albert, Simon (2024). Nitrogen loading resulting from major floods and sediment resuspension to a large coastal embayment. Science of the Total Environment, 918 170646, 170646. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170646

Nitrogen loading resulting from major floods and sediment resuspension to a large coastal embayment

2024

Journal Article

A spatial framework for improved sanitation to support coral reef conservation

Kuempel, Caitlin D., Thomas, Jacqueline, Wenger, Amelia, Jupiter, Stacy D., Suárez-Castro, Andrés F., Nasim, Nabeela, Klein, Carissa and Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove (2024). A spatial framework for improved sanitation to support coral reef conservation. Environmental Pollution, 342 123003, 123003. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123003

A spatial framework for improved sanitation to support coral reef conservation

2023

Journal Article

Redistribution of fishery benefits among commercial and recreational fishers caused by offsetting

Ma, Deqiang, Rhodes, Jonathan, Klein, Carissa J. and Maron, Martine (2023). Redistribution of fishery benefits among commercial and recreational fishers caused by offsetting. Marine Policy, 158 105881. doi: 10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105881

Redistribution of fishery benefits among commercial and recreational fishers caused by offsetting

2023

Journal Article

Connecting conservation and culture: The importance of Indigenous Knowledge in conservation decision-making and resource management of migratory marine species

McLean, Mercedes, Warner, Brian, Markham, Robert, Fischer, Mibu, Walker, Jim, Klein, Carissa, Hoeberechts, Maia and Dunn, Daniel C. (2023). Connecting conservation and culture: The importance of Indigenous Knowledge in conservation decision-making and resource management of migratory marine species. Marine Policy, 155 105582, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105582

Connecting conservation and culture: The importance of Indigenous Knowledge in conservation decision-making and resource management of migratory marine species

2023

Other Outputs

Measures to prevent the importation of illegal, unreported and unregulated seafood: Discussion paper

Hosch, Gilles, Roberson, Leslie, Cottrell, Richard, Harrison, Emily, Klein, Carissa, Domiguez-Martinez, Rosa Mar, Sant, Glenn and Wilcox, Chris (2023). Measures to prevent the importation of illegal, unreported and unregulated seafood: Discussion paper. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/0fd4e88

Measures to prevent the importation of illegal, unreported and unregulated seafood: Discussion paper

2023

Journal Article

Small island nations can achieve food security benefits through climate-adaptive blue food governance by 2050

Teneva, Lida, Free, Christopher M., Hume, Andrew, Agostini, Vera N., Klein, Carissa J., Watson, Reg A. and Gaines, Steven D. (2023). Small island nations can achieve food security benefits through climate-adaptive blue food governance by 2050. Marine Policy, 151 105577. doi: 10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105577

Small island nations can achieve food security benefits through climate-adaptive blue food governance by 2050

2023

Journal Article

Quantifying the accessibility of sustainable seafood in south-eastern Queensland, Australia

Vella, Tia, Roberson, Leslie, Kuempel, Caitie and Klein, Carissa (2023). Quantifying the accessibility of sustainable seafood in south-eastern Queensland, Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research, 74 (15), 1340-1354. doi: 10.1071/mf23054

Quantifying the accessibility of sustainable seafood in south-eastern Queensland, Australia

2022

Journal Article

Multinational coordination required for conservation of over 90% of marine species (vol 27, pg 6206, 2021)

Roberson, L. A., Beyer, H. L., O'Hara, C., Watson, J. E. M., Dunn, D. C., Halpern, B. S., Klein, C. J., Frazier, M. R., Kuempel, C. D., Williams, B., Grantham, H. S., Montgomery, J. C., Kark, S. and Runting, R. K. (2022). Multinational coordination required for conservation of over 90% of marine species (vol 27, pg 6206, 2021). Global Change Biology, 28 (22), 6834-6834. doi: 10.1111/gcb.16401

Multinational coordination required for conservation of over 90% of marine species (vol 27, pg 6206, 2021)

2022

Journal Article

Global fishing between jurisdictions with unequal fisheries management

Klein, Carissa J., Kuempel, Caitlin D., Watson, Reg A., Teneva, Lida, Coll, Marta and Mora, Camilo (2022). Global fishing between jurisdictions with unequal fisheries management. Environmental Research Letters, 17 (11) 114004, 1-9. doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/ac97ab

Global fishing between jurisdictions with unequal fisheries management

2022

Journal Article

Spatially explicit risk assessment of marine megafauna vulnerability to Indian Ocean tuna fisheries

Roberson, Leslie, Wilcox, Chris, Boussarie, Germain, Dugan, Emma, Garilao, Cristina, Gonzalez, Kristofer, Green, Madeline, Kark, Salit, Kaschner, Kristin, Klein, Carissa J., Rousseau, Yannick, Vallentyne, Dan, Watson, James E. M. and Kiszka, Jeremy J. (2022). Spatially explicit risk assessment of marine megafauna vulnerability to Indian Ocean tuna fisheries. Fish and Fisheries, 23 (5), 1180-1201. doi: 10.1111/faf.12676

Spatially explicit risk assessment of marine megafauna vulnerability to Indian Ocean tuna fisheries

2022

Journal Article

Multinational coordination required for conservation of over 90% of marine species

Roberson, Leslie A., Beyer, Hawthorne L., O’Hara, Casey, Watson, James E. M., Dunn, Daniel C., Halpern, Benjamin S., Klein, Carissa J., Frazier, Melanie R., Kuempel, Caitlin D., Williams, Brooke, Grantham, Hedley S., Montgomery, Jamie C., Kark, Salit and Runting, Rebecca K. (2022). Multinational coordination required for conservation of over 90% of marine species. Global Change Biology, 27 (23), 6206-6216. doi: 10.1111/gcb.15844

Multinational coordination required for conservation of over 90% of marine species

2022

Journal Article

The global rarity of intact coastal regions

Williams, Brooke A., Watson, James E. M., Beyer, Hawthorne L., Klein, Carissa J., Montgomery, Jamie, Runting, Rebecca K., Roberson, Leslie A., Halpern, Benjamin S, Grantham, Hedley S., Kuempel, Caitlin D., Frazier, Melanie, Venter, Oscar and Wenger, Amelia (2022). The global rarity of intact coastal regions. Conservation Biology, 36 (4) e13874, 1-12. doi: 10.1111/cobi.13874

The global rarity of intact coastal regions

2022

Journal Article

Towards climate-smart, three-dimensional protected areas for biodiversity conservation in the high seas

Brito-Morales, Isaac, Schoeman, David S., Everett, Jason D., Klein, Carissa J., Dunn, Daniel C., García Molinos, Jorge, Burrows, Michael T., Buenafe, Kristine Camille V., Dominguez, Rosa Mar, Possingham, Hugh P. and Richardson, Anthony J. (2022). Towards climate-smart, three-dimensional protected areas for biodiversity conservation in the high seas. Nature Climate Change, 12 (4), 402-407. doi: 10.1038/s41558-022-01323-7

Towards climate-smart, three-dimensional protected areas for biodiversity conservation in the high seas

2022

Journal Article

Importance of equitable cost sharing in the Convention on Biological Diversity's protected area agenda

Stark, Keila, Adams, Vanessa, Brown, Christopher J., Chauvenet, Alienor, Davis, Katrina, Game, Edward T., Halpern, Benjamin S., Lynham, John, Mappin, Bonnie, Selkoe, Kim, Watson, James E.M., Possingham, Hugh P. and Klein, Carissa J. (2022). Importance of equitable cost sharing in the Convention on Biological Diversity's protected area agenda. Conservation Biology, 36 (2) cobi.13812, e13812. doi: 10.1111/cobi.13812

Importance of equitable cost sharing in the Convention on Biological Diversity's protected area agenda

2022

Journal Article

A trait‐based framework for assessing the vulnerability of marine species to human impacts

Butt, Nathalie, Halpern, Benjamin S., O'Hara, Casey C., Allcock, A. Louise, Polidoro, Beth, Sherman, Samantha, Byrne, Maria, Birkeland, Charles, Dwyer, Ross G., Frazier, Melanie, Woodworth, Bradley K., Arango, Claudia P., Kingsford, Michael J., Udyawer, Vinay, Hutchings, Pat, Scanes, Elliot, McClaren, Emily Jane, Maxwell, Sara M., Diaz‐Pulido, Guillermo, Dugan, Emma, Simmons, Blake Alexander, Wenger, Amelia S., Linardich, Christi and Klein, Carissa J. (2022). A trait‐based framework for assessing the vulnerability of marine species to human impacts. Ecosphere, 13 (2) e3919. doi: 10.1002/ecs2.3919

A trait‐based framework for assessing the vulnerability of marine species to human impacts

2021

Journal Article

The potential for applying “Nonviolent Communication” in conservation science

Williams, Brooke A., Simmons, B. Alexander, Ward, Michelle, Beher, Jutta, Dean, Angela J., Nou, Tida, Kenyon, Tania M., Davey, Madeline, Melton, Courtney B., Stewart‐Sinclair, Phoebe J., Hammond, Niall L., Massingham, Emily and Klein, Carissa J. (2021). The potential for applying “Nonviolent Communication” in conservation science. Conservation Science and Practice, 3 (11) e540. doi: 10.1111/csp2.540

The potential for applying “Nonviolent Communication” in conservation science

2021

Journal Article

Incorporating climate velocity into the design of climate‐smart networks of marine protected areas

Arafeh‐Dalmau, Nur, Brito‐Morales, Isaac, Schoeman, David S., Possingham, Hugh P., Klein, Carissa J. and Richardson, Anthony J. (2021). Incorporating climate velocity into the design of climate‐smart networks of marine protected areas. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 12 (10) 2041-210X.13675, 1-15. doi: 10.1111/2041-210x.13675

Incorporating climate velocity into the design of climate‐smart networks of marine protected areas

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Community Climate Action for the Great Barrier Reef - What Can I Do?
    GBRF Accelerator Grants
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2028
    What's the catch? Social and environmental sustainability of seafood
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    Leveraging individual operator skill to reduce threatened species bycatch in prawn trawl fisheries
    Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation Inc
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2023
    Mapping social values and activities of recreational motor vessel users in Moreton Bay
    The Moreton Bay Foundation Members Projects
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    Integrated land-sea conservation planning for human and ecosystem health
    Wildlife Conservation Society (USA)
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2021
    Assessing the vulnerability of marine species to a broad range of human activities
    The University of Queensland in America, Inc
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Deriving ecologically relevant load targets to meet desired ecosystem condition for the Great Barrier Reef: a case study for seagrass meadows in the Burdekin region (NESP Tropical Water Quality Hub)
    Reef and Rainforest Research Centre Limited
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Planning for the impacts of land-uses on coral reef fisheries
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2021
    NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub
    National Environmental Science Program
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Papua New Guinea Marine Planning - Training and Planning II
    Commonwealth Department of the Environment
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Great Barrier Reef Resilience
    World Wide Fund for Nature Australia
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2019
    Reconciling the triple bottom line of social equity, economic return, and environmental benefits in conservation decision making
    UQ Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Training PNG Department of the Environment and Conservation Staff in Marxan (with a marine focus) and supporting the use of Marxan for conservation planning throughout PNG waters.
    Commonwealth Department of the Environment
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    Planning for the impacts of land-uses on coral reef fisheries and livelihoods under different climate scenarios
    The Nature Conservancy
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2019
    Reconciling the triple bottom line of social equity, economic return, and environmental benefits in conservation decision making
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Great Barrier Reef resilience investment plan
    World Wide Fund for Nature Australia
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Conserving biodiversity and fishery livelihoods in the Coral Triangle using marine protected areas
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    2011 UQ Trans-Pacific Fellowship - Conservation planning in the Coral Triangle
    UQ Trans-Pacific Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    Prioritising socially and economically viable land- and sea-based investments to protect coral reefs
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Prioritising socially and economically viable land- and sea-based investments to protect our coral reefs
    UQ Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2010
    Optimising Ecosystem Management Project
    New Zealand Department of Conservation
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Carissa Klein is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Social and environmental sustainability of seafood

    This project aims to improve the social and environmental sustainability of wild caught seafood globally. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of seafood trade and sustainability using interdisciplinary approaches that account for social sustainability concepts and the displacement of fishing impacts. Expected outcomes include innovative approaches that can improve the traceability and sustainability of seafood and new international collaborations. This should provide significant benefits to the ocean, by proposing innovative ways for protecting the ocean through improving the sustainability of trade policies, and to the billions of people that depend on a healthy ocean for their health and livelihood.

    The student would investigate the social, economic, and environmental implications of disparate trade and international fishing scenarios, using Australia as an example. The ideal student will have quantitative modelling skills (or the ability and interest to learn these skills) and interests in environmental policy, environmental economics, biodiversity conservation, or ecosystem services. The project is funded by an ARC Future Fellowship with opportunities to attend international science and policy meetings.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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