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

113 works between 2007 and 2025
All (113) Journal Article (98) Book Chapter (3) Conference Publication (3) Other Outputs (9)

41 - 60 of 113 works

2018

Journal Article

Bias in protected-area location and its effects on long-term aspirations of biodiversity conventions

Venter, Oscar, Magrach, Ainhoa, Outram, Nick, Klein, Carissa Joy, Possingham, Hugh P, Di Marco, Moreno and Watson, James E M (2018). Bias in protected-area location and its effects on long-term aspirations of biodiversity conventions. Conservation Biology, 32 (1), 127-134. doi: 10.1111/cobi.12970

Bias in protected-area location and its effects on long-term aspirations of biodiversity conventions

2018

Journal Article

Trade-offs in triple-bottom-line outcomes when recovering fisheries

Brown, Christopher J., Althor, Glenn, Halpern, Benjamin S., Iftekhar, Md Sayed, Klein, Carissa J., Linke, Simon, Pryde, Elizabeth C., Schilizzi, Steven, Watson, James E M., Twohey, Becky and Possingham, Hugh P. (2018). Trade-offs in triple-bottom-line outcomes when recovering fisheries. Fish and Fisheries, 19 (1), 107-116. doi: 10.1111/faf.12240

Trade-offs in triple-bottom-line outcomes when recovering fisheries

2017

Journal Article

Increased sediment loads cause non-linear decreases in seagrass suitable habitat extent

Saunders, Megan Irene, Atkinson, Scott, Klein, Carissa Joy, Weber, Tony and Possingham, Hugh P. (2017). Increased sediment loads cause non-linear decreases in seagrass suitable habitat extent. PloS one, 12 (11) e0187284, 1-21. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187284

Increased sediment loads cause non-linear decreases in seagrass suitable habitat extent

2017

Journal Article

Simple rules can guide whether land- or ocean-based conservation will best benefit marine ecosystems

Saunders, Megan, Bode, Michael, Atkinson, Scott, Klein, Carissa, Metaxas, Anna, Beher, Jutta, Beger, Maria, Mills, Morena, Giakoumi, Sylvaine, Tulloch, Vivitskaia and Possingham, Hugh (2017). Simple rules can guide whether land- or ocean-based conservation will best benefit marine ecosystems. PLoS Biology, 15 (9) e2001886, e2001886. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2001886

Simple rules can guide whether land- or ocean-based conservation will best benefit marine ecosystems

2017

Journal Article

Prioritization of Marine Turtle Management Projects: A Protocol that Accounts for Threats to Different Life History Stages

Klein, Carissa J., Beher, Jutta, Chaloupka, Milani, Hamann, Mark, Limpus, Colin and Possingham, Hugh P. (2017). Prioritization of Marine Turtle Management Projects: A Protocol that Accounts for Threats to Different Life History Stages. Conservation Letters, 10 (5), 547-554. doi: 10.1111/conl.12324

Prioritization of Marine Turtle Management Projects: A Protocol that Accounts for Threats to Different Life History Stages

2017

Journal Article

Opportunities and constraints for implementing integrated land–sea management on islands

Jupiter, Stacy D., Wenger, Amelia, Klein, Carissa J., Albert, Simon, Mangubhai, Sangeeta, Nelson, Joanna, Teneva, Lida, Tulloch, Vivitskaia J., White, Alan T. and Watson, James E. M. (2017). Opportunities and constraints for implementing integrated land–sea management on islands. Environmental Conservation, 44 (3), 254-266. doi: 10.1017/S0376892917000091

Opportunities and constraints for implementing integrated land–sea management on islands

2017

Journal Article

Habitat change mediates the response of coral reef fish populations to terrestrial run-off

Brown, Christopher J., Jupiter, Stacy D., Lin, Hsien-Yung, Albert, Simon, Klein, Carissa, Maina, Joseph M., Tulloch, Vivitskaia J. D., Wenger, Amelia S. and Mumby, Peter J. (2017). Habitat change mediates the response of coral reef fish populations to terrestrial run-off. Marine Ecology - Progress Series, 576, 55-68. doi: 10.3354/meps12221

Habitat change mediates the response of coral reef fish populations to terrestrial run-off

2017

Journal Article

Tracing the influence of land-use change on water quality and coral reefs using a Bayesian model

Brown, Christopher J., Jupiter, Stacy D., Albert, Simon, Klein, Carissa J., Mangubhai, Sangeeta, Maina, Joseph M., Mumby, Peter, Olley, Jon, Stewart-Koster, Ben, Tulloch, Vivitskaia and Wenger, Amelia (2017). Tracing the influence of land-use change on water quality and coral reefs using a Bayesian model. Scientific Reports, 7 (4740) 4740, 4740. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-05031-7

Tracing the influence of land-use change on water quality and coral reefs using a Bayesian model

2017

Journal Article

A habitat-based approach to predict impacts of marine protected areas on fishers

Teixeira, João B., Moura, Rodrigo L., Mills, Morena, Klein, Carissa, Brown, Christopher J., Adams, Vanessa M., Grantham, Hedley, Watts, Matthew, Faria, Deborah, Amado-Filho, Gilberto M., Bastos, Alex C., Lourival, Reinaldo and Possingham, Hugh P. (2017). A habitat-based approach to predict impacts of marine protected areas on fishers. Conservation Biology, 32 (5), 1096-1106. doi: 10.1111/cobi.12974

A habitat-based approach to predict impacts of marine protected areas on fishers

2017

Journal Article

From Marxan to management: ocean zoning with stakeholders for Tun Mustapha Park in Sabah, Malaysia

Jumin, Robecca, Binson, Augustine, McGowan, Jennifer, Magupin, Sikula, Beger, Maria, Brown, Christopher J., Possingham, Hugh P. and Klein, Carissa (2017). From Marxan to management: ocean zoning with stakeholders for Tun Mustapha Park in Sabah, Malaysia. ORYX, 52 (04), 775-786. doi: 10.1017/S0030605316001514

From Marxan to management: ocean zoning with stakeholders for Tun Mustapha Park in Sabah, Malaysia

2017

Journal Article

Trade-offs between data resolution, accuracy, and cost when choosing information to plan reserves for coral reef ecosystems

Tulloch, Vivitskaia J., Klein, Carissa J., Jupiter, Stacy D., Tulloch, Ayesha I. T., Roelfsema, Chris and Possingham, Hugh P. (2017). Trade-offs between data resolution, accuracy, and cost when choosing information to plan reserves for coral reef ecosystems. Journal of Environmental Management, 188, 108-119. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.11.070

Trade-offs between data resolution, accuracy, and cost when choosing information to plan reserves for coral reef ecosystems

2017

Other Outputs

Tracing the influence of land-use change on water quality and coral reefs using a Bayesian model

Brown, Christopher J., Jupiter, Stacy D., Albert, Simon, Klein, Carissa J., Mangubhai, Sangeeta, Mbui, Maina, Mumby, Peter, Olley, Jon, Stewart-Koster, Ben, Tulloch, Vivitskaia and Wenger, Amelia (2017). Tracing the influence of land-use change on water quality and coral reefs using a Bayesian model. doi: 10.1101/112250

Tracing the influence of land-use change on water quality and coral reefs using a Bayesian model

2017

Book Chapter

Systematic conservation planning with Marxan

Watts, Matthew E., Stewart, Romola R., Martin, Tara G., Klein, Carissa J., Carwardine, Josie and Possingham, Hugh P. (2017). Systematic conservation planning with Marxan. Learning landscape ecology: a practical guide to concepts and techniques. (pp. 211-227) edited by Sarah E. Gergel and Monica G. Turner. New York, NY, United States: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6374-4_13

Systematic conservation planning with Marxan

2016

Journal Article

Where does river runoff matter for coastal marine conservation?

Fredston-Hermann, Alexa , Brown, Christropher J., Albert, Simon , Klein, Carissa J., Mangubhai, Sangeeta , Nelson, Joanna L., Teneva, Lida , Wenger, Amelia, Gaines, Steven D. and Halpern, Benjamin S. (2016). Where does river runoff matter for coastal marine conservation?. Frontiers in Marine Science, 3 (DEC) 273. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2016.00273

Where does river runoff matter for coastal marine conservation?

2016

Journal Article

Does the social equitability of community and incentive based conservation interventions in non-OECD countries, affect human well-being? A systematic review protocol

Althor, Glenn, McKinnon, Madeleine, Cheng, Samantha H., Klein, Carissa and Watson, James (2016). Does the social equitability of community and incentive based conservation interventions in non-OECD countries, affect human well-being? A systematic review protocol. Environmental Evidence, 5 (1) 26. doi: 10.1186/s13750-016-0078-3

Does the social equitability of community and incentive based conservation interventions in non-OECD countries, affect human well-being? A systematic review protocol

2016

Journal Article

Improving conservation outcomes for coral reefs affected by future oil palm development in Papua New Guinea

Tulloch, Vivitskaia J. D., Brown, Christopher J., Possingham, Hugh P., Jupiter, Stacy D., Maina, Joseph M. and Klein, Carissa (2016). Improving conservation outcomes for coral reefs affected by future oil palm development in Papua New Guinea. Biological Conservation, 203, 43-54. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2016.08.013

Improving conservation outcomes for coral reefs affected by future oil palm development in Papua New Guinea

2016

Journal Article

Reconciling development and conservation under coastal squeeze from rising sea-level

Mills, Morena, Leon, Javier X., Saunders, Megan I., Bell, Justine, Liu, Yan, O’Mara, Julian, Lovelock, Catherine E., Mumby, Peter J., Phinn, Stuart, Possingham, Hugh P., Tulloch, Vigitskaia, Mutafoglu, Konar, Morrison, Tiffany, Callaghan, David, Baldock, Tom, Klein, Carissa and Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove (2016). Reconciling development and conservation under coastal squeeze from rising sea-level. Conservation Letters, 9 (5), 361-368. doi: 10.1111/conl.12213

Reconciling development and conservation under coastal squeeze from rising sea-level

2016

Journal Article

Reconciling recreational use and conservation values in a coastal protected area

Stigner, Madeleine, Beyer, Hawthorne L., Klein, Carissa J. and Fuller, Richard A. (2016). Reconciling recreational use and conservation values in a coastal protected area. Journal of Applied Ecology, 53 (4), 1206-1214. doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.12662

Reconciling recreational use and conservation values in a coastal protected area

2016

Journal Article

Prioritising catchment management projects to improve marine water quality

Beher, Jutta, Possingham, Hugh P., Hoobin, Sean, Dougall, Cameron and Klein, Carissa (2016). Prioritising catchment management projects to improve marine water quality. Environmental Science and Policy, 59, 35-43. doi: 10.1016/j.envsci.2016.02.005

Prioritising catchment management projects to improve marine water quality

2016

Journal Article

Prioritising mangrove ecosystem services results in spatially variable management priorities

Atkinson, Scott C., Jupiter, Stacy D., Adams, Vanessa M., Ingram, J. Carter, Narayan, Siddharth, Klein, Carissa J. and Possingham, Hugh P. (2016). Prioritising mangrove ecosystem services results in spatially variable management priorities. PLoS ONE, 11 (3) e0151992, e0151992. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151992

Prioritising mangrove ecosystem services results in spatially variable management priorities

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Community Climate Action for the Great Barrier Reef - What Can I Do?
    GBRF Accelerator Grants
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    Leveraging individual operator skill to reduce threatened species bycatch in prawn trawl fisheries
    Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation Inc
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2027
    What's the catch? Social and environmental sustainability of seafood
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 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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