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Professor Neil LONERAGAN

Specialist Peer Reviewer

“I see myself as an ecological detective—using whatever evidence is available, formal or informal, to piece together what’s really going on in a fishery or ecosystem.”

Habitat

Found globally, snorkelling in shallow reefs, bushwalking through coastal trails and local markets. Embedding and adapting to the local culture through sight, sounds, taste & touch.

Habits

Professor Neil Loneragan is through and through a CONNECTOR, thriving on building networks and bridging silos. What sets Neil apart is his synthesis of diverse data streams: scientific reports, field observations, fisher anecdotes, and lived experience.

“It’s not just about what the data says, it’s about what’s missing, what doesn’t line up, and why and who might have insights on the system,” he explains.

He’s particularly proud of helping shift the narrative from a colonialist model of “exported expertise” to one of mutual exchange.

Neil has built a career navigating the complex currents between marine ecosystems, human livelihoods, and sustainable fisheries management, and has over four decades of experience in fish ecology and ecosystem research. He is widely recognised for his ability to decode large, complex datasets to reveal the hidden stories of the sea.

He calls this his “ecological detective” approach—blending hard science, data from different sources, local knowledge, and wide-eyed curiosity to untangle the interconnected webs of fisheries, food systems, and communities.

Over time, his work has become as much about people as it is about fish. From sitting on the floor with a small-scale fisher co-op in Indonesia to mentoring PhD students across three continents, Neil understands that sustainability isn’t just about science, it’s about relationships, livelihoods, and culture.

“It’s not about telling people what to do. It’s about listening, learning together, and supporting solutions that come from within communities.”

Neil’s career took flight at CSIRO. What began as a short-term opportunity turned into a 15-year journey of discovery. Neil became a translator of complexity—bridging field data with ecology and linking this to stock assessments and ecosystem models through collaborations with wonderful colleagues in this fields.

“I get really passionate about understanding how everything connects—fisheries, ecosystems, people, livelihoods. It’s that big-picture view that keeps me engaged.” 

His time at CSIRO also launched his engagement with Asia, beginning with a pivotal 1992 trip to China to study. “The facilities were extremely limited, but the people were dedicated and hard working,” he recalls, pointing to the moment his worldview shifted.

Since then, he’s collaborated on research in Southeast Asian fisheries, in the role as a trusted mentor and international collaborator, helping early-career researchers and institutions explore their own fisheries challenges and solutions.

“It’s not about dropping in with a solution—it’s about listening, asking the right questions, and helping others develop the tools and confidence to solve their own challenges.”

A highlight since 2015 has been developing and delivering training workshops on fisheries and their assessments in Indonesia and seeing participants apply them their fisheries of interest.

Neil’s enduring mission is to advance the long-term sustainability of seafood and develop the capacity of people, particularly those starting their journey wherever he works.

Whether through ecosystem-based assessment tools, policy advice, or international partnerships, his legacy is about ensuring that the oceans’ bounty is harvested with intelligence, integrity, and care.

Honours

  • CSIRO Postdoctoral Fellowship
  • Professor Emeritus – Murdoch University
  • Awarded William R. and Lenore Mote Eminent Scholar from Mote Marine Laboratory, Florida USA (not taken up)
  • Vice-Chancellors Award for Research Excellence  for sustained and distinguished achievement – Murdoch University
  • President of the Asian Fisheries Society
  • Adjunct Professor – IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
  • Visiting Professor – Universiti Putra Malaysia
  • Adjunct Associate Professor University of Queensland, Griffith University
  • Vice-Chancellors Commendation for Graduate Research Supervision – Murdoch University

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