ANCORS Graduate

James Aston

James Aston completed his PhD in 2008, entitled, 'Regulating the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of shipping and other vessel based activities in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and World Heritage Area.'

His research project will examine the efficacy of international and national legislative measures to protect the unique natural and cultural heritage values of the Great Barrier Reef from ship sourced pollution. It will investigate and review current and emerging regulatory tools (zoning, compulsory pilotage, vessel traffic systems etc) to manage shipping in marine protected areas and Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas. The work will also attempt to identify the requirements of 'textbook' maritime policy and law making in developing international and national environmental maritime policy and legislation for other sensitive sea areas.

James has worked in Australia and the Pacific islands on marine and coastal resource management since the late 1970's. He has worked with the Fisheries Division of the Papua New Guinea Government, as a navigator on seismic survey vessels in South East Asia , as a Planner for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and as a Coastal Management Advisor with the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme. He is currently working in the Shipping Programme, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, Queensland.