Austin Humphries

Picture of Austin Humphries

Biography

Austin grew up in the mountains of southwest Virginia and has traveled the world in search of fish: he has worked as a fisherman in Alaska, spent years counting fish on coral reefs in East Africa and the Seychelles, studied the first fisheries habitat restoration program in China, and occupied boats in remote parts of Indonesia and Pacific Islands for months at a time. He has a strong affinity for fishing, surfing, and string music.

Research

Dr. Humphries’ research explores the complex relationship between people and the sea, focusing on the interplay between social and ecological dynamics in fisheries management. This work aims to understand how social-ecological factors influence each other and ultimately shape marine ecosystems and coastal communities. The research process typically involves extensive field data collection, combining underwater surveys of fish populations, analyses of fisheries catches, and interviews with fishers and local households. Using these diverse datasets, Dr. Humphries employs various statistical tools and creates computer simulations to reveal key interactions and patterns. For example, these models might demonstrate how changes in fishing practices affect both fish populations and the well-being of fishing communities.

A primary focus of this work is finding solutions that benefit both marine ecosystems and the people who depend on them. Recent projects have increasingly centered on balancing trade-offs in small-scale tropical fisheries, such as maintaining healthy fish populations while ensuring food security for local communities, or preserving traditional fishing practices while introducing sustainable management techniques.

Central to Dr. Humphries’ approach is collaboration with fishers and community members. This partnership fosters mutual learning experiences, ensuring that research outcomes are both scientifically robust and practically applicable to real-world challenges in marine resource management.

Education

  • Ph.D., Rhodes University (South Africa), 2014
  • M.S., Louisiana State University, 2010
  • B.S., University of Vermont, 2006

Selected Publications

Caldwell IR, McClanahan TR, Oddenyo RM, Graham NAJ, Beger M, Vigliola L, Sandin SA, Friedlander AM, Randriamanantsoa B, Wantiez L, Green AL, Humphries AT, Hardt M, Caselle JE, Feary DA, Karkarey R, Jadot C, Hoey AS, Eurich JG, Wilson SK, Crane NL, Tupper M, Ferse SCA, Maire E, Mouillot D, Cinner JE (2024) Protection efforts have resulted in ~10% of existing fish biomass on coral reefs. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 121 (42) e2308605121.

Roberts N, Mengge B, Oaks B, Sari N, Irsan I, Humphries AT (2023) Fish consumption pathways and food security in an Indonesian fishing community. Food Security 15:1-19.

Galligan BP, McClanahan TR, Humphries AT (2022) Nutrient capture and sustainable yield maximized by a gear modification in artisanal fishing traps. Environmental Research Letters 17:124035.

Carvalho PG, Humphries AT (2022) Gear restrictions create conservation and fisheries tradeoffs for management. Fish and Fisheries 23:183-194.

Arizi EK, Collie J, Castro K, Humphries AT (2022) Fishing characteristics and catch composition of the sardinella fishery in Ghana indicate urgent management is needed. Regional Studies in Marine Science 52:102348.

Wibisono E, Mous P, Firmana E, Humphries AT (2022) A crew-operated data recording system for length-based stock assessment of Indonesia’s deep demersal fisheries. PLoS ONE 17(2): e0263646.

Iannotti LL, Blackmore I, Cohn R, Chen F, Gyimah EA, Chapnick M, Humphries AT (2021) Aquatic animal foods for nutrition security and child health. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 1-21.

Carvalho PG, Setiawan F, Fahlevy K, Subhan B, Madduppa H, Zhu G, Humphries AT. (2021) Fishing and habitat condition differentially affect size spectra slopes of coral reef fishes. Ecological Applications e2345.

Innes-Gold A, Pavlowich T, Heinichen M, McManus C, McNamee J, Collie J, Humphries AT (2021) Exploring social-ecological tradeoffs in fisheries using a coupled food web and human behavior model. Ecology and Society 26(2):40.