Ash Fowler

Dr. Ash Fowler is a Visiting Professor at the School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney (UTS). His research focuses on marine ecology, particularly the ecological role and decommissioning of offshore infrastructure, tropicalisation of temperate ecosystems, and fish stock dynamics. He completed his PhD at UTS in 2012, studying artificial reefs and offshore structures' habitat value.

Education:

• PhD in Marine Ecology, University of Technology Sydney (2012)

Research Interests: Dr. Fowler investigates the environmental implications of decommissioning oil/gas platforms, tropical species range shifts under climate change, and the demography of commercially important marine fishes. He employs techniques like otolith chemistry and tag-recaptures to study fish movements and population structures.

Grants & Collaborations:

• Contract Research: Analysis of ROV videos for Shell TODD New Zealand (2016–2018)
• Assessment of gas platform communities for Shell TODD New Zealand (2014–2015)
• National ICT Australia grant: In-Situ Fish Surveillance (2013)

Advisory Role: Available to supervise Masters and PhD students in marine ecology and fisheries science.

Labs/Teams: Leads the UTS Rigs-to-Reef Research Program, exploring environmental benefits of repurposing obsolete offshore structures.