Steven W Purcell

Steven W Purcell is a Professor of Marine Science and Management at Southern Cross University, based at the National Marine Science Centre in Coffs Harbour. He serves within the School of Environment, Science and Engineering and is a key member of the Reefs and Oceans Research Cluster, focusing on marine ecology and fisheries management across Australia and the Pacific Islands.

His educational background includes a BSc(Hons) and PhD from James Cook University, completed in 1991. His academic journey has centered on tropical marine systems, particularly sea cucumber fisheries and conservation biology.

Professor Purcell's research specializes in sea ranching, fisheries ecology, and marine conservation, with a pronounced emphasis on sea cucumbers—including their ecology, trade dynamics, and conservation. His work integrates ecological field studies with socioeconomic analyses to address sustainable fisheries management and Pacific Island livelihoods. Recent publications highlight spatio-temporal fisheries trends, thermal tolerance in corals, and community-based capacity building for small-scale fishers.

His publication record spans over 70 scientific articles, books, and book chapters, with recent work showing a strong trend toward interdisciplinary studies combining marine ecology with socioeconomic factors. Key themes include sea cucumber fisheries management, coral reef resilience, and value-chain analysis for Pacific Island fisheries.

His scientific awards demonstrate excellence in both research and education:

• Inspiring Educator Award (Southern Cross University, 2024)
• Excellence in Teaching Award (Faculty of Science and Engineering, 2022)
• Inspiring Educators Award (2021)
• Excellence in Community Engagement for Impact Award (2018)
• Excellence in Community Engagement for Research Award (2015)

Professor Purcell actively supervises Honours, Masters, and PhD students in reef ecology, fisheries management, and marine conservation. His research grants focus on improving Pacific Island fishers' livelihoods through better fishery processing and community engagement, as evidenced by impact case studies in Samoa and Fiji. He leads projects supported by international agencies addressing sustainable sea cucumber fisheries and coral reef conservation.

He operates from the National Marine Science Centre, a dedicated marine research facility in Coffs Harbour, and contributes to the Reefs and Oceans Research Cluster which drives interdisciplinary marine science initiatives across the university.