Matt Fraser
Minderoo Foundation | Manager of Biodiversity and Ecology
Matt Fraser is a Manager of Biodiversity and Ecology in the Natural Ecosystems team at the Minderoo Foundation. With a robust background in marine ecology and the conservation of coastal marine ecosystems, Matt brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role. His current work is focused on integrating environmental DNA (eDNA) approaches into conservation decision-making processes, including working closely with IUCN to pilot the use of eDNA data in assessments for the Red List of Threatened Species. Matt is passionate about empowering local stakeholders to utilize eDNA methods to maximize management outcomes, ensuring that conservation efforts are both effective and sustainable. Additionally, he is a strong advocate for policy support that embraces innovative and adaptive strategies for marine conservation, aiming to protect and preserve our oceans for future generations. Matt has also been a member of the Blue Nature Alliance Science and Knowledge Team since 2023, helping provide scientific direction in the push towards achieving 30 x 30 in our oceans.
Abstract
Generating impact with bespoke open-source tools to conserve marine biodiversity at scale
eDNA data has the potential to improve our ability to make science-based decisions across a wide range of objectives – from community efforts to large scale ecological and conservation measures. However, if the insights created are fragmented, not accessible and do not connect with stakeholders and operational needs, eDNA will fail to live up to its potential. This presentation will showcase how Minderoo's Oceanomics team uses storytelling dashboards (built in R Shiny) in a variety of contexts to bridge these gaps to embed eDNA science into day-to-day decision making and stakeholder engagement. It will further demonstrate how operational intelligence and decision support can be provided for highly diverse users via a dedicated open platform that allows for custom queries, notifications and demonstrates the value of data sharing across institutional and country boundaries.