Joel Williams
@joelfishecology.bsky.social
Quantitative fish ecologist with a special interest in temperate mesophotic ecosystems and the Southern Ocean. Researching marine parks and fisheries.
Also a keen photographer.
Also a keen photographer.
Great to the Voyis camera system attached to an ROV in action today. When attached to an ROV, this camera system helps build amazing 3D models of reef and structures. Very impressive technology in action!
November 12, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Great to the Voyis camera system attached to an ROV in action today. When attached to an ROV, this camera system helps build amazing 3D models of reef and structures. Very impressive technology in action!
Today we had the black cockatoos visit us. They come down from the mountains over winter to feed in coastal areas. They were living the proteas!
October 23, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Today we had the black cockatoos visit us. They come down from the mountains over winter to feed in coastal areas. They were living the proteas!
This study highlights the importance of long-term monitoring to be able to detect change, particularly in these highly remote and important areas. The JSDM approach is very powerful and provides information at the species assemblage level.
Photo: Henry Wilson / AFMS
Photo: Henry Wilson / AFMS
October 22, 2025 at 1:05 AM
This study highlights the importance of long-term monitoring to be able to detect change, particularly in these highly remote and important areas. The JSDM approach is very powerful and provides information at the species assemblage level.
Photo: Henry Wilson / AFMS
Photo: Henry Wilson / AFMS
Most surprisingly, was the increase in species richness over the study period. The average number of species caught in a research trawl more than double over the two decades.
October 22, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Most surprisingly, was the increase in species richness over the study period. The average number of species caught in a research trawl more than double over the two decades.
It is difficult to know what has driven this increase but it is likely a combination of the removal of IUU fishing, changes in fishing practices to reduce bycatch, the establishment of a marine reserve, and possibly climate-driven increases in ocean productivity.
October 22, 2025 at 1:05 AM
It is difficult to know what has driven this increase but it is likely a combination of the removal of IUU fishing, changes in fishing practices to reduce bycatch, the establishment of a marine reserve, and possibly climate-driven increases in ocean productivity.
We used a joint species distribution modelling, specifically HMSC, approach to model the entire demersal fish assemblage to provide new insights into how each species responds to climate, temperature, depth, marine reserve status.
October 22, 2025 at 1:05 AM
We used a joint species distribution modelling, specifically HMSC, approach to model the entire demersal fish assemblage to provide new insights into how each species responds to climate, temperature, depth, marine reserve status.
On the tools! Piloting the ROV over some great mesophotic reef in the Commonwealth Solitary Islands Marine Park. We are doing 200m transects and some exploratory surveys.
September 6, 2025 at 11:02 AM
On the tools! Piloting the ROV over some great mesophotic reef in the Commonwealth Solitary Islands Marine Park. We are doing 200m transects and some exploratory surveys.
Another day another round Of BRUV and ROV surveys in the Solitsry Islabds Marine Park! Dropped the BlueROV on some seriously awesome temperate mesophotic reefs! Black corals, octocorals, giant sponges! And of course some big fish!
#mesophotic #marineparks #rov #bruv
#mesophotic #marineparks #rov #bruv
September 3, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Another day another round Of BRUV and ROV surveys in the Solitsry Islabds Marine Park! Dropped the BlueROV on some seriously awesome temperate mesophotic reefs! Black corals, octocorals, giant sponges! And of course some big fish!
#mesophotic #marineparks #rov #bruv
#mesophotic #marineparks #rov #bruv
Gumbaynggirr Rangers in action! BRUVing mesophotic reefs in the Solitary Islands Marine Park (Commonwealth) mapping fish and habitat.
September 2, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Gumbaynggirr Rangers in action! BRUVing mesophotic reefs in the Solitary Islands Marine Park (Commonwealth) mapping fish and habitat.
We’re off to Coffs to survey the mesophotic reefs of the Solitary Islands Marine Park. This work is for an Our Marine Parks grant in partnership with Ngiyambandigay Wajaarr Aboriginal Corporation. Stay tuned for updates through the week!
@utas.edu.au
@utas.edu.au
August 31, 2025 at 12:36 AM
We’re off to Coffs to survey the mesophotic reefs of the Solitary Islands Marine Park. This work is for an Our Marine Parks grant in partnership with Ngiyambandigay Wajaarr Aboriginal Corporation. Stay tuned for updates through the week!
@utas.edu.au
@utas.edu.au
Who remembers the Mathomat!! It’s been 30 years since this has been used but I need a protractor!!
August 22, 2025 at 4:24 AM
Who remembers the Mathomat!! It’s been 30 years since this has been used but I need a protractor!!
Last week I had the pleasure and honour to participate in a IUCN Red List workshop to assess Australia and New Zealand fishes! I learnt a lot through out the week. Including learning about this mesophotic only Bigeye Gurnard Perch!! Thanks everyone for a great week!
@aciucn.bsky.social
@aciucn.bsky.social
August 15, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Last week I had the pleasure and honour to participate in a IUCN Red List workshop to assess Australia and New Zealand fishes! I learnt a lot through out the week. Including learning about this mesophotic only Bigeye Gurnard Perch!! Thanks everyone for a great week!
@aciucn.bsky.social
@aciucn.bsky.social
I’m on the big stage today! If you’re at IPFC and want to hear about marine parks and mesophotic reefs then come to big stage and poster session this afternoon!
#ipfc #mesophotic
#ipfc #mesophotic
June 11, 2025 at 1:03 AM
I’m on the big stage today! If you’re at IPFC and want to hear about marine parks and mesophotic reefs then come to big stage and poster session this afternoon!
#ipfc #mesophotic
#ipfc #mesophotic
Made it to Taipei for a week of fish science! And it’s hot, dam hot!
June 8, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Made it to Taipei for a week of fish science! And it’s hot, dam hot!
I’m off to Taiwan for #ipfc2025 to hang out with fish nerds for a week. I look forward to sharing our research on marine parks and #mesophotic reefs! Who’s going to be there?
June 7, 2025 at 3:52 AM
I’m off to Taiwan for #ipfc2025 to hang out with fish nerds for a week. I look forward to sharing our research on marine parks and #mesophotic reefs! Who’s going to be there?
What case do people use when flying with their #BlueROV with heavy upgrade? It seems most of the pelican/spacecase etc are inches too small...
May 27, 2025 at 6:40 AM
What case do people use when flying with their #BlueROV with heavy upgrade? It seems most of the pelican/spacecase etc are inches too small...
I’ve successfully performed a brain transplant on the #BlueROV. Love the little ROV and tether print on the flight controller! The new flight controller is amazing! Now it’s time to get in the water!
May 27, 2025 at 3:13 AM
I’ve successfully performed a brain transplant on the #BlueROV. Love the little ROV and tether print on the flight controller! The new flight controller is amazing! Now it’s time to get in the water!
Your mission should you chose to accept: Help rediscover an Australian temperate mesophotic pygmy seahorse!! The Bullneck Seahorse hasn't been seen since 1996. It lives on our deep reefs so this mission is for the advanced deep divers!
@rewildorg.bsky.social
@rewildorg.bsky.social
March 21, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Your mission should you chose to accept: Help rediscover an Australian temperate mesophotic pygmy seahorse!! The Bullneck Seahorse hasn't been seen since 1996. It lives on our deep reefs so this mission is for the advanced deep divers!
@rewildorg.bsky.social
@rewildorg.bsky.social
Received this game for my birthday! You get to be a fish ecologist and dive through the depths from the photic zone to the twilight zone while learning about all the different fishes!! Is playing this game tax deductible…
#finspan
#finspan
February 16, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Received this game for my birthday! You get to be a fish ecologist and dive through the depths from the photic zone to the twilight zone while learning about all the different fishes!! Is playing this game tax deductible…
#finspan
#finspan
I purchase a deep sea research submarine to explore the mesophotic zone… it has come flat packed like Ikea furniture…
February 15, 2025 at 5:38 AM
I purchase a deep sea research submarine to explore the mesophotic zone… it has come flat packed like Ikea furniture…
Look how pretty this temperate mesophotic fish is!! Now I need an id confirmation is this Callanthias australis or allportii? It is from Tasmania and I’m going with australis… Either way one of my favorite mesophotic species!!
February 10, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Look how pretty this temperate mesophotic fish is!! Now I need an id confirmation is this Callanthias australis or allportii? It is from Tasmania and I’m going with australis… Either way one of my favorite mesophotic species!!
Finally dived on some #mesophotic reefs in Tasmania!! Nope it’s not the Great Barrier Reef! This is the deep section of the Great Southern Reef where light becomes limited and reef is dominated by corals, sponges, plentiful fish.
Stay tuned for some more shots!
@greatsouthernreef.bsky.social
Stay tuned for some more shots!
@greatsouthernreef.bsky.social
February 8, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Finally dived on some #mesophotic reefs in Tasmania!! Nope it’s not the Great Barrier Reef! This is the deep section of the Great Southern Reef where light becomes limited and reef is dominated by corals, sponges, plentiful fish.
Stay tuned for some more shots!
@greatsouthernreef.bsky.social
Stay tuned for some more shots!
@greatsouthernreef.bsky.social
I’ve been diving Victoria for 25+ yrs & never seen a blue groper west of Wilson Prom. I had heard they’re making a comeback in the Port Phillip heads and on the weekend I saw one and managed this snap one off Pt Lonsdale! I believe this is a Achoerodus gouldii
#greatsouthernreef
#greatsouthernreef
February 6, 2025 at 5:36 AM
I’ve been diving Victoria for 25+ yrs & never seen a blue groper west of Wilson Prom. I had heard they’re making a comeback in the Port Phillip heads and on the weekend I saw one and managed this snap one off Pt Lonsdale! I believe this is a Achoerodus gouldii
#greatsouthernreef
#greatsouthernreef
Bigbelly Seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, at the local beach in 2m of water. This is the largest seahorse species on the Great Southern Reef.
Jump over to insta and follow @joel_williams_photos
#tasmania #greatsouthernreef #seahorse
Jump over to insta and follow @joel_williams_photos
#tasmania #greatsouthernreef #seahorse
January 16, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Bigbelly Seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, at the local beach in 2m of water. This is the largest seahorse species on the Great Southern Reef.
Jump over to insta and follow @joel_williams_photos
#tasmania #greatsouthernreef #seahorse
Jump over to insta and follow @joel_williams_photos
#tasmania #greatsouthernreef #seahorse
On patrol at the World’s most southern coral reef, Lord Howe Island. The Galapagos Shark, was first described at the Galápagos Islands but are distribute worldwide around tropical oceanic islands and seamounts. It is mostly the juveniles that tend to hand around Lord Howe.
December 10, 2024 at 8:30 AM
On patrol at the World’s most southern coral reef, Lord Howe Island. The Galapagos Shark, was first described at the Galápagos Islands but are distribute worldwide around tropical oceanic islands and seamounts. It is mostly the juveniles that tend to hand around Lord Howe.