Benjamin Mos

Dr Benjamin Mos is a Senior Lecturer in Aquaculture Biology in the School of the Environment, Faculty of Science, at the University of Queensland, where he is based at the Moreton Bay Research Station on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island). He leads a marine laboratory equipped with custom seawater systems located near diverse and globally significant habitats, including coral reefs, mangroves, and freshwater swamps. An Aboriginal man of Turrbal descent, Dr Mos earned his BSc (Hons) in Marine Science and Management from the University of New England, Armidale, and his PhD from Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour. His professional journey includes a three-year postdoctoral position at the National Marine Science Centre, Coffs Harbour, where he refined aquaculture technologies for sea urchins to bolster Australia's emerging seafood export industry. From 2019 to 2022, he served as a lecturer in marine sciences at Southern Cross University's School of Environmental Sciences before joining UQ, contributing to teaching in the Marine Biology major and fostering collaborations with First Nations Peoples, industry, government, researchers, and students from Australia and abroad.

Dr Mos's research specializations include invertebrate aquaculture to address growing global seafood needs, shellfish reef restoration, the ecology and biology of crown-of-thorns starfish with a focus on larval stages in present and future oceans, human-induced changes to aquatic ecosystems through climate change, pollution, and overfishing, and the ecology and taxonomy of Australian Caridina freshwater shrimp. He integrates Indigenous and international science approaches to develop solutions for these challenges. His key publications encompass “Crown-of-thorns starfish complete their larval phase eating only nitrogen-fixing Trichodesmium cyanobacteria” (2024), “Variable food alters responses of larval crown-of-thorns starfish to ocean warming but not acidification” (2023), “Shipping live sea urchins: effects of temperature and exposure time on survival” (2024), “Size matters: microherbivores make a big impact in coral aquaculture” (2024), “Water temperature affects somatic growth, body condition and oxygen and carbon otolith isotopes of stout whiting (Sillago robusta)” (2024), “Effects of substrate, water flow, and turbulence in raceway culture of the high-value agarophyte Pterocladiella capillacea” (2023), and book chapters “Indigenising the environmental science curriculum part 1: foundations” and “part 2: in practice” (2025). With over 50 publications, his work advances sustainable aquaculture, marine conservation, and environmental science.

Professional Email: b.mos@uq.edu.au