Dr Jasmin Martino

Jasmin is a Research Fellow affiliated with the Centre of Ecosystem Science (Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences) and the Water Research Laboratory (School of Civil and Environmental Engineering). 

At UNSW, Jasmin is part of a multidisciplinary team that is building an innovative fishway solution, called the Tube Fishway, through integrating expertise fish biology and ecology with hydraulic engineering. The team is dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by freshwater fish populations due to dams and weirs, which act as formidable barriers to migration. Their research aims to test and implement the Tube Fishway as an efficient and cost-effective fish passage solution. To accomplish this, the team conducts laboratory experiments using full-scale models on a range of native fish and undertakes field deployments to test the Tube Fishways in natural and variable conditions. With their cost-effectiveness and portability, Tube Fishways present a technological solution for restoring natural fish migration and supporting healthy ecosystems.

Jasmin has expertise in validating and applying iso-elemental tracers to tackle pressing challenges in sustainable ecosystems, aquatic life, fisheries management, and food traceability. These naturally-occurring tracers, such as stable isotopes and elemental concentrations, can act as accurate fingerprints to identify origins, migratory patterns, and physiological histories of aquatic animals. A broad range of applications are possible, and her research has particularly contributed to the conservation and sustainable management of fish and octopus. Extending the application of iso-elemental tracers, Jasmin also focused on developing nuclear analyses into databases and then coupling with machine-learning modelling to validate the origins and authenticity of natural products, such as seafood and indigenous foods.