1.  What inspired you to become involved in aquaculture? 

I started my career in agriculture,  then spent nearly 10 years in forestry, before moving to seafood some 20 years ago.  My over arching interest is in enabling and promoting good food systems and natural capital. As I learnt more about aquaculture it became compellingly interesting in that it brought together so much of my previous experience and provided such significant, flexible, people and planet appropriate opportunities for producers and consumers all over the world. Combine that with the nutritious low impact food it is capable of producing and it’s a total winner .

2. Briefly describe your aquaculture career 

I’ve been working in both wild and farmed seafood production for some 20 years. A lot of that has focussed on understanding and enabling responsible production and sourcing which has led to a deep understanding of quality third party standards and identifying action to take to create improvements  for positive environmental, social and financial outcomes.  I’ve had good fortune to work with, and learn from, Global Seafood Alliance (previously Global Aquaculture Alliance) and their ecosystem of expert advisors, members and facilities. I currently spend a lot of time working on full utilisation of all seafood, including farmed seafood, as well as human rights and decent work in aquaculture facilities, be that hatcheries, farms or processing units.

3. Which individuals or organisations in aquaculture have you found particularly inspirational? 

What an interesting and difficult question! There are so many, covering different aspects.  I believe whole heartedly in the role of quality standards as corner stones and the work, the continuous improvement, due diligence and scrutiny of GSA and ASC is immense.   I’m always in awe and love the work of Professor Dave Little at Stirling and all his PhD students over the years.

I think Marin Trust as leaders in development of best feed ingredients, together with the front line feed companies, are all doing terrific work. 

Individuals such as Rohana Subsinghe, formerly FAO now Future Foods, and Francisco Murillo who is leading tilapia development in Ghana.

But truly I admire and am inspired by all producers, of all species, around the world who are continuously embracing new learning, new science, new and better models to produce blue foods – be they small holders or big companies.  All these and so many more, there are so many individuals and organisation around the world doing great work to further aquaculture as the best food system.

4. What is your proudest aquaculture-related achievement to date? 

I don’t have one. I am privileged and constantly excited to have a fingerprint across a myriad of projects, initiatives and developments.

5. What do you think will be the key drivers/areas for innovation for Scottish aquaculture in the next decade? 

I’m hoping that the key drivers will be inspiration, innovation and investment. Those will need a good layer of support in the form of enablement. What I mean by that is that we are increasingly aware of the need to produce more food, with the lowest impact and highest nutrition. If we want businesses and individuals to make that happen it has to make economic sense as well.  

Aquaculture, incorporating mariculture, multi trophic models, perhaps RAS systems as part of bigger circular models, continued improvement in to developing feed or disease challenges where appropriate, are all a part of that future.  There isn’t an arrival point, it is a constant journey of learning, evolution and adaptation, but aquaculture can play an important part in far bigger systems that are aimed at sustainable production and consumption, climate change mitigation, providing decent work, thriving communities, regeneration and more.