New manager for Mahanga Bay
Science Centres: Fisheries
Dr Philip Heath has been appointed manager of NIWA’s Mahanga Bay Aquaculture Facility, Wellington, where his main role will be to work with Simon Hooker (Aquaculture Business Development Manager) on the development of industry-backed projects. The appointment underlines NIWA’s commitment to supporting the development of the New Zealand aquaculture industry. Phil will help to coordinate NIWA’s aquaculture research and his experience liaising between industry and researchers in Northern Ireland will help to add a commercial focus to the work at Mahanga Bay.
Phil was previously the manager of the Centre for Marine Resources and Mariculture (C-Mar) at Queen’s University, Belfast, where projects were run in conjunction with aquaculture and inshore fishing companies in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. His aquaculture experience includes larval fish nutrition, training, stock enhancement, product quality, environmental impact of aquaculture, single bay management, and development of new species and techniques. for cultivation. Most recently he introduced abalone cultivation to Northern Ireland, using recirculated seawater systems to increase growth rates and allow farmers to use existing onshore sites.
Phil is looking forward to working with the New Zealand aquaculture industry to ensure that Mahanga Bay continues to provide the focused scientific support it needs for its sustainable development.