Our alumni

Discover what our recent graduates have gone on to do

Naomi Smith

Good Fish Guide Officer at the Marine Conservation Society

"The MSc course helped me appreciate the full journey of seafood, from farm or sea, through to the consumer’s plate. This has been particularly valuable in my current role, where I assess the sustainability of wild seafood based on factors such as stock health, fishery management, and capture methods, as well as farmed seafood, considering feed, environmental impacts, welfare, and management practices.

It also significantly expanded my knowledge of aquaculture systems and farming practices, and how these directly affect sustainability outcomes. This broader, more integrated understanding has been extremely useful in applying sustainability principles across both wild capture and farmed seafood sectors, and has given me confidence in discussing the topics during my job today."

Read more about Naomi's experience at �鶹��ý and her achievements along the way

Paul Mosnier

Senior Fisheries and Aquaculture consultant at MRAG

“It has been great to hear from people working in the industry on a daily basis across many different areas of the aquaculture industry. The insight and experience shared with us by these guest speakers has been a great part of this course. The guest lectures have also allowed us to make connections with some of the leading companies in the aquaculture sector.

The field trips on this course have also been one of the highlights. Our trips have included a trout farm, a salmon hatchery and even a behind-the-scenes look at the National Marine Aquarium. These trips have allowed me to see how our course material is applied for real in the industry.”

Elsa Domoney

Fish Health Inspector, for the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Weymouth, Dorset

“Choosing this masters was a great decision. I would recommend it to anyone with a strong interest in seafood sustainability. An immersive year of studying the aquaculture sector, covering all major aspects of the industry.”

Discover what Elsa has been up to since graduating and why she would recommend studying at �鶹��ý

Elsa Domoney – MSc Sustainable Aquaculture graduate

Tim O’Brine

Fisheries Lecturer at Hadlow College

I have been working for MARS Petcare in the R&D department for seven years’ in a heavily risk assessed and regulated environment and developed a strong pedigree in operational management of the fish research centre to meet MARS Quality Management System (QMS), AAALAC and ASPA 1986 standards. I had the privilege to participate and then lead a coral reef rehabilitation team in Indonesia whilst on a MARS Ambassador project – participating in one of the largest coral reef rehabilitation programmes in the world in South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

I also undertook Home Office personal licensee holder training and conducted several licensed procedures, including blood sampling, fin clipping and scale removal of fish for research purposes.

Beyond management of the fish room and sampling of fish, I have been involved in product development of aquarium products, delivering fish feeding prototypes (patent pending) and factory scale up of fish feed formulations for market.
In August 2018, I decided to change my career and become a lecturer in fisheries and was fortunate to find a position at Hadlow College in Kent. Since joining the team at Hadlow, I have been finishing off my Master of Philosophy, started a degree course in teacher training and delivered a semester worth of fisheries related units – a hectic yet enjoyable journey so far!

Previously living in a landlocked area most my life, but with a passion for the ocean, �鶹��ý was the perfect ocean city, with diving and powerboating on the doorstep and amazing coastal views.

Lewis Caunce

Fisheries Technician for The Company One, Cairns, Australia

“�鶹��ý gave me a solid framework of knowledge, providing a backbone for my professional career development. The masters degree was essential to secure my current job.”

Find out how the programme supported Lewis and set him up for his career

Alex Shakespeare

PhD student

After I graduated from my MSc I went to work in New Zealand as I’d always wanted to see the country and their aquaculture industry, particularly the green lip mussels, is world renowned. I started work with a company based on the North Island on their boat responsible for stock assessment and keeping the farm up to scratch. I spent six months with them and then moved to the South Island to work on a freshwater salmon farm where I had a pretty similar role. It was a great way to get some practical experience of the industry, something I think everyone should do as it provides you with a rounded view of how things work. I have just started a PhD on the sustainable expansion of oyster production and native oyster restoration at the University of Essex.

I’ve been very lucky with my work, living and working in some very interesting places, from Kenya to New Zealand. I don’t know of many people working in marine science who’ve found it boring!

Mehmet Emrullah Arafatoğlu

Expert in the Research Institution of Aquaculture, Turkey

“The �鶹��ý has experienced lecturers and technical staff in the field of aquaculture research. I gained a lot of knowledge and experience with the help of lecturers and technicians and the access to laboratory equipment and statistical programs. This enabled me to have a successful and enjoyable education and provided me with the necessary skills for my current job.

The most beautiful memory of the course was the experience in the sea bream and sea bass farm, production and business trips and the big tuna fish we encountered during this trip. Moreover, practical training about the production cycle of salmon fish farm created beautiful memories.

The location, it’s green areas, social activity areas, student life and being affordable makes �鶹��ý a beautiful city to live and study.”

Muhammed Dogan Ozdemir

Engineer in the Fish Breeding and Genetics Department at the Central Fisheries Research Institute, Republic of Turkey

I started studying at the �鶹��ý with one goal, to achieve the degree of education and practice my dream job requires. I have successfully completed my master degree in sustainable aquaculture systems at �鶹��ý and secured a position as an Engineer at the Fish Breeding and Genetics Department at the Central Fisheries Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. I am involved in projects aiming to improve aquaculture systems and methods applied in Turkey.

I love doing fieldwork, especially data collection and analysis because only then can you tell if what you are doing is working or not. Seeing your ideas at work and the potential benefits you could provide to the environment, economy and to the fish itself is a great passion of mine. Things don’t always run smoothly, and in such times I would like to think that science is sometimes trial and error.

I always believed that problems are actually opportunities to do better, to change and evolve. If �鶹��ý has a motto this must be it. Yet, I’m sort of a nervous person, I usually stress when I encounter problems and find it difficult to think positively in most cases. The calm and relaxed nature of �鶹��ý has enhanced my ability to face such issues and taught me how to turn them in to opportunities and seek help of others when needed.

Mohammed Balkhair

Deputy Director of Fisheries Research Center, Governate of Dhofar, Sultanate of Oman

Mohammed received his masters degree in Sustainable Aquaculture Systems from the �鶹��ý. He took over as Deputy Director of Fisheries Research Center in Dhofar since 2015. He has worked as a principal investigator in almost all the Omani abalone projects in Oman and has oversight on all other ongoing aquaculture research programs in the southern region of Oman. Additionally helping to develop policies and guide the ministry in promoting the growth of the aquaculture sector and supporting commercial development.

$Nicola Pontefract PhD research candidate Sustainable Aquaculture Systems$

Nicola Pontefract

Strategic Research Institute Coordinator

After completing my undergraduate degree in marine biology here in �鶹��ý, I was offered a place on the MSc Sustainable Aquaculture Systems masters programme. After graduating I took two years out from education to travel, working on superyachts all over the world as a scuba diving instructor. Although this was great fun, I realised during this time that I wanted to continue my career as a research scientist and returned to �鶹��ý to undertake my PhD, after securing funding from the university and an external international research company, Lallemand SAS.
I would recommend coming to �鶹��ý for the enthusiasm. From the technical staff, demonstrators, lecturers, and professors it is clear that everyone has a real passion for their job, the research they do, and the students they get to teach and inspire: it’s contagious and motivating. There is undoubtedly some great stuff going on here in �鶹��ý.

Rohan Sunil

Research Assistant for the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, India

I've only just begun my career, but so far the most exciting part of my job has been assisting with large-scale national projects geared towards the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources.

I chose to study my masters at �鶹��ý as I completed my undergraduate there and was highly impressed with the facilities, campus life and lecturers. The lab facilities were amazing, and the lab technicians were even more so, and my lecturers have all been highly talented individuals, who have greatly increased my knowledge and passion in the marine sciences. Every research skill I have now was learned or perfected at the �鶹��ý. The atmosphere is vibrant and inclusive. Both the University and the city are very welcoming to international students. My time there has been my most treasured memory.

Rohan Sunil - MSc Sustainable Aquaculture

Max Jaoult

The guest speakers are an eye-opening experience to the extreme variety of career paths that �鶹��ý alumni and others have taken in the aquaculture industry. Guest talks often provide further real-world context to the material we learn in lectures and expose us to potential career opportunities.

The field trips to off-site aquaculture operations I have found to most enjoyable and informative experiences on the course. These trips again provide insight into actual experience in working in the field of aquaculture, further contextualising the importance of some aquaculture applications, such as the salmon hatchery.

Through this scholarship I have been gaining valuable experience in undertaking research collaborating with industry. This project has been my first experience in maintaining and studying fish in a laboratory environment, providing vital experience for a future career in aquaculture research.