MEET OUR LEADER

My concern for aquatic animals started towards the end of my undergraduate degree in environmental science when I was completing a work placement as a Biomonitoring Technician for the Ontario Ministry of the Environment in Toronto, Canada. Our role was to go out in the field and take 'samples' of various fish species. These animals would then be 'processed' and tissue would be sent to the lab for analysis of contaminants. Information on contaminant levels was used to prepare guidelines on the safe levels of human consumption of recreationally caught fishes (i.e.,angling).

I was primarily tasked with assisting the Senior Scientist in field sampling. We would go out together to all corners of the province and take such samples. At each sampling site, we would deploy a large seine net near the edge of the water to corral the juvenile fishes into the net. Whilst my boss was collecting the required 'sample', I was alarmed at the number of animals caught in the net (much larger than we were ever going to need) that were clearly and needlessly suffering, and I went about trying to save as many as I could by returning them to the water as fast as possible. This would lead to an argument with my supervisor on every occasion who would accuse me of slowing down the process and acting 'foolishly'.

This work placement opened my eyes to how invisible the underwater world is to us and how vulnerable aquatic animals are to changes in their environment. Animals living in freshwater are particularly vulnerable given that they do not have the luxury of expansive swathes of ocean in which to disperse. I also realised that, in contrast with land animals (and for obvious physiological and evolutionary reasons), most aquatic animals do not produce noise when they are suffering and we therefore do not attribute the phenomenon of suffering to them. It was this realisation that led me to narrow in on the aquatic component of ecology and pursue postgraduate degrees, as well as a career, in aquatic ecology, and later in animal welfare in fisheries and aquaculture. Concern for the wellbeing of aquatic animals ultimately led me to found Ethical Seafood Research, offering research services on a consultancy basis to fisheries and aquaculture industry actors keen to improve their practices.