BSc (Hons) Aquaculture and Fishery Management graduate
I started my career straight from A Levels, initially working for Maidenhead Aquatics having had an interest in fish from an early age. My interest brought me to Sparsholt where I initially studied the FdSc Sports Fisheries and Aquaculture then progressed to the BSc Aquaculture and Fishery Management.
After graduating in 2010, I went to Bermuda and qualified as a dolphin trainer at Dolphin Quest; the principles of this can be applied to the training of any animals.
My next stop was Legoland in Windsor, specifically the Atlantis Submarine Voyage, an £8 million attraction and the first LEGO-themed underwater ride in the world. I was hired for my fish skills but before I could take on the role of Senior Aquarist, Merlin, Legoland’s parent company, sent me to Sharm el Sheikh for three months to qualify as a scuba diver. Once back in the UK I oversaw the care of over 2000 aquatic inhabitants, including rays and sharks, as well as fixing various lego models!
In January 2013 I started work as a Senior Aquarist at Dubai Mall Aquarium & Underwater Zoo which has the biggest collection of sand tigers in the world. I was responsible for overseeing breeding programmes, implementing, training and maintaining of husbandry behaviours to keep animals psychologically stimulated and physically fit through operant and classical conditioning techniques.
Just eight months into this new role, I was approached by Wynn Macau, Asia’s leading Las Vegas-style luxury resort, for a new opportunity specialising in the care and breeding of Moon Jellyfish and high grade Asian Arowana. It’s been a very exciting road since I left Sparsholt and my degree has really helped open doors for me.
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