Dr Ian Knuckey, Director
Fishwell Consulting
Fishwell Consulting provides expert research and consulting services to encourage and promote sustainable fishing practices in the commercial fishing industry. With a PhD in fisheries population dynamics, and over twenty five years of experience, Dr Knuckey has worked with many fisheries around Australia on numerous R&D projects related to bycatch reduction, fishery independent surveys and monitoring programs. More recently, Ian has concentrated on industry development projects and developing an innovative, industry-driven R&D model for the Australian fishing and seafood industry through partnerships aimed to improve efficiency, profitability and performance.
Fishwell Consulting utilises a team of Consultants for their expertise and specialist skills and experience.
Our Associates include:
Andy Bodsworth
Chris Calogeras
Amos Barkai
Sandy Morison
Matt Koopman
Russell Hudson
Michael Sawyer
Andy Bodsworth
Cobalt
Andy Bodsworth is the Director of Cobalt Marine Resource Management. Cobalt MRM is a private company working with other fisheries and NRM professionals to deliver innovative consultancy services that underpin ecologically sustainable and efficient use of marine resources. Cobalt’s primary clients are government, the commercial and recreational fishing sectors, Non Government Organisations, and communities. Through Cobalt, Andy maintains a strong professional and private interest in delivering simple, practical, and effective solutions to complex NRM problems. Prior to his involvement with Cobalt, Andy was the Senior Manager for Northern and Torres Strait Fisheries at the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA). He held a range of other fisheries management roles during a 9 year career with AFMA including Manager of AFMA’s Harvest Strategy Development Program, Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishery Manager, and Small Pelagic Fishery Manager
Chris Calogeras
C-AID Consultants
Chris is the Director of C-AID Consultants. Chris has a Masters in Marine Resource Management, a Graduate Diploma in Fisheries Management, an Associate Diploma in Applied Science and a Certificate III in Seafood Processing. He is currently completing a Doctorate in Business. His major skills are based on over 20 years experience in the field of natural resources, especially relating to the Seafood Industry and the application of the principles of ESD. He had 6 years experience in an operational context with a seafood wholesaler/exporter and over the last seven years has been involved in a wide range of Industry and Government consultancies. His experience in managerial positions within both Government and the private sector provides sound planning and project management skills along with an awareness of the requirements of the private sector. He also has a sound understanding of Government drivers and other stakeholder needs.
Amos Barkai
OLRAC/Olfish
OLRAC was founded in 1989 by Dr Amos Barkai and Dr Mike Bergh specifically to provide support for the international fishing industry. The company is composed of five units covering a broad spectrum of varying expertise: Software Development, Data Modelling, Fishery Science and Stock Assessment. OLRAC specializes in the implementation of sophisticated quantitative tools in fisheries science and management using a highly critical and pragmatic approach. In addition, OLRAC has rich experience in conducting logistically complex field operations involving large numbers of divers and vessels. OLRAC adheres to strict timetables and deadlines in accordance with the needs and realities of the fishing industry. OLRAC has developed the Olfish software, an advanced system for the electronic collection, transmission and tracing of commercial fishing data.
Sandy Morison
Morison Aquatic Sciences
Alexander “Sandy” Morison – Consultant, Morison Aquatic Sciences
Sandy is a consultant for Morison Aquatic Sciences, a private consulting firm specializing in fisheries and aquatic sciences. Sandy has over 25 years experience working in fishery science and assessment at state, national and international levels. This includes commercial and recreational fisheries in freshwater, estuarine and marine habitats. He has chaired a wide range fishery assessment groups ranging from small inshore fisheries to large multinational offshore fisheries and has experience with invertebrate, chondrichthyan and teleost fisheries. He is currently the chair of the two such groups for AFMA and is chair of the Ecologically Related Species Working Group for the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna. He has also been Australia’s science representative during the establishment of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation and chaired the Jack Mackerel Subgroup of the Science Working Group. He has particular expertise with fish age and growth and has been involved in the development and implementation of harvest strategies for several fisheries. Sandy also has experience in ecological risk assessment of fisheries and the assessment of fisheries for certification by the Marine Stewardship Council.
Matt Koopman
Dr Koopman has a PhD in Fisheries Science and has worked in that field since 1996. Matt worked on the Integrated Scientific Monitoring Program (ISMP) for five years as data manager and later Program Leader, where he oversaw the collection of observer data from the CTS, GHAT and GAB sectors of the SESSF by a team of onboard and port-based observers.
He was also responsible for the analysis and reporting of these data to Commonwealth Resource Assessment Groups and other scientists. Matt also has extensive experience in the field, observing onboard commercial vessels for the ISMP, fishery independent surveys and bycatch reduction trials. More recently, Matt worked as part of the project team that developed a design model for adaptive monitoring by the ISMP during 2009, worked closely with SESSF Industry members during projects involving increasing the accuracy of identifications of gulper sharks by Industry members, and facilitated the collection of environmental data by Industry members.
Russell Hudson
Russell has a Bachelor of Science from the Australian National University,
and has worked extensively aboard commercial fishing vessels collecting scientific data since 1994. Russell has worked on shark longline, shark gillnet, auto longline and trawl vessels from Queensland to the GAB, in a variety of positions from tagging sharks, assessing reproductive condition of aquatic animals, estimating retained and discarded catches, as well as observing TEPs interactions. Russell has developed a good working relationship with SESSF Industry members, enabling him to coordinate the SET and GAB Fisheries Independent Surveys. Russell’s qualifications include Shipboard Safety Course, St John’s First Aid, and Bronze Medallion and is currently completing his Masters of Zoology.
Michael Sawyer
Michael Sawyer has a Bsc in Marine Science with a minor in Applied
Statistics. Since 2004 Michael has worked on a variety of projects including air quality testing in Perth, turtle monitoring at Ningaloo in Western Australia and was a part of sockeye salmon research for Simon Fraser University in Canada. In 2008 Michael attended both the Recfishwest Young Future Leaders and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation's National Seafood Industry Leadership Programs. Michael is currently working on an online logbook for recreational fishers in Western Australia and is on the National Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee.