Dr Thomas Shipton - Managing Director (Aquaculture and project management)

Dr Shipton is the Managing Director of Enviro-Fish Africa (Pty) Ltd. He has a PhD in Fisheries Science (Aquaculture) and a practical background in the design, implementation and management of aquaculture and mariculture systems. He has core research experience in  aquaculture nutrition, and has extensive experience of captive fish and molluscan propagation, from the hatchery, through the on-growing stage to the market. He has 16 years of experience working with aquaculture operations across sub-Saharan Africa, and has a good understanding of international fishery market requirements. He is a co-author of the Mariculture Sector Plan for South Africa, and a co-author of a number of Technical Papers for the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. He has experience working with both industry and regulatory/development (Government) role-players in the Southern African aquaculture sector, and has acted in a consultative role to Parastatal aquaculture funding organizations, such as DEG, the DBSA, SEDA, ECDC, and the Industrial Development Corporation in South Africa.

E-mail: t.shipton@envirofishafrica.co.za 

Dr Timothy Andrew - Natural Resource Management

Dr Andrew has a PhD in Fisheries Science, and 20 years of experience in the fish, fisheries and natural resource management fields, having undertaken research and development work in both marine and freshwater systems. He has spent most of his career working on project-based contracts, which have included extended periods in the field on oceanic islands, and in various southern African countries. His core expertise lies in marine fish taxonomy and ecology, fisheries education, the assessment and development of small-scale fisheries, community interaction associated with these, and project management. More recently Dr Andrew has become involved in work focusing on livelihoods associated with inland and marine ecosystems, as well as integrated management of aquatic systems.

E-mail: t.andrew@envirofishafrica.co.za

Professor Peter Britz - Fisheries management, development planning and aquaculture

Professor Britz is the past Head of the Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, Rhodes University. He holds a PhD in Fisheries Science (Aquaculture), and has over 25 years of professional experience. His core expertise lies in aquaculture and fisheries development, sector planning, the development of strategies for implementing fisheries policy, institution building, mariculture technology development and transfer, economic development of coastal communities through fishing and mariculture, the development of community/public/private sector partnerships, and research support for development. He uses an interdisciplinary approach within these fields, and where appropriate, draws on economic principles in the achievement of project goals.

E-mail: p.britz@ru.ac.za

Professor Warwick Sauer - Fisheries management and biology

Professor Sauer is the current Head of the Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, Rhodes University. His interests and expertise lie in fisheries development, fisheries management, fisheries sector planning, strategies for implementing fisheries policy, institution building, the economic development of coastal communities through fishing, the development of community/public/ private sector  partnerships, and ecological research. Prior to his present position, he was a Research Officer, and Principal Oceanographic Researcher at the Dept of Marine and Coastal Management. He is a member of various international management bodies, including Executive Secretary for the Cephalopod International  Advisory Council, and Regional Coordinator for capacity building and  training for the Agulhas Somali Large Marine Ecosystem project. He is a leading researcher on the biology of commercially important squid species, with projects throughout the world.

E-mail: w.sauer@ru.ac.za

Mr John Dyer - Business Development and strategy

Mr Dyer has over 10 years experience in the international corporate field and is currently the Deputy Chairman of Enviro-Fish Africa (Pty) Ltd. He was the past owner of Ulusaba Private Game Reserve in the world-famous Sabi Sands reserve and developed this product over 11 years into one of Africa’s top three commercial lodges before selling to Sir Richard Branson in 2000. He is the author of four books (Ulusaba Tales, Ingilube, Riders in the Night and Gone Fishing) published by Ajubatus Publishing. He is the founder of Ajubatus Foundation – a charity committed to leading edge conservation research initiatives and with major projects being undertaken in the Kruger National Park and associated private nature reserves - see www.ajubatus.com. He is the chairman of the Ajubatus Group of Companies (Ajubatus Environmental Management, Ajubatus Micro Solutions, Ajubatus Film Productions, and Ajubatus Publishing (including The Marula Gazette)). His achievements include: Fellowship of the School of Business Management at the University of the Free State; Trustee of the Sustainable Seas Trust; Chairman of JBD Management CC. John has extensive business interests but has specialised in new business development concepts, recognising business flair in individuals and providing the support and infrastructural requirements in order to make such enterprises a success. His greatest area of interest vests in projects committed to environmental issues.

E-mail: JohnBDyer@ajubatus.com 

Mr Russell Chalmers

Mr Russell Chalmers graduated with a Masters degree from the Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, Rhodes University and has seven years of environmental consulting experience. He has been involved in several EIA projects and has conducted specialist studies for both marine and freshwater fish and fisheries components of EIAs. In addition he has prepared coastal and environmental management plans and designed and implemented coastal and environmental monitoring programmes. He is a qualified Class IV commercial scientific diver having been involved in several reef and ichthyofaunal assessments. He is currently completing a PhD in marine resource management.

Email: r.chalmers@itsnet.co.za

Mr Brendon Lee

Mr Brendon Lee has graduated with a BSc degree with majors in Zoology, Applied freshwater ecology and Ichthyology and Fisheries science; and an Honours (with Distinction) in Ichthyology and Fisheries science from Rhodes University. He is currently completing his MSc in Fisheries science from Rhodes University. His Masters thesis, An Assessment of Shallow Raceway Technology for Use in Hatcheries, is a comparative study of shallow raceways with the standard indoor circular tank technology for the culture of dusky kob, Argyrosomus japonicus, in the tropical climates of Northern KwaZulu Natal. He is currently employed as a junior consultant at EFA working and assisting on various aquaculture, estuarine and coastal fisheries related projects.

Email: b.lee@envirofishafrica.co.za