Home at last

I have settled back in at home after we finally arrived back late last week.  Austral Fisheries moved offices while I was away so it has taken me a few days to get settled in but I am now unpacked and set up in the new office.

The Nuffield study trip was a great opportunity for me and the contacts I met and the experience gained was once in a lifetime.  It allowed me to talk with the best the world has to offer in terms of whale depredation and this will hopefully hold myself and Austral Fisheries in good stead moving forward with our toothfish operation.

To all those people with whom I met in Chile, Norway, Belgium, France, Alaska, Canada and California, I am extremely grateful for your time and hospitality and the openness in which you shared your views, research and at times your homes!  Once again I would like to thank Nuffield Australia for making this possible, as well as my sponsors, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) and Woolworths for their support.  Finally, a huge thank you to Austral Fisheries for having faith in me and allowing me to undertake this journey.

From here it’s back to work, and also finishing off my Nuffield report and and planning my presentation, where in October, returning scholars will present their findings to the Nuffield community in Toowoomba.

For those who have come along for the ride on their computers or iPhones, thanks for following and the encouragement along the way – I hope you enjoyed the journey as much as I did!

It’s almost time…

Well the last few months have really raced by and now its only a couple more days before I depart on the first leg of my Nuffield Scholarship.  Our first stop is Canberra where 8 of us scholars will meet and then we head off to NZ, Europe, then North & South America.

I just want to take this opportunity to thank Nuffield Australia for giving me this rare opportunity, as well as my sponsors, the Fisheries Research & Development Corporation and Woolworths.  Finally, a big thank you to the team at Austral Fisheries who have supported me and encouraged me to undertake the Nuffield experience.

Starting next week I’m sure there’ll be a lot more action here on Toothfish Tales!

FISH Mag

Hi all, just thought I would share an article that was posted in this month’s FRDC FISH magazine.  It summarises what myself and Ash (the other Australian seafood industry Nuffield Scholar for 2012) will be up to next year.

Click here to view.