U.K. public body Seafish has made two key appointments, with marine researcher Emma Wootton recruited to the team as regional manager for Wales, and ex-fisherman David Warwick taking up the role of fishing gear technologist.
Based in Pembrokeshire, in southwest Wales, Wootton has a strong track record of working with U.K. inshore fishing and aquaculture industries. She is an expert in shellfisheries with a detailed knowledge of the seafood supply chain, and has delivered fisheries-related projects in academia, as well as the public sector. Wootton will be working alongside Holly Whiteley, who is based in north Wales.
“I’m looking forward to working with my Seafish colleagues and the Seafish Wales Advisory Committee to deliver projects and initiatives of benefit to the Welsh seafood industry,” she said.
Meanwhile, Warwick is tasked with building on the work of former fishing gear technologist, Mike Montgomerie, who retired after 22 years in the job.
Warwick is a trawlerman with 31 years’ fishing experience. He first set foot on a boat aged five when he went to sea with his father. At the age of 20, he became one of the youngest people to get his skipper’s ticket when he left Banff and Buchan College in 1992. He started his fishing career in Scotland before ending up in the southwest England where he lives.
“Fishing is in my blood. I’ve been on every type of fishing boat and sailed the U.K. waters,” Warwick said. “I saw the Seafish role and felt the time was right to come ashore. I wanted to still be involved in fishing in some way and keep in touch with the fishing community. This is perfect and it’s my way of giving something back to the fishing community.”
Seafish is funded by a levy on the first sale of seafood in the United Kingdom, which it uses to deliver research, campaigns and events, business and industry support tools, information networks, and training for the nation’s seafood industry.
Photos courtesy of Seafish
