Forest & Bird Monthly Talk

This month Oliver Wade of Marlborough District Council will talk about Coastal Environments in Marlborough and Around the World.

Oliver has recently joined Marlborough District Council as Environmental Scientist – Coastal. He and his family moved to Marlborough from Hawke’s Bay where they have spent the last 10 years. For the majority of this time Oliver worked as a coastal and marine scientist for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council. For the past ten years Oliver has also been working as an Applied Fisheries Science Consultant with the fishing industry in Hawke’s Bay exploring ways to reduce the impact of demersal trawl fisheries.

Prior to Hawke’s Bay Oliver has worked in various parts of the world on marine and social projects since completing his bachelors degree in 2001. Oliver has a BScEcon in Development Studies and an MScRes in Fisheries Ecology, he is also a trained slate and tile roofer. When not working at the council, Oliver can be found playing with his kids, growing veggies, surfing, sailing and diving.

Oliver will describe his experiences of fisheries and coastal management in the northern and southern hemispheres from the Grand Banks of Canada, to the Hawke’s Bay and the Cod fishery of the North Sea. Oliver is a strong believer in working with communities and industry to improve environmental management since people are also a part of the problem, the solution, and the ecosystem.

Some of the things Oliver has learnt along the way may apply in a New Zealand context. As a recent import to Marlborough, Oliver will describe some of the similarities and differences between the coastal environment of here and Hawke’s Bay. Finally he will discuss some of the existing coastal and marine programmes that Marlborough District Council have and how these help improve the place where we all live.