Alaric McCarthy

Rebecca McMullin

Coastal Ecologist

Role at Cawthron

Since joining Cawthron in mid-2021, Rebecca has assisted with a range of projects. These include reporting on the environmental implications of salmon farm non-compliance, routine environmental monitoring of finfish and mussel farms, baseline monitoring and habitat mapping to support an open-ocean aquaculture application, scientific diving for port monitoring, marine mammal effects assessments, research into developing environmental health measures for open ocean aquaculture, and research into the nutritional requirements of species for use in controlling biofouling. Monitoring and research carried out by the Aquaculture & Environment Interactions team supports the sustainable expansion of aquaculture and the development of a blue economy within New Zealand.

Technical skills, experience and interests

  • Ecological monitoring programmes
  • Environmental Impact Assessments
  • Effects of aquaculture on benthic habitats
  • New Zealand Occupational diver – scientific
  • Use of biochemical tracers to track assimilation of farm-derived organic matter by native marine communities
  • An experimental mesocosm experiment which characterised parameters useful for modelling flux of organic matter through aquaculture-associated marine communities
  • Investigation into organic contaminants in aquaculture feed and aquaculture-associated communities

Qualifications

  • PhD Marine Science and Chemistry, University of Otago, New Zealand, 2020
  • Master of Science – Marine Science, University of Otago, New Zealand, 2016
  • Bachelor of Science – Zoology and Genetics, University of Otago, New Zealand, 2013
Alaric McCarthy