Julien Vignier, Scientist

Julien Vignier

Aquaculture Scientist – Shellfish Aquaculture

Role at Cawthron

Julien is a shellfish biologist and bivalve hatchery specialist with the Aquaculture group. 

Julien is involved in a number of research projects, including the Shellfish Aquaculture Programme, where he applies his Research & Development expertise to support innovation in New Zealand’s aquaculture industry.

Julien’s work focuses on following outcomes:

  • optimization of hatchery processes to produce oyster and mussel spat
  • improvement of oyster selective breeding
  • development of alternative methods for bivalve settlement
  • optimization of disease laboratory challenge for oysters
  • production of triploid shellfish
  • cryopreservation of bivalves
  • evaluation of biotic and abiotic stressors on bivalve reproduction and early life
  • optimization of microalgal production.

Technical skills, experience and interests

  • Shellfish hatchery production focusing on reproduction and larval development and optimization of hatchery processes 
  • Development of rearing protocols and innovative systems for “new” species of interest for aquaculture
  • Sustainable aquaculture (e.g. IMTA systems)
  • Mollusc ecotoxicology (oil/PAHs, pesticides, biotoxins & HAB) 
  • Shellfish physiology

Qualifications

  • PhD (Marine Biology), Université de Bretagne Occidentale (Brest), France, 2015
  • DESTA (Aquaculture engineering), CNAM / Université de Montpellier II, France, 2005

 

 

Julien Vignier, Scientist