Nick King

Senior Scientist, Shellfish Aquaculture

Role at Cawthron

Nick is a Senior Scientist specialising in shellfish biology and aquaculture production. His experience in both research and commercial environments, across a wide range of disciplines, draws him into a diverse variety of projects. His role ranges from technical support through to research programme design, research strategy, and science communication.

In particular, Nick has played a key role in the design and construction of hatchery systems for both the Cawthron research hatchery and the SpatNZ industry hatchery at the Cawthron Aquaculture Park. He was leader of Cawthron’s long-running MBIE funded Cultured Shellfish Programme, and played a key role in the establishment and implementation of Cawthron’s mussel and oyster breeding programmes.

Technical skills, experience and interests

• Systems and husbandry for hatchery production of shellfish and algae
• Shellfish biology
• Shellfish and production-forestry genetic improvement
• Development of novel research tools
• Automation system design and implementation
• Database design and data management/analysis
• Research programme design and management
• Research strategy and science communication

Qualifications

• MSc (Zoology). University of Auckland, 1988
• BSc. University of Canterbury, 1985