Georgia Hrstich

Ever since I was young, I’ve been interested in marine life and the ocean. I remember particularly enjoying spending time gazing into intertidal rockpools and trying to name all the animals I could see. I grew up close to the beach and loved going fishing just out off Wenderholm Regional park with Dad. In 2018 I completed my PADI Open Water Scuba Certification and have found that I absolutely love scuba diving. I completed a Bachelor of Science in Marine Ecology with a minor in statistics in 2018 and am currently working towards finishing my Master of Science degree in Conservation Biology in July 2021. My thesis is focused on the nutritional composition of New Zealand seaweeds for commercial pāua (Haliotis iris) feed development. Alongside my thesis research, I currently work part-time at a whitebait (Giant kōkopu) farm in Warkworth, and these have both helped develop my passion and interest for a career in aquaculture. I plan to use my experience as a BLAKE Ambassador to educate people about some of New Zealand’s important aquaculture species and some focal points in current aquaculture research.