Martin is the Aquaculture Specialist at the UK Agri-Tech Centre and leads the Centre’s strategic and practical engagement with the aquaculture sector across the UK.
As a trained PADI Dive Master and Reef Check Eco Diver, Martin has a deep passion for the ocean. He has a background in the public aquarium sector where he spent over 10 years working for Merlin Entertainments, designing innovative exhibits to engage visitors at SeaLife public aquaria around the globe with particular interest in live coral exhibits.
This work has given him a deep understanding of how organisms interact with their environments, both in captivity and the wild. Martin has commercial aquaculture experience, working on Life Support System (LSS) design and hatchery development for Lumpfish.
With strong community and social services skills and an undergraduate degree in Marine Biology and Coastal Zone Management from Lancaster University, Martin understands how good data and strong scientific evidence link to sustainability and enable coastal communities to thrive.
From 2017 to 2022, through the Dorset and East Devon Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) and the Dorset Aquaculture Development initiative, Martin worked to deliver community led development projects and developed over 80 successful grant funded projects across the aquaculture, fisheries and seafood sectors. He chairs the South West Aquaculture Network (SWAN), the third pillar of Maritime UK South West’s work, aiming to develop cross-sectoral innovative projects in the wider maritime economy.
Martin led on delivery of the Dorset Mariculture Strategy, developed in close consultation with the aquaculture sector of Dorset. He provided sector expertise in support of the High Potential Opportunity from the Department for International Trade for Sustainable Aquaculture Development in Dorset.
Martin also led on the development of the concept for an Aquaculture Innovation Hub for England – a national project defining which functions and services the Hub should provide.
