Meet Owen Anderson

Meet Owen Anderson

What is your job title?

What do you study and why is it important?

I study orange roughy fisheries:

• In order to learn about their size and age, their location and movements, and their productivity, catches and catch rates. These are important inputs into the mathematical models which are used to aid fisheries management.
• To assess the impact of the fishery on other, associated, species – mainly the bycatch of finfish species. In order to protect the environment, as well as the health of the fishery, it is necessary to measure the effect of the fishing gear on the ecosystem it passes through, and monitor changes in associated, vulnerable species.
• To learn about the biodiversity of the deep sea – I have a particular interest in the taxonomy of echinoderms, especially sea urchins and their allies. It is important that we are able to recognise species, and give them individual names, so that we can track changes in their abundance, measure their distributions, and provide a picture of the environment we are studying.

What will you be doing on the Graveyard voyage?

As a shift leader, I will be helping to manage the day to day activities of the research team while the voyage leader is off watch. This will involve coordinating various tasks, overseeing the photographic and sampling operations, helping to sort, identify, and record biological samples, general problem solving, etc.

Where were you educated?

Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand

How did you become interested in the ocean?

I grew up in a sailing and boating family and was always attracted to the sea. My interest in what was beneath the waves developed after learning to dive on the Great Barrier Reef.

Do you get seasick? And if so, any tips on how not to?

Not really. Sometimes I feel queasy on the first day at sea. I find that looking out the window helps.

What do you enjoy about your work?

I enjoy the variety that this sort of work provides. I get bored doing the same thing for too long and that never happens in my job. I enjoy discovering new things about the deep sea environment and learning to recognise its living inhabitants.

How do you spend your spare time?

I do lots of sailing (dinghy racing) on the weekends, and a bit of mountain biking. I try to make home improvements when I can, and also spend time with family and friends.