A fisheries scientist with extensive experience in wild catch, marine education and training and natural science extension has been appointed as the FRDC extension officer for Tasmania.
Photo of David Maynard
David Maynard has worked for the South Australian rock lobster industry, lectured on fisheries and the marine environment for the Australian Maritime College and University of Tasmania and was most recently the Senior Curator, Natural Sciences at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery in Launceston.
He has joined FRDC’s new national network of extension officers, comprising Dr Matt Jones in Victoria, Kris Cooling in NSW, Steve Eayrs in Queensland, Lauren Thornton in the Northern Territory, Felicity Horn in Western Australia and Nathan Bicknell in South Australia.
Their role is to work with Indigenous, commercial and recreational fishers and aquaculturists to strengthen the exchange of information with stakeholders and increase the uptake of FRDC’s research and development.
David is based in Deviot, north of Launceston, placing him in a central location to service all of Tasmania. He said he was excited to return to fishing and aquaculture and to have the opportunity to use his practical and scientific knowledge and communications skills to extend FRDC’s research.
“I’m keen to help our stakeholders deal with the challenges facing us, including issues such as the need for sustainable practices and adaptation to climate change,” he said.
“I have always been into the hands-on nature of applied science and I think I can bring together my understanding of science and fishing to increase the uptake of research outcomes to benefit the people involved.
“It’s about giving people the opportunity to see the value in changing methods and approaches.”
As a lecturer for the Australian Maritime College and University of Tasmania, David taught topics including fishing industry operations, gears and methods and fishing gear technologies. He taught at-sea operations on the Fisheries Training Vessel Bluefin and trained students on at-sea research. David also worked as a research scientist for the South Australian Rock Lobster Research Association and as a microbiologist and export officer for Tasmanian Smokehouse.
In his most recent role at the Queen Victoria Museum, he led a small team, managed a significant biodiversity collection, supported university students working on related research and communicated the value of biodiversity to the general public.
David is a recreational fisher and keen underwater photographer. His photography has supported two major exhibitions, and one accompanying book, Beneath the Tamar: More than Silt. David is also a published researcher, exploring diverse topics including fishing gear selectivity, insect behaviour, climate change and Tasmanian tigers.
This is reflected in FRDC R&D Plan, Outcomes 3 and 5 and Enabling Strategies II and V.
