In recent years, anyone who has completed a Certificate III in Aquaculture will likely have had the privilege of being trained by Dr Carryn Manicom, who delivers our Water Quality training.

Carryn brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the course, along with a genuine passion for the environment and teaching. As Carryn mentioned it’s the “coolest” area to get to study and work it.

Carryn has always had a love for plants, animals and the natural environment, and has never regretted her decision to study Zoology at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. She later moved to Townsville, Australia, where she completed her PhD, focusing on lizards in tropical ecology.

From there, Carryn relocated to Tasmania and worked as a lecturer at the University of Tasmania, where she developed a strong passion for teaching and sharing her knowledge of ecology and biology with students. She currently works with Marine Solutions as a Project Officer, carrying out field-based water quality and ecological monitoring in marine and estuarine environments, as well as preparing technical reports.

Although she enjoys her field work, Carryn missed the teaching aspect of her career, so joining Seafood and Maritime Training as a casual trainer has been an ideal fit. The role allows her to share her knowledge while staying connected with people working across the aquaculture and seafood industries.

Carryn particularly enjoys the diversity of students she meets through training. Classes often include people working in a wide range of roles, from work crews and feeding teams to hatchery attendants, divers, animal health workers and wildlife officers. She values the different perspectives the students bring and enjoys the conversations about their roles and their views. Carryn adores discussing the marine environment and how everything is connected.

Outside of work and training, Carryn is a busy mum who when she finds the time enjoys being on the water whenever she can. She loves sailing on weekends, visiting the beach, and getting out on the water for stand-up paddle boarding whenever the opportunity arises.