Meet our Staff - Fisho's
Andrew Christie (AJ) - Curator
My Role:
I’m the Curator and I head a team of staff that keep Kelly Tarlton’s running smoothly by ensuring all of the animals at Kelly’s are well cared for and their environments and life support systems are well maintained.
Career path:
All my life animals have played a huge part, from the large menagerie of pets we had as kids to helping my parents on the farm. Our leisure activities concentrated around fishing and lots of water sports. I was always fascinated with the adventures of Jacques Cousteau especially when he encountered sharks
After finishing college I went on to complete a Zoology Degree, majoring in Marine Biology and Animal Behaviour.
I started at Kelly Tarlton’s in the Penguin Department, later moving to the Fish Department. I then applied for the Curator position when it became available and 10 years later, I’m still here and loving it!
Most enjoyable part of my role:
Without a doubt it would have to be doing the shark feed. There is nothing quite like feeling those sharp pointy teeth slice through your wetsuit!
Plus no day is ever the same at Kelly’s and we get to do some pretty cool stuff so there is no chance of being bored.
Most memorable moment:
There have been so many memorable moments - I can’t really single one out. Three quick examples that spring to mind are travelling with the Navy to the Kermadec Islands to release rehabilitated satellite tagged sea turtles, catching deep water Grey Nurse sharks off White Island and having to wrestle massive Bronze whaler sharks out of the shark tank – good fun!
I guess one of the biggest kicks I ever got was the first time I went out on a fish collection trip and couldn’t believe I was actually being paid for something that I loved doing.
Nik Hannam – Fisho Team Leader
My role:
I am the Team Leader of the Fish Department and my role includes ensuring the health and welfare of over 1500 aquatic animals. I’m also involved with the capturing and displaying of new and interesting species and ensuring the Aquarists are performing their tasks with a smile on their faces.
Career path:
I have always been passionate about the sea since the age of 3 years old, and have always shown a keen interest in fish and fishing. As a teenager I took up scuba diving and eventually enrolled in a 2 year marine orientated polytechnic course. Having completed this, I then applied and got a job as an Aquarist at Kelly Tarlton’s. Ten years later I am still here and loving it!
Most enjoyable part of my role:
Fish collection trips are always fun and a bit of an adventure. I also enjoy planning, building and stocking new displays.
Most memorable moment:
Wow, I can think of a few… Wrestling 9 foot long sharks out of the aquarium so you could release them, and trying to open a sick sharks’ mouth so you could put a tube down its throat in order to burp it like you would a baby (a child with nasty sharp teeth that is).
