Meet our Staff - Green Team
Fiona Davies - Aquarist and Green Team Coordinator
My role:
As the green team coordinator I try to make Kelly Tarlton’s and its daily business operations as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible. I have instigated a number of practices, as well as organise regular waterfront clean ups around our local Okahu Bay for staff, family and friends. As a result of the 'Green Team's' efforts, Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World has achieved a Qualmarks highest enviro green status - Enviro Gold and 'KiwiGreen' accreditation.
In my full time role, I am the only girl in the smelly Fish Department! On any given day you will find me diving in the main tanks, scrubbing or hand feeding sharks, singing, testing water qualities of our smaller tanks, treating rescued and injured turtles, and giving presentations to the public about our fascinating creatures.
Career path:
I started at Kelly Tarlton’s in the Penguin Department as an Avicultural assistant (Birdo) after completing a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Zoology from Massey University in Palmerston North. In addition to my degree, I had diving experience and regularly volunteered at my local vet clinic and the SPCA. After 2 years in the Penguin Department, I transferred to the Fish department (Fisho) as I wanted to expand my marine husbandry knowledge. At University I took a keen interest in conservation issues and subsequently chose to do environmental papers as well as zoology ones. This made me aware of the environmental issues at KT's, which lead to my Green Team Coordinator role.
Most enjoyable part of my role:
As all of us "Fisho's" would say, definitely the catching of sharks, introducing them to the tank, and feeding them would be the best part of the job. It is an amazing adrenaline rush when it is an especially frenzied shark feed, especially when we have a lot of sharks in the tank.
I also feel a great sense of achievement when we get a good turn out at our beach clean ups, or when a fellow staff member proudly tells me their story of walking to work instead of driving and what efforts they have gone to recycle.
