Role at Cawthron
Seumas leads Cawthon’s Aquaculture group and is also involved in chinook salmon R&D working closely with industry. Seumas has a background in applied aquaculture selective breeding, genomics and fish production biology. He has worked in both New Zealand and Canada on many aquatic species Including: Atlantic salmon, chinook (king) salmon, Atlantic cod, rainbow trout, paua (abalone), hapuku (groper) and kingfish. His work includes fish performance and health evaluation and method development for trait analysis, such as feed conversion efficiency and spinal deformities. His previous experience includes analysis of DNA marker data and new finfish species development.
Technical skills, experience and interests
Team leadership and management of large-scale R&D programmes
Business development and commercial client management
Design, development, and management of commercial aquaculture selective breeding programmes
New aquaculture species development
Salmon production biology and feed efficiency
X-radiography and image analysis, including feed intake, feed efficiency and spinal deformity evaluations
Development and review of aquaculture biosecurity management systems
Qualifications
Ph.D., Zoology (Molecular Genetics), University of Canterbury, New Zealand, 1997
