On Monday 15^th November, I met with other students on the Working with Water Program at the IMAS building in Salamanca. There we were debriefed on what would happen over the course of the three-day program. We were spilt into two groups and spoke to two graduates of the Maritime College, one graduate speaking about the controls and engine room of a boat, and the other speaking about his job at Hobart’s Ferry Service.

We visited the CSIRO, learning about what it was like to work there, as well as how their equipment was used and built, before having lunch.

The next day we spoke to an Aboriginal abalone fisher who explained how wild fishing worked as well as the pros and cons of both wild fishing and hatcheries. He also spoke about the type of fish he had dived/fished for in his career before taking us on a tour of the docks to explain the different type of boats.

Afterward, Will Mure told us about what it was like to run a fish restaurant as well as what it was like to work at a factory before we went on a day trip on a boat. Towards the end of the day, we briefly spoke to four PhD students. We had five minutes to speak to each about their jobs and their roles and responsibilities. We were introduced to the different courses we could do, one being online and the other being a field course on Maria Island. The last thing we did for the day was to visit the Tassal feeding room to see how they remotely fed their fish.

On Wednesday, we boarded a bus for the Huon Aquaculture Hatchery in Judbury where we were taught how they raised salmon. Then we went on a Pennicott Tour boat to see where their salmon were kept before going back to Salamanca.

It was a wonderful, educational experience that I was grateful to have been a part of, as I wish to pursue a career in Marine Biology. 

Eb Blair -  Grade 9