Antony Vavia

Background

About Antony Vavia

Kia orana, I'm Ant, a Senior Research Fellow at Te Puna Vai Mārama (Cook Islands Centre for Research) and Lecturer at the Auckland University of Technology. With a PhD focused on small subsistence-based Pacific Island fisheries, I bring a unique blend of marine science and ethnographic expertise to my work. My research interests delve into the intricate relationships between traditional ecological knowledge, cultural practices, and using tools within marine science to supplement the development of sustainable/appropriate resource management strategies. Currently, I'm eager to expand my research horizons and collaborate on innovative projects that address pressing issues in fisheries management across the Pacific region, and learning more about ocean-related policy making. BSc - Marine Biology and Environmental Sciences BSc (Hon)- Marine Biology (with GIS) in Solomon Islands seaweed farm distribution PhD - Pacific Islands fisheries: Case study on Mitiaro, Cook Islands Achievements and Performances: 2022 - Youth and Innovation Forum United Nations Oceans Conference, Sustainable Oceans Alliance sponsorship, Lisbon 2022 - Our Oceans Conference Palau sponsorship - Indigenous-led Conservation Panel 2020 - ZMT Ocean Governance for Sustainable Marine Ecosystems School - Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen 2018 - NZIPR sponsorship for PhD Research 2018 - AUT Vice Chancellor PhD scholarship 2017 - New Zealand Institute of Pacific Research (NZIPR) sponsorship for BSc (Hon) Research 2017 Office of Pacific Advancement scholarship 2017 - Toloa scholarship from the Ministry of Pacific People 2017 - Ocean Conference delegate at the UN Headquarters, New York 2017 - Prime Minister’s Pacific Mission Delegate 2015 - Prime Ministers Pacific Youth Award – first in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) 2013 - AUT Marine Biology Scholarship (High School scholarship)