Antony Vavia
Contact
Location:
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Information
Antony (Ant) Vavia
Senior Research Fellow | Te Puna Vai Mārama
Lecturer | Auckland University of Technology
Areas of expertise:
Fish population dynamics
Fisheries science
Pacific-based ethnography
Available for:
Masters & PhD research supervision | Collaborative projects | Panelist & Speakerships | Advisory Committees
“Life is hard... but Rewa is harder.”
When Ant thinks he’s going through a tough time, he sometimes finds himself saying this. And because he think it's silly, it makes him laugh and then starts to feel better and carry on.
Plus, he grew up in Manurewa.
About
Ant, whose family hails from Mitiaro, is a recent PhD graduate of marine biology and the first ever Pacific Islander to earn a doctoral degree in marine biology from the Auckland University of Technology. Bringing a blend of marine science and ethnographic expertise to his work, his research interests delve into the dynamic relationships between traditional ecological knowledge, cultural practices, and using tools within marine science to supplement the development of sustainable/appropriate resource management strategies. This has involved investigating the reproductive biology of locally important fish, monitoring subsistence- and artisanal-based fisheries, and understanding how community social dynamics may influence marine resource management.
Academic Qualifications
2024 | PhD in Marine Biology, Auckland University of Technology
2016 | Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Marine Biology & Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology
Professional Memberships & Affiliations
South Pacific Islands Strategic Advisor, Blue Cradle
New Zealand National Decade Committee Member, UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development
Advisory Group Member, Floating University
Governance Group member, Moanaroa Research Network
Advisory Group Member, Manuae Enua Conservation Trust
Accolades
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 - Office of Pacific Advancement Scholarship
2017 | Toloa Scholarship, Ministry of Pacific People
2017 | Delegate - UN Ocean Conference, New York
2017 | Delegate - New Zealand Prime Minister’s Pacific Mission
2015 | Award for Excellence in STEM, Prime Minister’s Youth Award