Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland

Gordon Adams hails from a fishing family on Fogo Island and has firsthand industry experience. He received his history and English undergraduate degrees while he fished. His fishing interests led him to the master of marine studies in fisheries resource management at the Marine Institute.

After several years working overseas, Gordon returned to the Marine Institute as a fisheries acoustic data analyst with CFER. He is currently analyzing data from Celtic Explorer's transits across the Atlantic and the overwintering cod survey CFER did last winter.

Kiley Best is a fisheries biologist with CFER and holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Advanced Diploma in Sustainable Aquaculture and a Masters of Science in Aquaculture. Her graduate work focused on invasive green crab reproductive science and implications for the mussel industry.

Kiley's career at Marine Institute started at the Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development in 2008. She joined CFER in 2011 and is a resident aquatic invasive species expert. Kiley’s work with CFER includes establishing the largest global green crab mitigation fishery as part of DFO funded Coastal Restoration Project continuing into 2025, developing indicators for beach quality for capelin spawning, sea cucumber fishery efficiency, green and crab fishing gear research, aquatic invasive species research, ocean literacy outreach and citizen science program development. She is active in Marine Institute International projects working with seaweed aquaculture in Indonesia and post-secondary program development for colleges in Grenada and Kenya. Kiley is also the board chair of the Petty Harbour Mini Aquarium (est. 2013) and Co-Chair the Canadian Network for Ocean Education.

Nancy Burt is the Administrative Officer with CFER. Nancy started her career working in marketing has extensive experience working in an academic institution. She has experience with the university sustainability office, registration, career and integrated learning and fisheries research centres.

Lindsee Clark is a fisheries research technologist with CFER. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. Prior to joining CFER, Lindsee worked with the Department of Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture on salmonid disease detection and prevention in NL’s aquaculture industry. Along with this, she has at-sea research experience working with emerging fisheries in the Qikiqtaaluk region of Nunavut and technological expertise about the feasibility of whalesafe fishing gear in NL waters through a stint with another MI centre, CSAR. Lindsee will primarily be working on green crab mitigation and eel grass restoration in the Placentia Bay Ecosystem but her interests span as wide as the sea!

Marsha Clarke is a Research Technologist with the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystem Research. She holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree from Dalhousie University, with a major in Aquaculture. She completed her Master of Science in Aquaculture at Memorial University in 2008, where she studied cod eggs and larval nutrition at the Ocean Sciences Centre.

Since graduating, she has been working as a research technologist – working first at DFO from 2008 - 2010, and having now been with the Marine Institute since 2011, spending her first 8 years working in the Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development before moving to CFER.

Marsha has worked on a variety of projects with the aquaculture industry, the bulk of it being in the blue mussel sector. She has also worked on many projects focused on seafood processing and waste bioprocessing, and as well has provided technical training to seaweed farmers in South Sulawesi, Indonesia with MI International. Since 2019, she has been working as a lead technologist on coastal restoration efforts in Placentia Bay, focusing primarily on the green crab mitigation and eelgrass restoration.

Martin Dahl is a fisheries technologist with CFER. Martin completed a Master’s degree in biology at the University of Tromsø (UiT), Norway, in 2013. He was a Chief Research Technician with IMR and Tromsø University Museum in Norway as well as a Laboratory Technician at Akvaplan-Niva. He has extensive experience working both in the field/at sea and in laboratories, several years of experience working with marine and terrestrial organisms, and statistical analysis.

Susan Fudge is a fisheries biologist with CFER. She holds a bachelor of science in marine biology and a master of science in fisheries science from Memorial University. Her graduate research on cod reproduction focused on temporal and spatial variations in fecundity (reproductive output) and the use of active and passive acoustics in studying spawning behaviour.

Prior to joining CFER, Susan was a fisheries conservation advisor with World Wildlife Fund Canada. Susan's interests span from fisheries science to marine conservation policy and everything in between.

Tasha Harrold is a project manager in CFER under DFO’s Oceans Management Funding entitled, “Monitoring and Assessment of Marine Conservations Areas in Newfoundland and Labrador”. Before joining CFER, she managed multiple large-scale aquaculture-related projects, including a multi-university/industry  Atlantic Innovation Fund, and a large module within the Ocean Frontier Institute.

Tasha has been involved in project administration for over 20 years, first within a small biotech startup company investigating green technology for aquaculture wastes, then as part of a Genome Atlantic broodstock development project.  She’s also worked with cod broodstock and disease management with a private industry, before becoming a grant coordinator in MUN’s research office. Since 2016 she has managed multiple large scale aquaculture projects within Memorial University as a project manager, coordinating research teams across multiple departments, universities and industries.

Wade Hiscock has been working fulltime with the Marine Institute for the past 15 years. Initially Wade was a research assistant with the fisheries conservation chair, and later a fisheries biologist at the Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Resources focusing on fisheries research and resource assessment of several marine species.

Currently Wade works as a fisheries biologist with CFER focusing on fisheries acoustics. He has a bachelor of science in fisheries biology from the University of Guelph and a master of science in biology from Memorial University.

Wade's graduate thesis involved cod enhancement research.

Adam Templeton is a fisheries technologist with CFER. He holds a diploma in marine environmental technology from the Marine Institute and will be completing his bachelor’s degree in technology in 2019 from Memorial University. Before starting at CFER his work experience included the offshore oil industry as a field manager / marine technician for an oceanographic company for 8 years, as well as the commercial fishing industry.

In this roll, Adam participates in the development and delivery of research initiatives in areas related to fisheries science and ocean technology as part of ongoing CFER & CTec research, as part of the Ocean Frontier Institute and the recently announced Canada Research Chair in Ocean Mapping. Specific duties include calibration, design and deployment of moorings, operation & maintenance of technical equipment, including biological, underwater acoustic and oceanographic sampling equipment. Other responsibilities include data compilation and analysis, technical and field support for Research Scientists, Post-Doctoral Fellows and Graduate Students. As well as involved in working from, including transportation and operation of coastal support boats as well as occasional shipboard operations.

Fisheries Technologist, Meghan Donovan has joined CFER.  Meghan previously worked in the Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Resources (CSAR) and now in CFER, she will be monitoring and assessing marine conservation areas in Newfoundland and Labrador, leading the coordination of  laboratory activities and supporting the research of the centre and industrial projects.

Robyn Whelan is a fisheries technologist with CFER. She holds an advanced diploma from the Marine Environmental Technology program at the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland. She first started with CFER as a research assistant and have worked on both the Marine Conservation Areas (MCA) project and the Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Fund (AERF) project. Robyn spends field seasons out at-sea and in coastal communities completing water eDNA sampling. While the winter months are spent completing zooplankton analysis and preparing for next year’s field season! Along with working for CFER she is also a part-time student completing the Bachelor of Technology program at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Prior to working with CFER Robyn completed a work-term and MUCEP position within the Aquaculture industry. She worked in Tofino, BC, at an aquaculture farm as a saltwater husbandry technician. As well as worked as research assistant at the Ocean Sciences Centre within the JBARB facility.