Royal Society of Tasmania: Mrs Rachelle Hawkins

Next date: Sunday, 23 March 2025 | 01:30 PM

The Royal Society of Tasmania Northern Branch presents a public lecture by Rachelle Hawkins: From Seahorses to Handfish – a Tasmanian aquaculture story.

From humble beginnings in an empty warehouse on a wharf, Seahorse Australia began as a controversial pilot project, aiming to commercialise the pioneering research carried out at Launceston’s Key Centre for Aquaculture.

27 years later, the business has grown to become not only a respected supplier of seahorses, but also a popular tourist attraction.

The jewel in the crown, however, is the exciting work being conducted in partnership with CSIRO and UTAS to breed and research the critically endangered handfish and release them into the wild.

About the speaker

Rachelle grew up in rural NSW where she completed a B.Sc. at Newcastle University before getting married.

Rachelle and Craig moved to Launceston where Rachelle studied a graduate diploma in Aquaculture. Upon graduating, she was fortunate to become the first senior biologist at the new seahorse farm under the tutelage of Emeritus Professor Nigel Forteath when the farm opened in 1998.

Rachelle and Craig purchased the seahorse farm when it came up for sale in 2002, and purchased Seahorse World in 2010.

When

Location

Meeting Room, Museum at Inveresk, 2 Invermay Road, Inveresk, Launceston, 7250, View Map