This week in The Update, we asked Seafood New Zealand's Implementation Lead Sarah Wright to share what she's learned out in the field promoting seafood careers as well as what's next in the implementation of our workforce strategy.
It's not every day you see a bunch of teenagers wide-eyed with excitement over a fish ear bone - but that's exactly what's been happening over the past seven months at careers expos and events across the motu. Our otolith ageing activity (those tiny bones used to age fish) has been a hit, sparking real interest and some great conversations about how we manage New Zealand's fisheries. It's been a simple but powerful way to connect rangatahi with the world of sustainable seafood.
I've taken this activity on the road to thousands of young people and career advisors - the Christchurch and Porirua and Auckland careers expos, and Fieldays where we teamed up with Young Fish and Aquaculture New Zealand. Across every event, the reaction has been the same: curiosity, enthusiasm and a genuine interest in what the seafood sector has to offer.
Our friends at Young Fish have also been doing the hard yards promoting careers in the seafood industry. It's really awesome they've stepped into this space - I'm guessing they have even more reach than we do. As much as I like to think I'm hip and cool, I'm not sure my two teenagers at home agree.
Of course, these events are not just about fish ear bones - they're about futures. Whether someone's mad into fishing, science, engineering or just loves the outdoors, the conversations we're having are opening eyes to the huge range of roles in our industry. It's not just catching fish - we're talking marine science, logistics, HR and more.
Over the past year, we've built a growing collection of careers resources that really reflect the scope of the seafood industry. We'll be showcasing these at the 2025 Seafood New Zealand Conference, next month (6 and 7 August) in Whakatū Nelson.
Career advisors have been really supportive of our work, with many saying they've never had this kind of industry-specific info before. Our one-pagers on career pathways - like going from deckhand to skipper, or into marine engineering - have been especially popular. They lay out clear, practical steps into good jobs.
Also at conference this year we're excited to have Julie Petty, General Manager of Projects and Policy at Seafood Industry Australia, joining us. Julie will be sharing insights into how Australia is creating momentum with SeafoodCareers.com.au, a national hub designed by employees, for employees, that seeks to connect people with rewarding roles, contributing to sustainable long term food security.
So, what's next for us in NZ? Well, in partnership with Aquaculture New Zealand, we're about to launch something new with the House of Science - the Seafood Science Box. This classroom kit will reach one-third of primary schools across Aotearoa, bringing hands-on learning about seafood, sustainability and ocean science straight into classrooms. It's designed to spark curiosity and plant those early seeds about future careers in the sector.
We've heard a plea from industry that we need to start reaching young people earlier - and this is one way to do just that.
