Maria, born and raised in Portugal, fulfilled her childhood dream of working with marine life by studying Marine Biology and Biotechnology. Her interest in aquaculture grew during her undergraduate studies, leading her to embark on a professional career at a prominent Gilthead Seabream and Seabass hatchery in Europe. This experience provided her with invaluable knowledge about the industry.
Fuelled by her passion for learning, Maria pursued a Master’s degree in Aquaculture and Fisheries, specialising in Aquaculture. During her master’s thesis, she developed a strong awareness of fish welfare. She subsequently dedicated several years to academia, engaging in research projects at the University of Algarve, and obtaining a PhD in Biological Sciences, with a focus on welfare in rearing conditions for some Aquaculture key species.
Maria’s career then took her to various European cities, where she worked for NGOs and provided consultancy on good welfare practices in the aquaculture industry. She further specialized as an external auditor, conducting audits for esteemed organisations like Integra, NSF International, and Lloyd’s Register. This allowed her to gain extensive knowledge of the aquaculture sector across different regions, including LATAM and ASIA.
Currently based in Singapore, Maria works for the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) as a Fish Welfare Coordinator. Her main role involves developing welfare-related topics for fish and crustaceans within the ASC Farm Standard. She plays an integral role in the ASC’s SaS – Standards Team, contributing to the development of standard requirements, collaborating with stakeholders and organisations, coordinating technical working groups, and contributing to relevant research projects. Maria’s work centres on promoting fish and crustacean welfare strongly related to advancing sustainable practices within the aquaculture industry.