Heather Koldewey
Encyclopedia
Dr. Heather Koldewey is a marine life scientist, environmentalist, and one of the world’s leading experts on seahorses and their relatives. She is currently the Section Head of Global Programmes at the Zoological Society of London
. Koldewey is also the co-founder and Associate Director of Project Seahorse
, a marine conservation organization committed to the conservation and sustainable use of the world’s coastal marine ecosystems.
, she completed a PhD (Genetics) at the University of Wales
, Swansea
.
In 1997, Koldewey became the Curator of the Aquarium and Reptile House at London Zoo. Since starting at the Zoological Society of London, Koldewey has worked to advance the role of aquariums in fish conservation globally. In 1998, she facilitated a series of workshops that established the first co-ordinated conservation breeding programmes for fish and aquatic invertebrates in European aquariums. She has co-chaired this initiative since its inception.
Historically, aquariums have not been well connected to conservation of animals in their natural habitats. Heather has developed a more direct engagement in marine and freshwater conservation efforts, including programmes in the UK, Philippines, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Nepal and Mozambique. In 1996, Koldewey co-founded Project Seahorse
with Dr. Amanda Vincent
.
Koldewey is involved in many national and international initiatives, ranging from being Chair of the Fish Section of the IUCN Re-introduction Specialist Group to a UK government zoo inspector. She is the Section Head for Global Programmes at ZSL
.
and a B.Sc. Biological Sciences (Marine and Fish Biology) at the University of Plymouth with a First Class Honours.
By working to protect seahorses, Project Seahorse supports marine conservation more broadly. Seahorses suffer from the same pressures and benefit from many of the same interventions as other marine life. Thanks to its innovative and nimple approach, Project Seahorse has been very successful for its small size. The work of the organization has been recognized with many international awards and honours, including the Rolex Award for Enterprise and the Whitley Award in Animal Conservation.
Zoological Society of London
The Zoological Society of London is a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats...
. Koldewey is also the co-founder and Associate Director of Project Seahorse
Project Seahorse
Project Seahorse is a marine conservation organization committed to the conservation and sustainable use of the world’s coastal marine ecosystems. Founded in 1996 by Amanda Vincent and Heather Koldewey, Project Seahorse generates cutting-edge research and turns its findings into highly effective...
, a marine conservation organization committed to the conservation and sustainable use of the world’s coastal marine ecosystems.
History
Ever since peering into rockpools as a small child, Koldewey has been fascinated by what lives in water. Following a B.Sc. (Hons) at the University of PlymouthUniversity of Plymouth
Plymouth University is the largest university in the South West of England, with over 30,000 students and is 9th largest in the United Kingdom by total number of students . It has almost 3,000 staff...
, she completed a PhD (Genetics) at the University of Wales
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
, Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
.
In 1997, Koldewey became the Curator of the Aquarium and Reptile House at London Zoo. Since starting at the Zoological Society of London, Koldewey has worked to advance the role of aquariums in fish conservation globally. In 1998, she facilitated a series of workshops that established the first co-ordinated conservation breeding programmes for fish and aquatic invertebrates in European aquariums. She has co-chaired this initiative since its inception.
Historically, aquariums have not been well connected to conservation of animals in their natural habitats. Heather has developed a more direct engagement in marine and freshwater conservation efforts, including programmes in the UK, Philippines, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Nepal and Mozambique. In 1996, Koldewey co-founded Project Seahorse
Project Seahorse
Project Seahorse is a marine conservation organization committed to the conservation and sustainable use of the world’s coastal marine ecosystems. Founded in 1996 by Amanda Vincent and Heather Koldewey, Project Seahorse generates cutting-edge research and turns its findings into highly effective...
with Dr. Amanda Vincent
Amanda Vincent
Dr. Amanda Vincent is a Canadian marine biologist, conservationist, and one of the world’s leading experts on seahorses and their relatives. She holds the Canada Research Chair in Marine Conservation at the Fisheries Centre at the University of British Columbia, Canada...
.
Koldewey is involved in many national and international initiatives, ranging from being Chair of the Fish Section of the IUCN Re-introduction Specialist Group to a UK government zoo inspector. She is the Section Head for Global Programmes at ZSL
ZSL
ZSL can refer to:* Zoological Society of London* Zjednoczone Stronnictwo Ludowe...
.
Education
Koldewey obtained a Ph.D. from the University College Swansea/University College LondonUniversity College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
and a B.Sc. Biological Sciences (Marine and Fish Biology) at the University of Plymouth with a First Class Honours.
Project Seahorse
Koldewey co-founded Project Seahorse with Vincent in 1996 and serves as Associate Director. With Vincent, she oversees a global team of researchers and conservationists committed to the conservation and sustainable use of the world’s coastal marine ecosystems. Project Seahorse generates cutting-edge research and turns its findings into highly effective conservation interventions. The organization collaborates with other researchers, governments, and local communities.By working to protect seahorses, Project Seahorse supports marine conservation more broadly. Seahorses suffer from the same pressures and benefit from many of the same interventions as other marine life. Thanks to its innovative and nimple approach, Project Seahorse has been very successful for its small size. The work of the organization has been recognized with many international awards and honours, including the Rolex Award for Enterprise and the Whitley Award in Animal Conservation.
Research
Koldewey’s research interests focus mainly on marine and freshwater conservation, seahorse biology and genetics, and the impact of the aquarium trade on wild populations of fish and aquatic invertebrates.Selected Recent Publications
- Koldewey, H.J., Curnick D., Harding S., Harrison L.R., Gollock M. (2010) Potential benefits to fisheries and biodiversity of the Chagos Archipelago/British Indian Ocean Territory as a no-take marine reserve. Marine Pollution Bulletin.
- Koldewey, H.J. and K.M. Martin-Smith (2010) A global review of seahorse aquaculture. Aquaculture 32:131-152 DOI:10.1016/j. aquaculture.2009.11.010
- Koldewey, H.J., Atkinson, J. and Shaw, A. (accepted). Threatened Species on the Menu? Towards sustainable seafood use in zoos and aquariums. International Zoo Yearbook.
- Koldewey, H.J., Jones, R., Shaw, A., Zimmerman, B. 2005. A New Approach to a New Conservation-led Aquarium. Proceedings of the International Aquarium Congress, USA.
Other Experience
- 2007–present: HM Government Zoo Inspector
- 2006–present: Board Member: The Shark Trust
- 2005–present: Fellow: Linnean Society of London
- 2004–present: Member: Board of Trustees, Project Seahorse Foundation for Marine Conservation Inc., Philippines.
- 2003–present: Member: European Association of Zoos and Aquaria EEP Committee
- 2002–present: Member: European Union of Aquarium Curators Executive Committee
- 2001–present: Chair: IUCN Re-introduction Specialist Group Fish Section
- 1999–present: Special advisor: American Association of Zoos and Aquariums Marine Fish and Freshwater Fish TAG
- 1998–present: Chair: European (EUAC/EAZA) Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate TAG
- 1997–present: Member: Reef Conservation UK committee