Michael Markovina

Mike has always had a passion for the ocean; ask anyone who has ever met him. He has grown up with his head literally and figuratively beneath the waves, displaying a natural ability with all things nautical and aquatic, earning him the nickname ‘fishboy’ during his University studies. He holds an MSc in Ichthyology and Fisheries Science from Rhodes University 2007 and is an incredibly accomplished diver, qualifiing as a PADI diving Instructor and having a 40 Nautical mile day/night costal skippers license. In 2007 Mike left South Africa and worked for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in Gabon in Central Africa where he was in charge of all marine based expeditions, where he and his partner developed the idea of The Marine Expedition. From there he developed the Moving Sushi Marine Resource Expedition, a global expedition where he and his partner drove a vehicle from South Africa to Japan, and then back through 42 countries over 24 months. The expedition aimed to film and photograph a documentary as a means to discover inspiring people and global solutions to fisheries management and conservation. “The expedition was born out of a passion and the premise that not all people are inherently bad. After working with inspiring people in Gabon, my interest was to discover solutions on a global scale to fisheries management and conservation by highlighting those people who work tirelessly, passionately and adopt a holistic and humanitarian view towards fisheries management.” Mike conducts lectures for government scientists, universities and schools all in the hopes of delivering the message of the amazing people and projects that he has worked with from around the globe, working towards formalizing a holistic form of fisheries management based on global success stories that are applicable, transcendable and driven by community involvement. He has been published in World Aquaculture Magazine, Journal of the world Aquaculture Society and in various media magazines such as Beyond Blue, African Diver and Getaway Magazine regarding conservation, fisheries and marine management solutions and projects. Mike was a presenter at the TedX Cape Town event, the International Marine Compliance and Surveillance (IMCS) Conference in Maputo, 2011 and the 6th International Fisheries Observer and Monitoring Conference, Portland Main, America, 2009 and is also a fellow of the Taleo Initiative: An international organization where ideas on global challenges can be conceptualized through observation and alternative thinking in the fields of environment, art, science, health and education among others.

I hope to continue conducting marine expeditions using imagery to showcase important and essential scientific knowledge, thereby contributing to responsible marine resource management.

Fisheries Biology, Marine Conservation