Meet Stella Mackrell

Stella works for Te Huata Mussels - currently based out of the Cawthron Aquaculture Park whilst the hatchery complex is being built in Te Kaha. The research Stella and her colleagues do directly informs the design and operational processes that will be present in the hatchery.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

“ That there is so much to learn about mussels in terms of larval/spat rearing, broodstock conditioning, mussel behaviour, deployment practices, feed cultivation, and composition - the list goes on. Plus, having the opportunity to pick the brains of scientists that are experts in these fields and farmers / industry workers with decades of experience is crazy cool.

I also get the opportunity to plan and execute my own experiments that aim to tackle some of these unknown aspects about mussels. It is exciting to feel like the work I do has the potential to make a difference, from the level of informing our hatchery plans, to the entire aquaculture industry. ”

How did you come to be involved in aquaculture?

“ I actually studied a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Auckland - majoring in Biology, Marine Science, Screen Production, and Media / Film / TV. There was one particular paper that was focused on fisheries but had an aquaculture aspect alongside it that piqued my interest. I went on a field trip for another paper and participated in an experiment on mussel spat. I came home from that trip and thought to myself ‘If I could work in the Aquaculture industry with mussels, I think I would be pretty stoked.’ And so, with a couple jobs and a BLAKE ambassadors' scholarship in between, I was able to do just that. ”

Why do you think WoAA is important?

“ Feeling like you are valued, appreciated, and celebrated in your chosen field makes work more enjoyable. A network like WoAA shows that Aquaculture can be a safe space for women to thrive within and outside of the workplace. I have met so many incredible women whilst working in the Aquaculture industry (some of them have profiles up already!) and seeing them just going out there and ‘getting it done’ helps me to be brave also. ”

What is something you are passionate about?

“ I play underwater hockey and coach a junior team from Nelson College for Girls. I love helping to cultivate passion for this sport in others, a sport has given so much to me over the years. These girls inspire me too! They have so much grit and determination during tough games and uplift each other after hard losses. Coaching goes both ways, they learn from me, but I also learn a lot from them!

I also like photography, processing, and developing my own black and white film. I like the process - almost magical - as science often makes things seem. ”

What is your favourite seafood?

“ I love fish but the Greenshell mussel has my heart. ”

What do you like to do in your spare time?

“ Love an ocean swim, underwater hockey, going to the gym, and photography. I just completed a level one certificate in Te Reo at NMIT, with most of my class signing up for the same level 2 course starting in 2024 and it will be great to continue that journey with them. They're like my Nelson family, a real sense of whanaungatanga. ”

Do you have any advice or support for women working in or looking to work in aquaculture in Aotearoa?

“ Get amongst it - there are so many cool areas to be involved in (mussels are the best though). ”