PETE KIBEL M.SC., MIFM
MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER
Pete has a background in fisheries science and technology with over 20 years’ experience working in fisheries across the globe, identifying and developing technological solutions to bycatch issues in the commercial fishing sector. The Kibel brothers (Pete and Ben) established Fishtek 20 years ago with the aim of developing technical solutions to resolve global marine bycatch issues and improve the sustainability of the fishing industry. Pete works closely with the rest of the team at Fishtek on strategy and new products as well as a broad range of collaborators in the commercial, academic and NGO sector.
BEN KIBEL MECH.
DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING AND CO-FOUNDER
Ben heads up the technical research and development team at Fishtek. He has a passion for innovation and applying his encyclopaedic knowledge of engineering, electronics and production processes to resolving bycatch issues in the marine sector. Ben has developed a number of innovative, patented and world leading mitigation products over the past 20 years. Ben is currently working on several exciting new products at Fishtek that have the potential to contribute significantly to the conservation of iconic marine species.
ROB ENEVER, PH.D
SCIENCE & CONSERVATION STRATEGY DIRECTOR
Rob has a Ph.D in bycatch mitigation and extensive experience of working with the fishing industry having spent a decade on fishing vessels around the world, and more recently informing EU policy on discards in marine fisheries through the UK Government’s Research and Development agenda. He has spent the last seven years working for a statutory nature conservation body where he was responsible for ensuring the objectivity, quality and transparency of the marine evidence used for designating and subsequently managing Marine Protected Areas.
Rob has recently been appointed to the International Whaling Commission’s bycatch expert panel where he feeds in expertise from a gear technology perspective.
He leads Fishtek Marine’s sales and marketing, developing relationships with fishing companies, scientists, NGOs and attending fishing conferences around the globe to raise the profile of Fishtek Marine.
Contact Rob
TOM HOOPER
GRANTS & PROJECTS MANAGER
Tom Hooper joined Fishtek Marine in May 2024. Tom will be developing and managing research projects to evaluate the impact and benefits of Fishtek technology - building links between fishermen, scientists and conservation organisations. Tom has built and run marine research and conservation projects in the UK, EU and Western Indian Ocean for over 25 years through the support of Government, European, private trusts and corporate sponsorship. He has spent the last six years as Chief Fisheries Officer in the Isles of Scilly IFCA.
HARRY THATCHER, PH.D
FISHERIES SCIENTIST
Harry joined Fishtek Marine in 2024 and brings his extensive fishing industry experience to design and development team. . His background is focused on the interactions between offshore renewables and the commercial fishing industry, with a specific focus on the movements of commercially important species within offshore windfarms and informing the co-location of offshore windfarms and fisheries. At Fishtek, Harry will be working with the fishing industry to plan and carry out sampling trips and conduct a range of at-sea surveys to provide data that supports the development of Fishtek products
THOMAS DAY
FISHERIES SCIENTIST
Thomas joined Fishtek Marine in October 2021 after several years of gaining experience in the fishing industry having completed a BSc in Marine Biology with the University of Exeter. His most recent experiences include working as a fisheries observer in the Southern Ocean as well as a certification support officer for seafood exports around Cornwall. He also has experience in the aquaculture sector, having done an internship within the biology department of the Scottish salmon company, and has conducted field research studying the behavior of cetaceans in the Azores.
TOM HORTON, PH.D
RESEARCH SCIENTIST
Tom is a conservation scientist based at the University of Exeter. His work focusses on the spatial ecology of marine animals, including fisheries interactions, behaviour, and migration ecology. Previous work has included using fisheries data to document the Return of Atlantic bluefin tuna to the UK and Ireland, and also working with recreational shark fishermen to better understand the response of sharks to capture and release. At Fishtek, Tom is part of the team at the University of Exeter providing in-depth analyses of trial data, including the preparation of peer-review manuscripts.
PHIL DOHERTY, PH.D
RESEARCH SCIENTIST
Phil has a PhD in ecology and conservation, focussing on spatially explicit data, and is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Exeter, and Fishtek Marine. Over the last decade Phil has worked on fisheries dependent data in many parts of the world, from shark longlining in Peru, to community-based fishing in West Africa, and has developed a skillset focussed on assessing the catch rates of different gears and the consequences of such activity - publishing several papers on these issues. Phil provides analytical support to our research, ensuring robust assessments of the data are met, and producing manuscripts for scientific peer-reviewed publishing.
BEN SULLIVAN, PH.D
BYCATCH MITIGATION SPECIALIST
Based in Tasmania, Ben started working with Fishtek Marine in 2009. He has vast experience working in fisheries around the world and practical on-board knowledge in a range of gear types. He is focused on working collaboratively with fishermen to develop and test technical mitigation measures to reduce bycatch of non-target species. Ben received his Ph.D from the University of Queensland and was later awarded a 2010 Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation for his work to reduce seabird bycatch. He was Coordinator of Birdlife International’s Marine Programme for over a decade and has been actively involved with the work of the Agreement for the Conservation of Albatross and Petrels (ACAP) and the implementation of the FAO National Plan of Action-Seabirds.
BECKY INGHAM
OUTREACH & MARKETING C0-0RDINATOR
Becky is a marine scientist who has worked in the fisheries industry in the Southern Oceans as an observer and been closely involved with conservation issues around fishing as Director of Falklands Conservation between 1997-2005. After this, following a return to the UK, Becky worked for the RSPB until 2013, when she joined Hookpod as the CEO, working closely with Hookpod inventors and Fishtek Directors Pete and Ben Kibel. Becky now works on a part time basis for both companies using her knowledge of bycatch mitigation and marine fisheries.
DAVE EVANS
MANUFACTURING MANAGER
Dave has been with us since the company’s inception managing the manufacturing team here at Fishtek Marine. Dave oversees all QC procedures, injection moulding processes and the training and recruitment all manufacturing staff. He has 20 years of experience working in electronic engineering in the UK, Middle East and North America and even spent a year working on a commercial fishing boat!
HELEN DREW
ASSEMBLY COORDINATOR
Helen comes from a background in injection moulding and at Fishtek she is responsible for training and coordinating a team of outworkers who assemble our ProGlow, PotLight and NetLights. Helen also assists with the dispatching of products to our customers where her fine eye for detail ensures that all our products pass a final quality control check before leaving our premises.
DAN LEWIS
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Dan joined Fishtek Marine after studying electrical and mechanical engineering at college. He is based in our manufacturing workshop and is responsible for the day-to-day productivity of our injection moulding machines. Dan is also involved with the testing procedures for our acoustic deterrent devices.
BEN TOWNSEND
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Ben is employed as a process operator, based in our manufacturing workshop in Devon, operating our various injection moulding machines. Ben also assists with assembly work across our product range.
TOM WORTHNGTON
FINANCE MANAGER
Starting his career in banking & finance, Tom later specialized in procurement. At Fishtek Marine Tom manages all aspects of the company finances as well as helping the production team with product quality control checks. Living in Devon, Tom is a big fan of the ocean and enjoys being able to utilise his financial expertise at Fishtek Marine.