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
ALEX TAHO
INTERNATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR
Alex has a degree in international sales and more than 20 years of experience in export sales and business development. At Fishtek, Alex manages the marketing and business development for Fishtek Marine products, aimed for global markets.
THOMAS DAY
FISHERIES SUPPORT 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.
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.
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.
TOBY COE, PH.D
PRINCIPAL FISHERIES SCIENTIST
Toby helps with the general development and science behind the Fishtek Marine products and has a background in fisheries science, statistics and technical design. He gained his PhD from the University of Exeter and has spent the last six years working at Fishtek, where he is now the Technical Director of our sister organisation, Fishtek Consulting. He has been involved in numerous large, international projects that have involved cross-discipline work with partners and clients as diverse as large international consultancies and engineering firms, NGOs, universities and private developers and investors.
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.
DAVE EVANS
MANUFACTURING MANAGER
Dave has 20 years background in electronic engineering working the UK, Middle East and North America and has even spent a year in the commercial fishing industry! At Fishtek, Dave manages QC procedures, overseas injection moulding processes and the management, training and recruitment of our skilled outworkers.
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.
OLINDA DEVLIN
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR & FINANCE CONTROLLER
After starting her career working for a major telecoms company, Olinda moved into higher education before relocating to Devon in 2019. Olinda's primary experience is in accounting, being part ACCA qualified, with an additional focus on customer service.