Flying Fish; the International Journey of Marine Ornamentals Scoops the £2,500 Henderson Inspiring Journey Grant

Sancha Conway Holroyd and William Jones, winners of this year’s £2,500 Henderson Inspiring Journey Grant, will travel to Cebu, Philippines to follow and document the journey of marine ornamentals from reefs to aquarium shops in the UK.

The winners of this IMarEST grant impressed judges with their desire to bring to public attention the unseen workings of the booming marine ornamentals market which is estimated to be worth billions of dollars with 46-150 million individuals across 2,500 species traded globally, whilst supporting millions of livelihoods.

Sancha and William intend to dive in the ornamentals’ natural habitats, observe their extraction, visit warehouses and aquarium shops across Cebu and Mactan where species are held and packaged, and follow them back to the UK; providing a deeper understanding for hobbyists who often have little or no knowledge of where the fish originate or the impacts of their extraction. 

As well as examining the current industry, the pair plan to investigate alternatives to wild capture, looking at successful captive-breeding initiatives, current advancements in research and regulations to manage the industry.

Sancha Conway Holroyd says of their journey: “Our main goal is to raise public awareness around the efficiency and sustainability of the industry, to inspire thoughts on how to better utilize our ocean. We also feel it is important to reflect a true perspective on the necessity of the trade to local fishermen and exporters and construct a fair representation of the in-situ industry, and its relationship with both the people and the ocean, using the Philippine trade as a prime case study.”

The David Henderson Inspiring Journey Grant was established in memory of David Henderson who worked for the IMarEST from 2008 until his untimely death in 2016 at the age of 31. David made an immeasurably positive impact on the lives of his colleagues and the Institute’s volunteers and members.

“Each year, in memory of David’s spirit as an adventurer with a boundless passion for exploring other places, we support the best idea for an original, exciting, and exceptional journey. The grant is a part of our work to promote the importance of sustainability of our ocean and those who are working towards that. We are excited to support Sancha’s and William’s journey and look forward to their reports, blogs and social media postings.” Gwynne Lewis, Chief Executive, IMarEST.

Sancha Conway Holroyd, says of the award: “We are absolutely thrilled to receive this award! Many people enjoy keeping marine fish in home aquariums and this award will provide us the opportunity to showcase and induce discussions around aspects of the industry that not many get to see.”

William Jones adds: “As a hobbyist myself, I’m so excited to be able to see the aquarium trade in a whole new way. This experience will be invaluable to me, personally and professionally, and we are so grateful to IMarEST for providing this opportunity to us!”