World Carp Classic - Official Global Website
Lake Bolsena 2nd - 8th September 2012

Joe Miller

I am currently studying Sport Fisheries and Aquaculture at Sparsholt College, Hampshire. By the time the 2011 WCC comes around, I will have finished my second year of the course where we studied aquaculture systems, marine fish farming, tropical aquaculture, fish health and nutrition, fishery management, data analysis and finance. Having studied business, ecology, water quality and fish biology in our first year, by the time I graduate, I will be adept in all areas of fishery and aquaculture.

If a job hasn’t presented itself by the time I finish the third year, I may look into the Masters degree at the University of Stirling. I chose this course at Sparsholt because I am mad on all things fish and have

been since I could walk. Throughout school we were constantly asked what we wanted to do afterwards and my reply was always the same “Something to do with fish would be nice”. However, before I finished school I realised I didn’t know nearly enough about the aquaculture/fish business. Whilst working at my local fishery during my last summer at school, the owner pointed me in the direction of Sparsholt. It sounded like the perfect place to acquire the skills necessary and the rest, as they say, is history!

My first term at Sparsholt began in September 2009 and I passed all of my exams in June with no re-sits. Throughout the first, second and third years, a work placement unit is completed each year which requires us to complete 2-3 week placements at anywhere related to the industry whether it be a lake, a guiding company abroad, or the angling media. I have spread my work placements over a range of different environments in order to gain as much experience and training in the field as possible. I have worked at busy match/ day ticket venues, specimen lakes such as Orchid Lake in Oxford and have recently returned from Spain working as a fishing guide for carp and catfish on the Ebro system.

I am undecided on what area of the industry I would like to pursue so I am very open to offers! I enjoy doing anything practical, whether it’s dragging a seine net through a muddy pond and getting covered head to toe, or scale reading under the microscope.

I have recently started my dissertation for next year which is being done in conjunction with CEFAs and Bournemouth University where the data I collect will contribute to a paper being written by the senior lecturers at the University (see picture). It is investigating the effects of tagging on fish growth and weight and tests internal tags against internals and has already produced some very interesting results. I can’t say too much about it, you’ll have to wait until it is published, but let’s just say I am looking forward the next few weeks!

My communication skills have definitely improved since attending Sparsholt which should help at the WCC. I also learnt a lot, in terms of marshalling, at last year’s WCC where I was a marshal on the big Island. Since then I have marshalled carp matches at my local fishery and hope to use this knowledge to be the best marshal I can be, and help make your time at the WCC as enjoyable and as smooth sailing as possible.