FIRST PLACE

Tim Thompson – University of Waikato

“Unearthing the drivers of organic matter degradation in mangrove soils of the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel regions”

RUNNER-UP

Shinae Montie – University of Canterbury

“Trends in coastal marine heatwaves across seasons and bioregions and a case study of ecological impacts in southern New Zealand”

FIRST PLACE

Jack Carter – Auckland University of Technology

“Investigating the effect of bacterial co-infections on juvenile and adult green-lipped mussels: A laboratory study“

RUNNER-UP

Xuelei Zhang – University of Auckland

“Habitat use of New Zealand southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) in southern New Zealand Marine Protected Areas”

Coastal Marine Science and Resource Management

Sponsored by: Coastal Special Interest Group (CSIG)

Saskia Foreman – University of Otago

“Cumulative effects of microplastics and nitrogen loading on microphytobenthos and sediment-dwelling infauna”

Dr Roger Grace Scientific Diving Award

Sponsored by: University of Auckland

Celia Balemi – University of Otago

“Subtropical sea urchin poses novel threat to diverse rock wall assemblages in northern New Zealand”

Marine Conservation and Restoration

Sponsored by: Department of Conservation

Hayley Nessia – University of Auckland

“Using marine reserves to assess the status of crayfish/koura Jasus edwardsii populations in the Hauraki Gulf, northeastern New Zealand”

Mātauranga Māori Research

Sponsored by: MUSA Environmental

Sarah Rewi – University of Auckland

“Seabirds as Tohu of Ocean State”