Tribute – Mark Robert Oliver (R.I.P) 21 September 1972 – 25 May 2026
Category:UpdatesIt is with profound sadness that we in the Australian seafood community say goodbye to Mark Robert Oliver, who passed away this week. Mark was diagnosed with bowel cancer some years ago. He fought hard for a long time on that tough journey but eventually succumbed on 25 May 2026.
Mark was a hard worker and a true pioneer and a deeply respected leader in our industry, of recent times best known for his incredible work at Condabilla Fish Farm near Chinchilla on the Darling Downs. Alongside his wife, Lanh Vuong, Mark transformed Condabilla into Australia’s second-largest producer of Murray Cod. But for Mark, it was never about sheer volume. His ethos was simple and unwavering: “We don’t want to be the biggest, but we do want to be the best.”
His dedication to sustainable, zero-waste inland aquaculture proved that commercial production could exist in perfect harmony with the environment.
Beyond his success at Condabilla, Mark was fundamentally dedicated to the future of our workforce and global sector:
Pioneering Seafood Education: Mark became excited about aquaculture when he worked for Bay Fish in Narangba, Qld – he worked there for 17 years, and he pushed onwards to get qualifications. He studied at the University of the Sunshine Coast, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in 2006 and then went on to secure a Graduate Diploma in Education, a Diploma of Aquaculture and vocational training and assessing qualifications.
Mark was a firm believer in education/training playing a pivotal role when the national Vocational Education and Training (VET) programs were being promoted through Seafood Training Australia. In 2010 he took he bit between his teeth and created his own Registered Training Organisation (RTO), LMC Training Pty Ltd. His real-world insight added immense value to our national Aquaculture training programs, helping shape the competencies that still train the farmers of today and tomorrow. He travelled long journeys throughout Queensland promoting and engaging people in VET Aquaculture programs.
Despite running his own business, he also found time to assist the Australian Seafood Cooperative Research Centre as their vocational training and education theme leader.
Mark had full time experience in delivering targeted training for the seafood industry and was an International Specialised Skills Institute Fellow, North Queensland Trainer of the Year (all categories) and Certification Panel Member for the Sustainably Farmed Australian Barramundi Program.
Global Leadership: He was a deeply valued member of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) and served with distinction on the board of the Asian Pacific Chapter (APC-WAS), championing sustainable fish farming practices across the region. Always willing to pass on tips whenever and wherever he could when travelling to WAS events.
Aquaculture for Good: His contributions as a board member for Aquaculture without Frontiers (AwF) Australia stood as a testament to his character—a commitment to using aquaculture to alleviate poverty that is deeply appreciated by myself and shared colleagues like Dr. Meryl Williams.
When Mark left the board he stayed on as Aquaculture Technical Adviser for projects.
Mark was passionate about the sustainable growth of the global aquaculture industry and firmly believed that it would be primarily driven by a quality human resource pool.
Mark had a 36-year involvement with aquaculture and at 53 years of age has departed far too young. His passing is a monumental loss for the Australian and global aquaculture sectors. His innovation, his unwavering commitment to sustainable farming, and his passion for mentoring the next generation leave an enduring legacy that will not be forgotten.
Our deepest condolences go out to his partner, Lanh, his family, and all who had the privilege of knowing, learning from, and working with him. Rest in peace, Mark.
Funeral
Mark’s funeral will take place on 11 June 2026 at Albany Creek Memorial Park, 400 Albany Creek Road, Brisbane from 1.30pm– 2.15pm in the chapel and then from 2.15pm – 3.45pm in the social room where catering has been organised. The funeral is being conducted by Simplicity Funerals, and it is expected that it will be on live video for people who cannot make it to say their final goodbyes.
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From the AwF website we are reminded about Mark’s common-sense approach – this is a blog that I posted on his behalf.
10 Things You Need to Know Before Starting an Aquaculture Business
AwF (Australia) Ltd director, Mark Oliver, a well-travelled qualified trainer and owner of a Registered Training Organisation in Australia and myself were discussing our various experiences with aquaculture and made these notes which we thought might be a good “blog” for anyone who is thinking of engaging in the world’s fastest growing primary industry – Aquaculture.
After 24 years in the aquaculture industry Mark has seen a lot of the good, the bad and the downright ugly and laughingly says that many people would have been much better off buying a bar because at least then, at the end of the day, they could have easily drowned their sorrows!
We share the list we came up with you:
KNOW that it is a business. A good aquaculture business is hard work, and it is not a romance. There are always complexities. Be predictable, even boring, and not overly adventurous, certainly in the early years. We have seen many R&D projects passed off as commercial entities and often times they end in failure. Think – money out and grow animals; then sell animals and get money in -hopefully more money in than out. Be commercially successful first with the basics and if you have a desire to try and farm more exotic species, go for it. You might even be able to use it as a R&D tax break, if the laws of your country allow such things, but do not base your whole business on hand-outs.
KNOW your limitations. It is one thing to have ‘the’ idea but turning that idea into a business is a major skill and maybe, just maybe, you might need to call for help and assistance. Never be afraid to ask for help and always look to employ and engage people who will add value. If you surround yourself with too many ‘yes, boss’ people you will end up working for them and not the other way around and always remember “failing to plan is planning to fail”.
KNOW that there are no corners to cut. Buying an existing aquaculture facility or building one may be expensive – then there are the operational costs. Always factor in your operational costs as they can be huge. Feed, power and labour – those three alone can raise the heart rate of the calmest individual. Adopting precautionary principles to your budget is important so that you see how bad this could be without the “rose coloured glasses”on.
KNOW your animal. All aquatic animals are not created equal. Each species has its own quirks, and you need to know them if you want to succeed. Read about them, visit other farms, talk to specialists and spend time with the species or find knowledgeable staff that has. Locate the best and proven genes/species and use them before you experiment and ensure you are dealing with the species you ordered. Beware many people have entered aquaculture with the wrong species aiming at the wrong market and price points and then suffer the consequences of those actions.
KNOW that live animals sometimes die. If you are factoring in fantastic production figures for the first 5 or 10 years, please delete. Like all farming you will have good years, bad years, amazing years and absolutely shocking years. You just need to have enough resources tucked away for 2 shocking years in a row. Remember diseases can easily spread so ensure you have a good biosecurity plan in place. Aquaculture is not immune from such things.
KNOW your market. This is a no brainer, but that still doesn’t stop some people forgetting this important aspect. Marketing is a whole different beast, but it really boils down to this. Can you sell the quantity of product you are predicting to produce and will the price you obtain for it make you happy (and not broke). Knowing your cost of production sounds basic but you would be surprised how many times we have seen people not be aware.
KNOW that getting the right advice is very, very important. If you can find a good association which offers you services this can help as often times you can save money and get great advice. If that is not available then you will need to get qualified advice from accountants and legal advisors. Make sure they are people that have your interests at heart. Contracts, agreements, etc. can be complex so you need to know where you stand and always ensure there is a clear exit strategy that you understand. What starts out well often ends up badly through no fault of the original idea so ensure everything is ‘on the table’ and relationships and potential conflicts are discussed well before putting pen to paper.
KNOW that by working with your local environment and not against the biological community, and utilising and not abusing local resources can be a win-win. Bearing in mind you are potentially providing employment and food for the area and should aim at utilising as many local business services as you can makes you are an asset of the local community. Working local makes sense but it is not always feasible.
KNOW that by using the tools of sustainability makes sense. You should always be looking at increasing your energy efficiencies; minimising your impacts on all aspects of the environment and, if it is possible, turning your waste into a useable resource that can be a winner…..but we know it’s not always as easy as some people say.
KNOW that staff are your greatest asset and can drive the success of the business and bad staff can ruin it. Treat your people well and set good examples and the rewards will follow.
The aquaculture industry has many amazing growth business opportunities so remember to do your homework and try to take the romantic visions of aquaculture out of your mind because as Mark keeps on saying – IT’ S A BUSINESS.