Our Story
Conservation through cultivation. For over twenty years, OSAquatics has been dedicated to protecting aquatic biodiversity through ethical, science‑led captive breeding. What began as a small personal project has grown into a specialised conservation facility with over 60 tanks focused solely on breeding rare, endangered, and scientifically important species.
Our mission is simple: Reduce pressure on wild populations, support global conservation efforts, and share knowledge openly with the aquatic community.
Our Mission
OSAquatics exists to:
Protect aquatic biodiversity through ethical captive breeding
Support scientific research and species‑survival programmes
Provide sustainable alternatives to wild‑caught livestock
Improve global husbandry standards through open knowledge sharing
Champion conservation‑first practices within the aquatic community
Every species we work with contributes to a wider conservation effort — whether through research, education, or reducing collection pressure on wild ecosystems.
Our Facility
Our dedicated breeding facility houses + 75 purpose‑built tanks, each designed for:
Rare and endangered species
Long‑term research projects
Species‑survival programmes
Ethical, sustainable livestock production
We operate with a science‑first approach, combining decades of experience with modern environmental understanding to create stable, species‑appropriate environments.
Meet the Team
Tim — Founder & Lead Aquarist
With over 40 years of continuous experience, Tim is a well‑known figure in the aquatic community. His background spans public aquariums, retail, wholesale, and importation, and he is widely respected for successfully breeding challenging species.
After completing his second degree, Tim joined the Sealife Centre Group, becoming Marine Observation Unit Manager within BioServices — a role that cemented his lifelong commitment to aquatic species welfare.
Tim currently serves as:
Chair of Trustees — The Seahorse Trust
Board Member — Amazon Research Centre for Ornamental Fishes (ARCOF), Peru
Member — Queckett Microscopical Club
Member — European Ichthyological Society (EIS)
Member — Fisheries Society of the British Isles (FSBI)
Commission Member — IUCN SSC Freshwater Fish Specialist Group
Conservation Officer — British Killifish Association (BKA)
His leadership shapes OSAquatics’ conservation‑first philosophy and scientific approach.
Barbara — Research & Environmental Science
Barbara’s doctoral research focused on biological and chemical processes in aquatic environments, particularly relating to the remediation of contaminated land. This scientific foundation has proven invaluable in the domestic and conservation‑focused aquatic field.
Working alongside Tim for over twenty years, she provides deep expertise in water chemistry, environmental processes, and system stability — forming the scientific backbone of our breeding programmes.
Sam — Fish House Manager
Sam oversees the daily welfare, husbandry, and maintenance of all animals within the facility. Having been involved in the aquatic trade from a young age, he brings hands‑on experience and a strong commitment to animal care.
He is currently completing a degree in Ecology, further strengthening the team’s scientific approach to captive breeding and conservation.
Support Our Conservation Work
At OSAquatics, every project we run — from captive‑breeding programmes to long‑term species monitoring — is funded entirely by our own work and the support of people who care about freshwater conservation.
If you’d like to help us continue protecting threatened species and developing sustainable, captive‑bred alternatives to wild-caught livestock, you can support our work directly.
Your contribution goes straight into conservation, research, and improving our 60‑tank facility here in Devon.
Who we work with and love to support
OSAquatics is a fully licensed, CEFAS‑approved aquatic breeding facility in Devon, specialising in captive‑bred tropical fish.
With over 20 years of experience, we focus on ethical breeding, conservation‑minded practices, and high‑quality livestock for the UK market.
