Murchison’s aquarium vet, Dr Rob Jones, is writing a book about his groundbreaking career in marine science.
Photo by
Jay Bryce
After 25 years wrangling sharks and rewriting marine science history, Dr Rob Jones is finally enjoying a quieter life in Murchison.
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The internationally respected aquarium vet — once dubbed the “rockstar vet from Down Under” — spent decades travelling the world, caring for marine life and consulting to major aquariums.
However, now, he’s embracing a slower pace alongside his wife, Katrina.
“After 25 years in the industry and hundreds of flights, it felt right to walk away,” Dr Jones said.
“I didn’t want to be the old politician or sportsman who sticks around saying ‘back in my day’. I was happy to let others take it on.
“When I started, there were no aquarium vets in Australia — not one.
“Now every major aquarium has regular veterinary visits. That change is something I’m really proud of.”
As Australia’s first aquarium vet, Dr Jones helped shape what is now a globally recognised field.
He was instrumental in establishing veterinary care at Melbourne Aquarium when it opened in 2000, and his innovations — such as the shark bag for safe handling — are still in use today.
He also led groundbreaking work in shark artificial insemination, with several world-first achievements, including the birth of a live shark from semen.
“We flew shark semen from Mooloolaba to Melbourne and used it to inseminate a brown-banded bamboo shark. It worked — we got a live shark. That was a big moment,” he said.
“The first time we looked at a semen sample under the microscope, nothing happened. But then we added a drop of seawater — and it just came alive. It was incredible.”
Now settled in Murchison, Rob is swapping vet coats and airport lounges for a slower pace — getting involved in community initiatives and writing a book.
“It’s called Dances with Sharks, and it covers the science, the stories, the wild characters — and the lessons learned,” he said.
“The first draft is done, now I’m on to the rewrite — and then my editor will attack it with her red pen.”
He and Katrina are relishing their new chapter in the tight-knit Goulburn Valley community.
Rob is involved with the local community garden, Neighbourhood House, town planning group and swimming pool committee.
“We’ve seen more of America than we have of Australia, so this is our time now — to explore home and be part of a local town. It’s a great feeling,” he said.
Though retired from international work, Rob remains a passionate advocate for marine conservation and fish welfare.
“There are 35,000 species of fish on this planet — more than all the other vertebrate groups combined,” he said.
“They occupy every aquatic ecological niche — from the ocean to freshwater streams, and even hyper-saline ponds in the middle of America.
“Fish have personalities. We’ve had fish come up and interact with us through the acrylic at the aquarium. That whole ‘three-second memory’ thing? Completely disproven.
“The more studies that are done, the more we realise fish are complex, intelligent and absolutely capable of feeling pain.”
Rob developed and wrote the E-quarist online education program, which has helped educate aquarium teams and veterinary professionals around the world.
And while his incredible career was one he built from the ground up, it’s his current life that’s bringing new meaning to retirement.
“It’s been an amazing journey, but this is the perfect place to reflect, to write and to finally slow down,” Rob said.
“I’m hoping the book will be ready for release some time in 2026, fingers crossed.”
Dr Rob Jones and his team ultrasounding a female shark to track egg growth.
Dr Rob Jones hanging off the back of the boat, preparing to remove a noose from the shark’s neck.
An egg case showing a baby brown-banded bamboo shark from artificial insemination.
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