Matt Pedersen



Matt Pedersen has been an avid aquarist for decades. He has spent time working in just about every level of the aquarium industry, managing retail shops, running maintenance businesses, as well as running a wholesale and hatchery operation. Matt's professional life for the last decade has been as an Interactive Software Developer (pays the bills). Matt is also a part-time fly fishing guide, guiding both the inland trout streams of Iowa and the Lake Michigan tributaries of southeast Wisconsin for Salmon & Steelhead. Matt also happens to be a certified professional fly rod builder. Matt is currently a "professional hobbyist", focusing his attentions on reef keeping and fish breeding.

After realizing a need for a more cohesive and supportive community, Matt Pedersen co-founded MOFIB (Marine Ornamental Fish & Invert Breeders Association) in early 2007. At this time, Matt has personally spawned upwards of 20 species of marine fish and invertebrates, with 5 successfully raised (including one worldwide first), and at least 3 more "almost" completed successfully, all with a total working volume of less than 100 gallons. Matt continues to push these numbers higher, with several other species "in progress", whether simply working on establishing broodstock or waiting for first spawns.

 

Captive Bred Fish & You

Matt will be making the case for captive bred fish. The realities of the hobby, industry, and planet are such that the current "Plan A" of sustainable collection of wild fish may fail to secure our future. Therefore, focusing on advancements in the captive propagation of fish is vital the long term viability of the marine aquarium hobby.

We'll look at all the benefits that captive breeding has to offer in the hopes that you, the hobbyist, will be persuaded to consider choosing to support this very necessary and often overlooked aspect of the hobby and industry. Our future may depend on it.


IMAC West, a subsidiary of Fourreef Consortium. Producers of reef hobby related conferences, workshops and retreats. IMAC West is a continuation of the legacy started by Dennis Gallagher in Chicago, Il. from 2002~2008. We are proud with Dennis' blessings to continue the tradition on the West Coast beginning in 2009.