Kat Mason Email & Phone Number

Australia

Developed a research program for a Thailand-based research organisation, including methodology, writing grant applications and data collection training, for a shark population study in the Gulf of Thailand; in collaboration with The Department of Marine & Coastal Resources (DMCR) and Maya Shark Watch Project.

Thailand

ARRI uses aerial surveying via drone, coupled with action by local recovery and recycling teams, marine conservation organisations and dive centres, to restore coastal marine environments.I co-founded the project with two colleagues, taking on a project management role, including writing grant proposals, carrying out fieldwork, analysis, finalising field and grant reports.In 2023, our project was a recipient of The Ocean Conservancy's Small Grants Program.At ARRI, my role also encompassed administration, budgeting, data management, social media, marketing, website design, relationship management, and more.

Thailand

Marine Megafauna Specialist for Wolf Fish environmental consultancy, consulting on various projects.My time with Wolf Fish saw the creation of ARRI - Aerial Recon & Recovery Initiative - a research project currently based in Thailand.

The Manta Trust's mission is to conserve mobulid rays, their relatives, and their habitats, through a combination of research, education and collaboration.Working on Manta Trust global manta and mobula databases and the IDtheManta citizen science platform.

Maldives

Regional Project Manager in Lhaviyani Atoll, Maldives for the Maldivian Manta Ray Project (MMRP) MMRP is the founding project of the Manta Trust, collecting data around the country's manta population, its movements, and how the environment and tourism / human interactions affect them.· Collect manta ray data and ID photos via freediving and SCUBA- diving; maintain manta sightings databases and other megafauna data;· Lead excursions for guests at Hurawalhi (5*) and Kudadoo (7*) resorts: manta, coral and turtle snorkels + dive excursions; presentations, demonstrations;· Conduct research on seagrass meadows, coral, fish, and marine megafauna; · Maintain coral frames; create & implement long-term scientific monitoring method.

Maldives

Marine biologist at the Ritz-Carlton and naturalist for the Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors of the Environment programme. · Lead activities for all guests: snorkel & dive excursions, sustainable living lessons, marine biology & research presentations and demonstrations;· Conduct research on ghost nets, oceans plastics & wildlife via drones and ROVs (see link);· Manage sustainability practices of the resort & organise resort-wide Community Footprints clean-up events;· Implement a coral reef nursery and restoration project;· Develop new marine and technology-based guest activities.

Akumal, Mexico

Teach tropical reef ecology to school groups and university students at Opwall's marine site in Akumal, Mexico.· In-water practicals including survey techniques and coral and fish ID via scuba and snorkelling;· Lectures and land-based practical exercises;· One of two staff running the course for up to 55 students at a time;· Lead coral monitoring surveys via scuba-diving for a new research project.One of five staff members for the expedition, assisting the site manager with project duties.

Remote

Online support for the development of AI-enhanced customer service systems at a technology company.

Bournemouth, United Kingdom

Barista; front of house lead; training new staff.

Ocean Giants Trust is an international conservation charity, which protects the oceans largest and most threatened marine species, and their biologically important habitats. I voluntarily ran all social media platforms and assisted with the website; posting updates on partner projects and marine related news, raising awareness of the issues affecting marine giants and encouraging support and donations. I worked alongside the trustees on various fundraising initiatives. nb: OGT has since merged with The Manta Trust

Cayman Islands

I completed my master's thesis research on the drivers of abundance for reef sharks in the Cayman Islands, using BRUVS.My research was undertaken with Shark Conservation Cayman, a collaborative project between Cayman Islands Department of the Environment & Marine Conservation International. This included fieldwork on Grand & Little Cayman Islands, BRUVS video analysis, shark photo-ID & shark survey dives. In addition to my thesis research, I worked on the tagging project; deploying acoustic and satellite tags on Caribbean reef sharks and sorted the Sharklogger Network data (citizen science project) from 2018. I also ran the Shark Conservation Cayman social media platforms and website.

Faial, Azores

I worked with Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas (Department of Oceanography & Fisheries) on two research projects:- A new BRUVS study (as part of the Island Shark project) filming smooth hammerhead sharks, tope sharks and stingray species around Faial and Pico islands. We established a technical design for both mid-water and benthic BRUV rigs, and a sampling design to implement around the Azores Archipelago and other areas;- Deploying non-invasive short-term satellite and HD camera tags to monitor blue sharks and their activity after chumming around Faial island, and to monitor aggregations of Chilean devil rays at am offshore seamount.I assisted a visiting scientist with preliminary design of a new project:Project FindRayShark - using 360 video, BRUVS & eDNA to survey sharks and compare methods.

Southampton, United Kingdom

Customer service agent working with employees from 50+ companies; dealing with queries over the phone and via email, such as employee benefits, pensions, etc.

Occidental Mindoro, Philippines

I worked with LAMAVE to create a new research project - Hammerhead Fishery and Nursery Assessment - in the Philippines. The research included surveying local fish markets and landing sites for shark and ray species, interviewing and working with fishermen from the local communities, meeting with government officials, whilst organising a team of volunteers, shark surveys on the nearby reefs and along the coastline, deploying Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems (BRUVs) in the hope of recording juvenile hammerhead sharks.Tasks involved in setting up this project included applying for and raising funding, recruiting and managing a team of volunteers, admin tasks and creating handbooks for volunteers.Results were put forth to the local Governmental body regarding the progression of the project and future protection of the area, in conjunction with future MPAs.

Cebu, Philippines

Researching the resident population of whale sharks at an aggregation site in the Philippines, monitoring the impacts of provisioning on the animals, and studying the socioeconomic implications of this tourism. Tasks involved in-water photo ID and behavioural surveys whilst freediving, whale shark presence and identification analysis, turtle ID, citizen science data collection.I gained experience in whale shark biology, tagging, identification techniques and the importance of citizen science.

Utila, Honduras

PADI Divemaster training; Divemaster for Operation Wallacea. Master Scuba Diver specialties: Wreck, Deep, Night, Enriched Air & Caribbean Reef Ecology.After my divemaster training, my role at Coral View involved leading certified divers on Operation Wallacea Caribbean coral reef ecology dives, identifying various coral, algae, fish, invertebrate and other species and assisting with student data collection for scientific research projects.

Indonesia

"Assessing the risk of the Crown-of-Thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) on coral reefs within the Wakatobi Marine National Park, Indonesia"I collected data for my dissertation on the Crown of Thorns starfish on the coral reefs of Kaledupa and Hoga, in the Wakatobi Marine National Park. This involved snorkelling, free-diving and scuba diving to collect data, presenting my findings to other scientists, completing a tropical coral reef ecology course, involving coral, invertebrate and vertebrate ID, training in underwater survey techniques and assisting with postgraduate project research.

Plymouth, United Kingdom

Student ambassador for Plymouth University at open days and applicant days.

Adirondack, New York, United States

Tennis coach and camp counsellor for girls aged 5-15 at an exclusive summer camp in Upstate New York.

Florida, United States

Camp counsellor at a summer camp located on an eco-ranch and wildlife conservation area in rural Florida. I led a variety of activities and the Nature & Animal Care programs, caring for rescued animals from the illegal pet trade.

Master Of Science - Ms, Marine Biology, 90%

Recipient of Portugal's Merit Scholarship Award (top 16 students in the University) for 2018/2019. Thesis grade: 95% Research title.

Bachelor Of Science (Bs), Environmental Science, First Class (Hons)

First Class Dissertation. Research: Assessing the risk of the Crown of Thorns Starfish to the reefs in the Wakatobi National Marine Park.