I am a PhD student working with Dr Matthew Witt and Professor Brendan Godley as part of the marine vertebrates research group. My research focuses on the movements of marine vertebrates and the pressures and mechanisms that drive these movements and, in particular, on those pressures and impacts caused by human influence (e.g. fisheries, renewable energies). My work involves using different field observation techniques to understand spatial and temporal distribution of particular species in an attempt to integrate this information into useful conservation tools. Most of my work is on basking sharks in UK waters, conducting fieldwork off the west coast of Scotland, attaching satellite tags to these sharks to look into their life-histories and movement patterns.

Monitoring biodiversity and movements of marine vertebrates using methods such as baited remote underwater videos (BRUVs) and experimental potting deployed at offshore renewable energy sites to review potential impacts. Identified species are contextualised with benthic substrate type, depth and environmental conditions to map distribution, forming a baseline for the continued monitoring of these sites throughout development and implementation of renewable energy operations. Also satellite tracking of large mare verts, both basking sharks in Scottish waters, deploying high resolution GPS positioning tags. Analysing site fidelity, habitat use, depths and temperature within areas highlighted as potential marine renewable energy sites and winter migrations.Also, tracking leatherback and olive ridley turtles off the coast of Gabon, West Africa with GPS tags, acoustic listening tags and VHF receivers to asses inter-nesting behaviour, number of nesting events and post nesting migrations.

Evaluation of shark fishing activity along Peruvian coast for MSc thesis.Worked within the NGO on other projects including penguin tagging data, experimental gear design to reduce by-catch in net fishing, blogs, presentations and posters for symposia, funding bodies and events.

Input and organisation of data collected by Nick for his PhD study on seaweed farming as an alternative livelihood to fishing in the Philippines.Accurate interpretation and diligent input to analyse fluxes in change and the reasons for any change for each household in ten different communities in the Philippines. Basic and initial analysis of results was conducted to view general patterns.Introduction to the use of the statistical programme ‘R’.Insight into conservation management and range of programmes being run out of ZSL.

Conservation work based around surveying, protecting and proposing marine protected areas.Underwater monitoring techniques including; fish visual census, line intersect transects for benthic composition, environmental parameters, photoquadrat, and seahorse abundance.Worked in unison with local communities and government officials to obtain data to show progress of marine protected areas and the problematic areas, Gained valuable insight into artisanal fisheries, and conservation practises within these areas.Further development of taxonomic skills, research techniques and survey analysis.