Employment History

Previous Employment

Senior Marine Consultant
Associated British Ports Marine Environmental Research (ABPmer)
Southampton, England. Tel: +44-(0)23-8071-1840
November 2021 – November 2022

Fixed term contract as senior consultant specialising in fisheries and aquaculture. Specific project work focused on offshore wind developments and marine park impacts on commercial fisheries, aquaculture and coastal development environmental impact assessments. Project work included:

• Fisheries assessments for off shore wind, marine park expansions and coastal developments
• Aquaculture assessments and development
• EIA fisheries chapters and scoping reports
• Marine aggregate dredging fisheries development impacts

Senior Overseas Shellfish Fisheries Scientist
Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS)
Lowestoft, England. Tel: +44-(0)-1502-562244
February 2018 – February 2019

To propose, plan, conduct and/or lead assessments of overseas shellfish fisheries and their associated habitats. Advise on UK and European shellfish projects as necessary:

• Write proposals to external funding agencies for overseas projects of current importance.
• Plan research, including budget management, while fulfilling all heath and safety requirements necessary for Government bodies.
• Lead research and maintain good relations with host country partners to ensure relationship longevity.
• Publish research findings and make policy recommendations to host country partners for the sustainable management of species.
• UK science representative for industry partnered scallop working group.
• Crab/lobster advisor and liaison with UK Shellfish Association.
• GIS mapping of certain UK fisheries, including some migratory species.

Deputy Director of Fisheries Management
Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources (DFMR)
Government of Anguilla, B.W.I. Tel: +1-264-4972871
May 2015 – August 2017

To plan, conduct and/or lead assessments of local fisheries and their associated habitats, while making recommendations for their sustainable management. Key functions and duties include:

• To manage and supervise the operations of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources in the absence of the Director.
• To conduct fishery assessments and make recommendations for their management.
• To lead management efforts for the Anguilla Marine Park System, including management plan design and implementation.
• To produce ecological statements, risk assessments, feasibility studies (etc) as necessitated via requested services.
• To supervise the implementation of safety at sea programmes and other outreach initiatives of an educational nature aimed at both the tourist sector and local residents.
• To coordinate and supervise the work of Fisheries Officers to ensure the achievement of work targets, and train all DFMR staff and volunteers in species identification and habitat monitoring techniques.
• To enforce the Fisheries Protection Act, the Marine Parks Act, and other related regulations and policies.
• To issue licences and permits for fishing activities, including the export and import of marine products.
• To implement the Anguillian Marine Park System mooring buoy scheme, including the installation and regular maintenance of all moorings owned by DFMR.
• To write proposals/scientific reports on research, investigations and more general information for dissemination to various audiences.
• To provide advice to managers, politicians, primary users, developers and the general public.
• To perform other related duties as required by the job function including liaisons with other relevant bodies and attending workshops in order to achieve all of the above.

Key achievements include: Development of a management plan for the Anguilla Marine Park System and associated shallow water habitats and fisheries; co-author of the 2015-2025 Anguilla Fisheries Development Plan; project leader on the Best 2.0 medium grant (c.450,000 USD) awarded project (2016-2019) “Saving the sea turtles of Anguilla: combining community action with scientific evidence to drive legislative change“; creation of the Anguilla Fisheries and Marine Resources Research Bulletin and author the first seven editions; and project leader on the Darwin Initiative grant (c.360,000 USD) awarded project (2017-2020) “Pioneering a new model of marine park management in Anguilla“.

Deputy Director of Scientific Research
Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources (DFMR)
Government of Anguilla, B.W.I. Tel: +1-264-4972871
September 2006 – July 2010

To plan and conduct studies on the structure, function, and behaviour of marine plants and animals, their relationships with each other and the marine environment, as well as the impacts of humans on the marine ecosystem. Key functions and duties include:

• To monitor all aspects of the marine environment and the impact of human and natural factors. To develop long-term projects for monitoring biodiversity in key areas (i.e. Marine Parks), pollution impacts, and other ecological attributes.
• To estimate the abundance of key marine organisms and to analyse their population structure and dynamics, and design and conduct projects to investigate species-specific management or marine habitat evaluation/restoration.
• To provide information and make recommendations that would allow for the implementation of marine conservation and harvesting policies for the fishing industry and aquaculture operations.
• To review environmental impact assessments determining the effects on the marine environment of island development, and to provide recommendations for mitigation activities.
• To train DFMR staff and volunteers in species identification and habitat monitoring techniques, and providing ongoing supervision throughout the duration of all research work conducted.
• To write proposals/scientific reports on research, investigations and more general information for dissemination to various audiences.
• To provide advice to managers, politicians, primary users, developers and the general public while submitting regular articles of an environmentally based nature to media outlets for public information/awareness purposes.
• To perform other related duties as required by the job function including liaisons with other relevant bodies and attending workshops in order to achieve all of the above.

Key achievements included: The collection of baseline data for all five of Anguilla’s Marine Parks; the establishment of a comprehensive monitoring scheme at fifteen key marine locations; design and implementation of a mooring buoy installation and maintenance schedule for Anguilla’s Marine Parks; a review of the spotted spiny lobster fishery to assess the need for further management strategies; the translocation and study of Long-Spined Sea Urchin populations from threatened habitats; the reestablishment and continuation of Anguilla’s marine turtle programme; and the initiation of an ongoing water quality monitoring scheme.

Other Employment and Experience

Independendent Consultant
Living in Ortigueira, Galicia, Spain
Sept 2010 – May 2015
Freelance consultant (while completing Ph.D) specializing in tropical reef ecology, with a focus on marine park management and the sustainability of their associated fisheries. The most significant contract gained was with the Fisheries Division in Antigua & Barbuda (2012) to design a management plan for Cades Bay Marine Reserve.

Sept 2017 – Jan 2018
Working remotely as advisor on Anguilla based Best 2.0 and Darwin Plus projects (see here) while on paternity leave. Also completed publication of issues 07 and 08 of the Anguilla Fisheries and Marine Resources Research Bulletin.

Chief Scientist
Greenforce UK. Andros Island, Bahamas
June 2005 – April 2006
Co-ordination of scientific research for a volunteer based marine conservation project on Andros Island in the Bahamas. Responsibilities: Teaching volunteers to identify all fish, corals and other invertebrates; instruction and supervision of all survey methodologies; daily organisation of volunteer science work schedules and establishing research objects; organisation of local school visits and environmental education classes; coxing dive boat and general Divemaster duties; liaising with host country partners and officials (Bahamas National Trust, Andros Conservancy and Trust, The Nature Conservancy, Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources).

Independent Research
Anguilla, British West Indies
March – June 2004
Project Research: Marine habitat surveys and night-time lobster abundance surveys. Integrating with local fishers and collating relevant information.
Other: Ph.D field assistant conducting underwater transects using SCUBA equipment. Assisting Marine Conservation Society (UK) with turtle surveys and tagging.

Animal Care Assistant
Hillside Animal Sanctuary, Norwich, UK
Oct 2002 – Aug 2003
Working with a variety of poorly treated, unwanted or sick animals. Responsible for their feeding, hygiene and general well-being. Position also involved training new staff.

Divemaster
Scuba Libre/Pelagic Magic Utila, Honduras. Koh Tao, Thailand
Feb 2000– June 2002
Dive guide and student workshop assistant.
Organisation of boat and supervision of safety.
Equipment maintenance and testing.
Underwater naturalist.
Underwater photography and videography.

Other:

September 2001 – September 2002 Travelling throughout Southeast Asia; July 2000 – August 2001 Temping at Parcel Force and Brann Marketing (UK); October 1999 – June 2000 Travelling throughout Central America; June 1999 – September 1999 Plant nursery assistant in Norfolk, UK; January 1998 – May 1999 Travelling throughout South America; July 1995 – December 1997 Temping at Prudential & National Westminster Bank (UK).