Recognised areas of expertise include:
Intertidal, shallow subtidal ecological surveys, using in situ and remote methods
- Survey design, planning, management and logistics
- In situ identification of marine fauna and flora
- Biotope mapping, intertidal and subtidal
- Scientific commercial diving
- Remote sampling with grabs, corers and other sampling devices
- Drop-down video
- Digital stills photography and video, underwater and above water
- ‘Phase I’ and ‘Phase II’ survey methodologies for marine nature conservation projects
Offshore survey work and client representation
- On-board project oversight of marine environmental fieldwork
- Remote sampling with grabs, corers, trawls and other sampling devices
- Drop-down video and stills survey work
- ROV video assessment and sampling
- Offshore wind-farm pile monitoring by diving
Laboratory based analysis of marine fauna and flora, including:
- Analysis of sediment macrobenthic infaunal samples from grabs and cores
- Identification of marine epibenthic fish, invertebrates and algae
Long-term biological monitoring studies
- Monitoring design to fit objectives, survey limitations and budget
- QA procedures to maintain long-term comparability of data
Environmental impact assessment
- Marine and coastal developments, accidental pollution, managed discharges, fisheries, climate change and other activities
- Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) capability for seismic and pile-driving work
- Information review and collation
- Appropriate Assessment under European Habitats Directive.
- Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA) and Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) methodologies.
Assessment of marine nature conservation importance
- Advising on Conservation Objectives and Performance Indicators for marine Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), under Regulation 33 of European Habitats Directive
Data analysis, presentation and report production
- Multivariate and univariate statistical analysis, using Primer and other packages
- Interpretation, based on considerable knowledge of the marine environment
- Presentation at workshops and conferences
- Data and meta-data storage
GIS spatial data analysis, mapping and project applications
- Map preparation using MapInfo, ArcGIS & QGIS software
- Resource atlas and database production
Training courses and presentations
- Marine biology & ecology
- Marine fauna and flora identification
- Subtidal and intertidal biotope identification and mapping
Underwater video filming and production
- Professional high definition video
- Video editing using Apple certified Final Cut Pro User