Personal profile

Contact Info

Overview

Elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays) are important to Welsh coastal communities due to their ecological roles as well as the economic benefits they provide through fisheries and tourism. However, despite these benefits, there is very little known about their behaviour and distribution as well as their cultural and social importance in Wales. In addition, as the coastal waters of Wales warms, elasmobranchs found here are likely to move, impacting the coastal communities that rely on them and the ecosystem services they provide.

 

My project aims to assess the ecological and social importance of elasmobranchs to Welsh coastal communities and investigate how this will change under different climate change predictions, with the goal of co-developing sustainable management strategies with all stakeholders.

 

This project will utilise social science (interviews, surveys etc), ecology, and oceanography and climate research. I will also be working Project SIARC, ZSL, and NRW in order to better work with local communities and to develop management strategies. 

 

Prior to starting this PhD I have worked in the field on various ecological projects, as well as in science education and outreach.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 13 - Climate Action
  • SDG 14 - Life Below Water

Related documents

Education/Academic qualification

Postgraduate, MSc, Marine Vertebrate Ecology and Conservation , University of Exeter

1 Sept 20211 Sept 2022

Award Date: 7 Nov 2022

Undergraduate, BSc, Bachelor of Science (Hons) Major in Zoology, University College Dublin

1 Sept 20151 Sept 2019

Award Date: 2 Sept 2019

Keywords

  • QL Zoology
  • GC Oceanography