To do this we have a broad range of scientific and technical skills in the team: from ecology and physiology, and understanding the species that live and co-exist in the coastal zone, to mapping and modelling, and understanding how those species can and do interact.
We have a highly skilled and capable field team, with access to boats that can operate out to 5 nautical miles from the coast. We can undertake field studies inshore and nearshore to evaluate potential interactions, impacts and recovery on the seabed, water column and adjacent reefs. Our modelling team can predict potential interactions, and we can advise on monitoring, management and mitigation strategies. We provide advice to new and existing marine farmers, evaluate risk for managers and help the community better understand their coastal environments and the potential for interactions in the areas they are most concerned about. We can advise on governance structures, and management and policy implications.
We have a highly skilled laboratory team with a diverse range of talents. A key part of our research is our ability to measure the health of sediments and the water column around aquaculture sites. We can perform laboratory procedures measuring the physical and chemical properties of sediments and water samples. We also have the rare expertise to identify marine invertebrate communities that are essential indicators of seabed health. Our laboratory team is ready for the future with skills in DNA analyses and artificial intelligence. These skills will allow us to make the most of emerging technologies which can improve and streamline our insight into the effects of aquaculture on coastal environments.
