Applied and academic research.

Research and innovation is core to our ethos meaning we are continually engaging with academic and industry partners to identify gaps in our understanding of marine ecological communities and the way we assess them. We actively encourage our team to pursue their research interests and support PhD research through Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS).

Our current research involvement includes:

• Testing scanning sonar imaging and baited video (BRUV) methods for studying Annex I honeycomb worm (Sabellaria alveolata) reefs and associated fish assemblages in the turbid waters of the Severn Estuary
• Developing novel approaches for visual biodiversity assessments of motile fauna in turbid environments
• Understanding the formation of Sabellaria alveolata reef formations through experimental trials in Swansea Bay
• Trialling the use of stereo-Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) systems as tools for accessing epibiota at offshore renewable sites
• Impacts of bottom trawling on protected features of the Torbay Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ)