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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.

• MSc: Marine Vertebrate Ecology and Conservation
  University of Exeter, 2021–2022
• BSc: Bachelor of Science (Hons) Major in Zoology
  University College Dublin, 2015–2019

2025

• Inclusive Coasts and Seas: Connecting Diverse Voices by MISS x SIARC, was a collaboration between Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS) and Project SIARC (Sharks Inspiring Action and Research with Communities). The workshops, carried out over six weeks, focused on inclusive marine conservation, skills tutorials, networking opportunities, and provide various listening and presentation sessions and involved participants from all over the world.

  I co-facilitated a session on EDI and safer spaces in marine conservation, which involved discussing my own experiences, creating a quiz to encourage participants to reflect on their own knowledge, and leading a breakout room with a scenario I wrote.

  Jan 2025 – Feb 2025

  Activity: Participation in Academic workshop, seminar, course (Speaker)