Since
graduating in Zoology with Marine Zoology
from the University of Wales, Bangor, Paul
has been employed freelance as a marine
environmental consultant. He has worked as a
fisheries consultant to a number of
Government agencies, nationally for the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs (DEFRA) and internationally
representing the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office (FCO); Government of British
Indian Ocean Territory (GBIOT), and
Government of South Georgia and South
Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) for the Commission
for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine
Living Resources (CCAMLR).
He is a qualified photographer and has extensive experience of marine
mammal visual and acoustic survey
techniques. He is a JNCC accredited Marine
Mammal Observer (MMO) and trained Passive
Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) operator and has
worked as a consultant on various seismic
exploration projects to the oil and gas
industry.
His research
experience includes a position as a field
assistant for the Sea Mammal Ecology Group
at LaTrobe University, Melbourne, Australia
studying the New Zealand fur seal population
located at Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park
on Kangaroo Island. He has also been
involved on a number of studies gathering and validating
scientific information for CCAMLR and
the British Antarctic Survey (BAS)
evaluating the impacts of longline fishing
activity upon benthic habitats; cold-water
coral and associated seamount ecosystems. In
addition he is involved on a long-term study
assessing the impacts of sperm whale and
killer whale depredation in the Patagonian
toothfish longline fishery at South Georgia.
Conducting photo-identification, tagging
biopsy sampling the research has provided
valuable insight into the behaviour and
ecology of sperm whale and killer whale
populations in the region.
Through his employment history and research
he has attained a professional experience in
data collection and analysis, report writing
and knowledge of conservation legislation
and policy. Currently he is undertaking
study for a NEBOSH national diploma in
Occupational Health and Safety specializing
in Environmental Management.
