General Description Of The Company

Marine Ecological Surveys Ltd was established in 1975 with the express aim of providing authoritative scientific advice on the impacts of major industrial and construction proposals in the marine environment. Since that time legislative pressures on companies operating in the marine environment have increased exponentially and we have expanded our business and range of skills accordingly to incorporate a wealth of new services that meet the diverse needs of our clients.  In 2006 The Gardline Group became MESL's parent company giving MESL the benefit of being part of a diverse group of multi-disciplinary organisations involved in a range of activities that include satellite communications, security, ship building, dry dock engineering, geographical information systems, digital mapping and vessel charters.
Marine Ecological Surveys Ltd. As an organisation we have specialist experience in undertaking full site appraisals, scoping/feasibility studies, as well as full EIAs and Environmental Statements.  With our in-house laboratories and expert staff, Marine Ecological Surveys Ltd are renowned for conducting benthic biological studies and sediment analysis, epibenthic surveys, fisheries surveys and for our skills in establishing monitoring programmes and conducting eco-audits.   We also provide advice to government and industry and undertake primary research projects.  In addition we have the capability to undertake survey design, sample collection, faunal analysis, community analysis, GIS mapping with both MapInfo and ArcGIS, data interpretation and we routinely prepare high quality, full interactive electronic reports.  Our reputation has been established through providing highly professional consultancy services to a range of clients that includes prestigious companies.
Marine Ecological Surveys Ltd. Our client base is drawn from a diverse sectoral background and includes aggregates dredging companies, port and harbour developers, the chemical industry, the leisure and tourism industry, central governments and UK Government Departments and agencies such as Defra, Cefas, Natural England and the JNCC.

MESL specialise in the following areas:

• Design and implementation of seabed sampling programmes
• Faunal analysis - our staff participate in the NMBAQC (National Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control) scheme.
• Data handling and interpretation
• Preparation of Terms of Reference
• Scoping/feasibility studies
• Environmental Impact Assessments
• Environmental Statements
• Development of mitigation protocol
• Monitoring programmes
• Expert advice to government and industry
• Expert testimony at Public Inquiry
• Primary research

Our company has a wide range of project experience including major ports and harbour developments, marine aggregates, offshore wind farm development, leisure and tourism, the chemical industry and primary research projects.  MESL are world leaders in the field of research into the impacts of marine aggregate extraction on marine biological resources.  In the last five years MESL have completed three major research projects and a series of peer reviewed scientific publications.

RESOURCES

MESL is equipped with all necessary apparatus for the separation/identification of macrobenthic fauna and subsequent analyses. Our staff are fully qualified to carry out faunal analysis using the facilities available in our well-equipped on-site laboratory. This information is assimilated using the latest computer software including the statistical software package PRIMER for community analysis and GIS (MapInfo and ArcGIS) for resource mapping and data presentation. All MESL Survey data (including survey logs and biological data) are stored within our specially tailored UNICORN data management system.

For projects which require extensive geophysical work, we have collaborated with Gardline Environmental Ltd of Great Yarmouth, UK. They have extensive expertise in bathymetry, side scan and mosaic techniques, sediment core sampling, current monitoring and other methods of sampling the seabed environment. These data are fed into our biological analyses of seabed communities, to produce GIS images that relate the physical environment to the distribution of biological resources of conservation and economic significance. The work includes sophisticated multi-dimensional modelling techniques to predict changes in the physical environment associated with major infrastructure developments, and the impacts on biological community composition.

INSURANCE

Marine Ecological Surveys Limited is currently insured for £5 million public liability, £2 million professional indemnity and £10 million for employers liability. Policy summaries can be supplied on request.