Consultant Experience:

Alison is experienced in both benthic and epibenthic sampling, identification and enumeration with emphasis on hydroids, bryozoans, ascidians and sponges. She has worked on samples from as far afield as Ireland, Gibraltar, Cyprus, and the Middle East. She has participated in a wide variety of surveys, at assistant, assistant supervisor and survey supervisor level. Most surveys have been in UK waters with grab surveys also undertaken in Gibraltar, and diving surveys in Cyprus. The survey types undertaken include subtidal benthic sampling using a range of gear (Hamon grab, mini-Hamon grab, Shipek grab, Day grab, van-Veen grab, 2m beam trawls). Surveys have included extended periods at sea, including a 24 hour operation surveys over 3 week periods in the English Channel. Sample collection has included macrofauna, PSA and contaminants. Alison also has extensive experience in drop down video surveys using a variety of camera systems (video and stills), and the subsequent video data review. She has experience in intertidal sampling including core sampling and dig-overs for biotope mapping purposes. Her intertidal biotope mapping experience includes a survey conducted in The Severn Estuary covering an area of 120km². This survey was conducted from a 2 person hovercraft as well as extensive areas being covered on foot. During this survey aerial photographs were used together with hand-held GPS for mapping, and MNCR Phase I and II recording and sampling methods for ground-truthing biotopes.

Diving surveys include studies in Sandown Bay, Falmouth Estuary, Salcombe Estuary, Brighton Marina, Chichester Harbour, Lochs Long, Duich, and Alsh (West Scotland), Milford Haven Harbour, Overfalls (Isle of Wight), and Cyprus. Equipment and techniques used during these studies include underwater stills and video photography, transects, quadrats, diver cores, fauna sampling, Phase II recording and the use of the SACFOR scale. Her fisheries surveys include her role in an observational capacity, as well as area-specific trawl surveys undertaking catch sorting, measuring and sub-sampling for further lab analysis.

email: alison@seasurvey.co.uk | Key Personnel | Marine Ecological Surveys Ltd.