Staff Profile profile for catwil

Cat is a Senior Project Officer/Research Assistant with the Smale Groupwho are  investigaing  the feasibility and sustainability of harvesting of the non-native kelp Undaria pinnatifida (Wakame). Her work, funded by the EMFF, will investigate ecological functioning where Undaria has become established in native communities, explore aspects of biosecurity and examine its potential economic value. 

 Cat has spent the past ten years working in various marine research, conservation, and education roles. As Marine Survey Officer at Cornwall Wildlife Trust she coordinated the Seasearch dive programme and worked on the Intertidal Discovery Project, the latter involving biotope mapping the entire north coast of Cornwall. Most recently she worked as part of ‘team lobster’ at the National Lobster Hatchery, delivering an outreach project to promote best practice and sustainability in fisheries management.

Cat has also worked MarLIN, DASSH, and the Sims group where she completed her MRes by studying changes in predator behaviour in response to environmental gradients.