I am a biologist interested in sustainable aquaculture and working across disciplines to support evidence-based policy and innovation.

My research focuses on aquaculture diversification, governance, perception of aquaculture and improving communication between researchers, industry and the public.

Sustainable aquaculture development, through an ecosystem approach to aquaculture, is dependent on assuring that applied research informs evidence-based policy and innovation, through effective collaboration and communication between stakeholders. My research interests focus on enabling this transition and ranges from aquaculture diversification, to policy and marine spatial planning, understanding public perception of aquaculture and pathways to improve communication between researchers, industry and public.

I have experience working in marine policy contexts, for the Marine Management Organisation and European Commission, and, as a NERC-BBSRC Knowledge Exchange Fellow in Aquaculture, I provide expert input to the UK aquaculture sector and contribute to the Aquaculture Initiative. I have extensive research experience on biofouling, from previous Innovate UK and the Office of Naval Research (USA) projects, and culture of copepods and stalked barnacles, from FCT, PROMAR (Portugal) and ERDF projects. 

I currently lead the Global Food Security project DIVERSEAFOOD (Evaluating the potential of multi-trophic aquaculture to improve nutrition and ecosystem sustainability in the UK) and the N8 project PERCEPT (Towards improved communication in aquaculture: exploring consumers perceptions and attitudes). I am also part of the EU Horizon 2020 project AQUAVITAE (New low trophic species, products and processes in marine aquaculture value chains across the Atlantic).