I'm a marine species advisor at JNCC with an advisory capacity to UK governments, working with whales, dolphins and porpoises (cetaceans), seals and turtles. My work remit is broad, but a large part of it is supporting our commitment to minimise bycatch of protected species, which globally is the biggest cause of human-induced mortality in cetaceans and many other species.

Bycatch is a hugely complex issue, so I aim to understand successes and challenges experienced further afield to identify what we might apply in the UK and neighbouring waters.

I see the impact of bycatch daily, not only on our charismatic and awe-inspiring marine animals, but on those accidentally catching them in their fishing gears and I want to be a part of the solution.