Marie Seraphim

Marine biologist, skilled in coral reef monitoring, reef restoration techniques and identification of tropical marine species.

I have extensive research experience on marine ecosytems with a focus on coral reef habitats. I have in depth identification skills in regards to corals, coral diseases, coral fish, algae and tropical marine invertebrates. I have several years of experience in underwater visual censues and hold a PADI Divemaster scuba-diving license.  I also have spent several years refining my training and education skills through a variety of projects such as conducting educational fieldtrips with school children, creating online training modules on sutainable fishing for academics, leading groups of scientific volunteers and lecturing and supervising undergraduate students as part of my PhD.

As a Ph.D. student at the University of the West of Scotland, I am currently conducting research on the effects of coral reef restoration on tropical fish communities. My research takes place on the MARS large-scale coral reef restoration project in Indonesia (Sulawesi). As part of the rehabilitation, thousands of coral fragments have been grown and attached to manmade metal frames which have been placed over regions of damaged reef. I have been monitoring the recolonization of coral fish by conducting over 200 underwater surveys on the coral frames and capturing over 400 hours of video footage with remote go-pro cameras to track predatory fish species. My research will give us a better understanding of important ecological processes on restored reefs.

MARS Inc, MARS Sustainable Solutions, Waltham Centre For Pet Nutrition

Florida International University, Hasanuddin University, University of Exeter, University of Rhode Island

Sutainable Fishing Practices, Fisheries Ecolabelling, Community Outreach