FinVision

University of Plymouth / Plymouth Science Park

Ben Ciotti
Project lead

Ben is a lecturer and marine biology programme leader at the University of Plymouth. He is also the project lead for FinVision and an expert in wild juvenile fish ecology and physiology. His approach builds on physiological fundamentals, modern molecular tools, field surveys, laboratory experiments and statistical analysis to address contemporary ecological concerns.

Oliver Tills
UKRI Future Leaders Fellow

Oliver is a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and founder of the EmbryoPhenomics technology currently based at the University of Plymouth. He has a background in developmental ecophysiology and has developed cutting edge technologies to help him advance research in to the effects of environment on the development of aquatic organisms.

Tony Wilson
Research Assistant in Environmental Science

Keiron Fraser
Associate Professor in Marine Conservation & Project Diving Lead

Keiron is the academic lead for the Plymouth Marine Station and the University Diving Officer. He currently heads up one of the largest scientific diver training programmes in Europe and has 25 year’s experience as a professional diver and operational manager.

Ryan Hepburn
Research Assistant

Ryan is a research assistant in fish ecology located at the University of Plymouth. His work focuses on the development of novel camera technology to monitor the earliest juvenile stages of fish and the essential habitats required for their development.

Benjamin Larsen
Digital Applications Engineer - Camera Development

Benjamin works at the Plymouth Science Park and is experienced in additive manufacturing and robotics. He uses his expertise in design manufacturing to develop state-of-the-art structures and housings for our underwater cameras as well as many other interesting projects.

PROJECT PARTNERS

Bass Anglers' Sportfishing Society

Robin Bradley
Science Lead - BASS

Robin Bradley is Science Lead for the Bass Anglers' Sportfishing Society, which is currently involved in three FISP projects, and runs their catch recording scheme. He leads a team of volunteers who carry out juvenile bass surveys in Cornish estuaries. Robin is also a member of the Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority.

Institute of Fisheries Management

Paul Coulson
Director of Operations - IFM

Paul is the Director of Operations for the Institute of Fisheries Management. He has worked with fish and fisheries for all of his career though until recently this was predominantly in the freshwater world. He has spent the last couple of years working with his colleagues Steve Colclough and Iain Turner to improve his transitional and marine fish knowledge and now quite enjoys wandering through saltmarsh and wading around in estuaries.

Steve Colclough
Marine and Estuarine Specialist - IFM

Steve spent 35 years in the Environment Agency, rising to become a national expert on fish ecology and fisheries management in estuaries and saltmarshes. As an active long standing member of the IFM, Steve was invited in 2011 to set up a Specialist Section of the Institute concentrating on marine and estuarine waters. Today, Steve continues to do some consultancy work and is active in advocacy and promotion of more sustainable marine fisheries management through the Institute. Operating through the Institute, his two major workloads today are the development of citizen science intertidal fish survey programmes and the protection and restoration of the two native sturgeon species in the UK.

Angling Trust

Hannah Rudd
Policy and Advocacy Manager

Hannah Rudd is the Policy & Advocacy Manager at the Angling Trust and plays an active role in recreational fisheries science and policy development. The Angling Trust are leading on the communications of FinVision and hope to work with sea anglers to identify species of recreational interest, like bass, mullet and flounder, in their earliest life stages and preferred habitat.