APEM’s experienced marine scientists support regulatory and nature conservation bodies and NGOs, providing independent scientific advice on marine and coastal conservation.
Our work includes protected areas, selection of sites and features for designation and monitoring, and the assessment of existing designations.
We provide a full suite of marine ecology services, including field surveys, laboratory analysis, expert marine consultancy advice and technical support.
APEM’s marine ecologists have in-depth knowledge of a wide variety of current marine conservation issues, both in the UK and overseas.
Our focus is on providing a high quality service so that our estuaries, coasts and offshore waters can be managed effectively, ensuring a long-term future for marine species and habitats around the UK and beyond.
Our team’s strong technical knowledge of marine ecosystems ranges from littoral to seabed habitats and associated species, and includes very important systems such as shallow water seagrass beds, tropical reefs, deep sea coral gardens and sponge aggregations. We also possess expert knowledge of threats posed by non-native species to local biodiversity.
Our marine ecologists have a detailed knowledge of marine fauna, including protected species such as birds, marine mammals and fish, including migratory fish and shark and ray species, their habitat dependencies and the functional linkages between biotic and abiotic factors controlling their populations.
APEM’s marine ecologists have worked on marine management and conservation projects around the globe, including UK estuarine, coastal, offshore and deep sea environments, European marginal seas and ocean basins worldwide.
We use this expertise to provide scientific advice to regulatory bodies and nature conservation organisations throughout the designation process, from advice on the data that supports proposed designations, to condition monitoring and the assessment of existing protected areas and associated features.
We have considerable experience of working with regulators and nature conservation bodies on designated conservation sites, including Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs), Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).
In 2015, APEM completed an independent review of the Scottish MPA network, which enabled Marine Scotland, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Scottish Natural Heritage to finalise their proposals to the Scottish government.
Our experience also enabled us to undertake, on behalf of Natural England, Scottish National Heritage and the Irish Marine Institute, monitoring and condition assessments for a number of protected areas in England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.
Our projects are often carried out in partnerships with external experts and are designed to ensure that the most robust survey and analysis possible is provided at competitive cost, whilst ensuring our approach could be replicated in the future for long-term assessments of conservation targets and biodiversity.
Marine nature conservation services are just one element of APEM’s broader marine consultancy services.
The team at APEM would be happy to answer any questions you have about marine nature conservation. Please use the form below to get in touch.
Read one of APEM’s blogs, news articles or case studies to find out more.
Following an initial 12 months of digital aerial marine wildlife surveys, Beacon Wind has commissioned APEM Inc for a further 12 surveys
+ Read moreFollowing APEM’s recent opening of an office in Cork, we have been awarded a further project by the Marine Institute Ireland
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