MARINE ECOLOGIST AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT

Marine and Coastal Ecology, Fisheries, Water Quality and Habitat Assessment

Dr Richard Unsworth M.Sc B.Sc CMarSci

Chartered Marine Scientist (IMarEST)

I am a marine ecologist with eight years experience in academic research, commercial and non-governmental organisations. I have a specialist knowledge of habitat connectivity, seagrass ecosystems and tropical marine ecology. I currently work for an international environmental and engineering consultancy called Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) in Brisbane. At SKM Brisbane I work within an extensive Marine, Coastal and Freshwater Science Team which includes a number of exceptionally experienced and internationally recognised scientists. Recent and planned consultancy projects include an Environmental Impact Assessment for a power station in Indonesia, seagrass monitoring for DPI&F/GBRMPA, offshore LNG plants and Port Exansions in Western Australia, and a mangrove management and offsetting plan. My consulting work is primarily focused around marine habitat and water quality environmental impact assessments arising from coastal dredging projects.

My recent PhD was titled ‘Aspects of the ecology of Indo-Pacific seagrass systems’. This study provided information on the key ecological structuring processes within Indo-Pacific seagrass beds, information pertinent to successful future management of these threatened systems. Additional recent research has also involved monitoring of fisheries; collaborative work on direct economic value of habitats; research on ecological theory relating to coral ‘bombies’ and research into the effect of marine reserves on top predatory fish. My involvement in conservation and research projects includes periods in Indonesia, Philippines, Portugal, Azores and the Isles of Orkney.

I am continually developing relations with NGOs, private consultancies and academia to develop research and consultancy projects, and a long-term career in environmental consultancy and natural resource management. The creation of Orthia Marine as a private consulting company is a long-term development of Dr Richard Unsworth. 

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