What were you doing before you joined Ulster Wildlife?

Since graduating from university in 2022 with a degree in Marine Biology, I have spent the last couple of years gaining valuable experience in the sector (along with some travelling for good measure!). I spent the summer/autumn of 2022 on the Isle of Mull volunteering for the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust as their Outreach Assistant, and just last year I moved to Orkney to take on the role of Marine Litter Development Officer for the Scottish Islands Federation.

Faith then decided that my next move would be to Northern Ireland (specifically Belfast), somewhere I had never been before starting my role with Ulster Wildlife!

What does a typical day look like?

I am lucky that in this role I have the flexibility to take on and assist with various tasks from different workstreams within the marine team, which means no two days are ever the same.

A typical day, however, would normally start with work on Ulster Wildlife’s native oyster (Ostrea edulis) restoration project. This species was once thriving and abundant throughout Belfast Lough, but populations declined dramatically in the mid-1800s due to overfishing, pollution, invasive species, and disease. This blue carbon habitat restoration project is vital in supporting native oyster populations and boosting biodiversity. The project involves carrying out routine husbandry across three native oyster nursery sites: Bangor, Belfast, and Glenarm. This includes monitoring native oyster growth, biodiversity, and environmental parameters, as well as training and supporting volunteers to undertake regular data collection. Each nursery has a team of volunteers who give up their time to ensure that the project is a success – it has been lovely getting to meet everyone and seeing how much this project means to local communities.

The afternoon might involve one of three tasks; the first being a native oyster intertidal survey. We are currently surveying all the shores around Belfast Lough to investigate the potential presence of small native oyster assemblages and where exactly they are located. The second task would be returning to the office to complete general admin and desk-based tasks such as report writing/reading and data entry.

The third task might be a trip to Queen’s University Marine Laboratory in Portaferry to work on the species ID catalogue. All the native oysters at the nurseries are contained within cages suspended in the water. Each cage collects and becomes a host for an array of marine life such as sea squirts, worms, and a personal favourite within the marine team, sea slugs (particularly nudibranchs). Many of these animals are difficult to ID down to species level due to their small size and slight physical variations, so we collect and take the individuals we are not certain about to the lab to take a closer look. This has enabled a species ID catalogue to be produced which is important in helping to explore habitat relationships, ecosystem structure, and invasive species presence.

Assisting with public and community engagement events is another aspect of my role. I have been to several events so far, such as the Balmoral Show, Foyle Maritime Festival and the Rathlin Sound Festival. At these events, I promote Ulster Wildlife’s marine recovery work while raising awareness for Northern Ireland’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) – a geographical area dedicated to conserving habitats and species within it. My aim at these events is that everyone I engage with leaves having learnt something new about our local waters.

What do you enjoy most? And least?

The thing I enjoy most about my role is the opportunity to meet people from various organisations and sectors. Stakeholder collaboration is so important when it comes to conservation-based work and usually involves engaging with others who share a common goal. For instance, in June I attended an event ran by the Irish Sea Network, an innovative partnership comprising of conservation-driven organisations that surround the Irish Sea. It was extremely interesting to hear about the work that has been accomplished individually and collectively since the partnership’s establishment in 2020, and I left the event having felt very inspired.

Even though I have found there to be no negatives to my role, if I had to choose one aspect I enjoy the least it would be the not-so-pleasant smells associated with the routine maintenance and monitoring of the native oyster nurseries. To put it pleasantly, I do not leave the session smelling the same as when I arrived!

What has been your proudest moment to date?

My proudest moment is knowing that I am actively contributing to marine conservation as part of my career, which is something I have always wanted to do from an early age. It is also really rewarding to share my love and passion with others, especially at outreach events where I have had some enthusiastic and engaging interactions with members of the public. I have enjoyed meeting and getting to know everyone from Ulster Wildlife and being able to represent a charity whose purpose is to protect and restore nature is a great feeling – it makes me proud to work in the environmental sector.

What do you love most about the sea? How do you feel it benefits you? 

The thing I love most about the sea is how dynamic it is. I find it very fascinating that it is an entire world separate from ours, yet the two are both so intrinsically linked. I feel a sense of peace when I am by the sea, and I enjoy whale and dolphin watching too - waiting patiently for a sighting then the excitement of seeing something break the surface is something that will never get old for me.

From regulating the climate and acting as a buffer against the impacts of climate change, to supporting and allowing businesses to thrive and containing extraordinary wildlife and habitats, we owe so much to the sea. It is now more important than ever that we all do what we can to protect it, and National Marine Week is a chance for us all to come together and celebrate the sea and everything it does.