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Profile
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Profile
The main focus of my current research is assessing distribution, relative abundance and habitat use of marine mammals (particularly small cetaceans such as harbour porpoise) within tidal channels and other areas of high tidal flow, as part of the MaREE project. These areas are of interest to tidal energy developers, but very little is known about how marine mammals use these features. This work aims to identify the extent to which small cetaceans make use of such small-scale features over the course of tidal, diurnal and seasonal cycles, and how important these features might be in terms of conservation.
In addition, I have an interest in understanding interactions between large marine vertebrates (marine mammals, seabirds, marine turtles, sharks etc.) and fisheries, especially in the Northwest Atlantic. I have also been involved in developing status assessments for all major marine benthic habitats in UK waters (from the intertidal to the deep sea).
At the Scottish Marine Institute I am a member of the ...
Education / Career
2010-present
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PDRA Marine Mammal Ecology. SAMS
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2009-2010
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Postdoctoral Research Assistant. Department of Zoology, University of Otago, New Zealand |
2007-2009
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Marine Assessment Officer, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC),
Peterborough, Cambs., UK, involved in developing UK-wide marine status
report Charting Progress II |
2002-2007
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PhD 'Incidental catch of marine megafauna in gillnet fisheries in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Memorial University of Newfoundland
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2001
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Junior Researcher. Dutch Institute for Fisheries Research (RIVO-DLO,
now IMARES), involved in developing a local fishery observer program in
Mauritania (West Africa) |
2000
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Research Assistant. Danish Institute for Fisheries Research (DFU, now
DTU), involved in harbour porpoise bycatch recovery program |
1994-1999
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Combined B.Sc./Master’s degree in Marine Biology. University of Groningen. The Netherlands
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Project
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In support of the development of marine renewable energy in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, the MaREE project explores the environmental and socio-economic issues related to these developments.
The programme seeks to build on existing expertise in marine environmental sciences and the unique resource potential of the region in order to develop an integrated, holistic understanding of the environmental considerations surrounding marine renewable energy development in Scotland.
The MaREE project works towards delivering and sustaining a step-change in capacity and quality in research across the University of the Highlands and Islands partnership and establishing research excellence in niche areas. The partnership between the Environmental Research Institute and the Scottish Marine Institute is based on an integrated collaborative programme across three themes:
- Theme 1: Resource and Risk
- Theme 2: Environmental Impacts
- Theme 3: Towards sustainability management, policy and communities
Researchers from the Scottish Marine Institute are leading the 'Environmental Impacts' theme, which involves assessing potential environmental impacts of marine renewable energy devices on a wide range of species, from benthic invertebrates to marine mammals and seabirds.
For further information please see the main project website.
Project details
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Publications
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Benjamins, S., Ledwell, W., Huntington, J., and Davidson, A.R. Assessing changes in numbers and distribution of large whale entanglements in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Marine Mammal Science (in press).
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Stenson, G., Benjamins, S., and Reddin, D. 2011. Using bycatch data to understand habitat use of small cetaceans: lessons from an experimental driftnet fishery. ICES Journal of Marine Science 68(5): 937-946.
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Benjamins, S., Kulka, D. W., and Lawson, J. 2010. Recent incidental catch of sharks in gillnet fisheries of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Endangered Species Research 11(2): 133-146.
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Aish, A., Ashworth, J., Barrio Froján, B., Benjamins, S., Bolam, S., Brazier, P., Brockington, S., Chaniotis, P., Clements, A., Coggan, R., Coltman, N., Connor, D., Coyle, M., Davies, J., Edwards, H., Edwards, T., Greathead, C., Greenstreet, S., Hall-Spencer, J., Hawkridge, J., Hiscock. K., Howell. K., Hughes, A., Ide, R., James, B., Kelly, C., Khan-Marnie, J., Mackie, T., Manson, F., Mazik, K., Mieszkowska, N., Moore, J., O’Reilly, M., Pirie, P., Prior, A., Reach, I., Rees, I., Robinson, L., Sanderson, B., Service, M., Stoker, B., Tellier, P. and Verling, E. 2010. Charting Progress 2 Healthy and Biological Diverse Seas Feeder Report: Section 3.1: Marine Habitats. Published by Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs on behalf of UKMMAS. p68-271. In: UKMMAS (2010) Charting Progress 2 Healthy and Biological Diverse Seas Feeder Report (Eds. Frost, M. & Hawkridge, J.).
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Benjamins, S., Kulka, D. W., and Lawson, J. 2008. Incidental catch of seabirds in Newfoundland and Labrador gillnet fisheries, 2001-2003. Endangered Species Research 5(2-3): 149-160.
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Benjamins, S., Lawson, J., and Stenson, G. 2007. Recent Harbor Porpoise Bycatch in Newfoundland, Canada’s Gillnet Fisheries. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 9(3): 189-199.
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Teaching
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Lecturing
- 2010: Assistant instructor 'Biology and Behaviour of Marine Vertebrates' (Marine Science Department) and 'Conservation of Marine Mammals' (Zoology Department). University of Otago, New Zealand
- 2005-2007: Instructor/Assistant Instructor 'Biology of Marine Mammals field course', Biology Department, Memorial University of Newfoundland, and Huntsman Marine Science Centre, St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada.
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Dr Steven Benjamins
E: Steven.Benjamins@sams.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1631 559 449
M: +44 (0)7535 018 417
F: +44 (0) 1631 559 001
Scottish Marine Institute
Oban, Argyll PA37 1QA, UK
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