Marine Ecological Surveys Ltd. was established in 1975 when it was already becoming clear that there was a need for authoritative scientific advice on the impact of major industrial and construction proposals on environmental resources in coastal and adjacent habitats. Since that time, legislative pressures on Companies operating in European waters have increased to a point where an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is now imposed as a standard requirement under E.C Directive No 97/11/EC by Statutory Authorities for most major projects which are likely to have an impact on environmental resources. Similar legislation has been widely adopted elsewhere worldwide to an extent that a responsible Environmental Impact Assessment should now be regarded by operating Companies as a necessary part of the Consent procedure before works can begin, and as a means of protecting themselves against unwarranted claims of environmental damage.

Marine Ecological Surveys Ltd. specialises in advice to Government and Industry on how major industrial and tourism-related developments can be implemented without prejudice to the financial viability of the project, or damage to the environmental resources upon which the projects depend. The Company has been active in monitoring the impact of industrial wastes discharges; mine waste disposal, dredging and ports & harbours developments worldwide over the past 30-years. These surveys have been used to define the limits of environmental impact of a wide range of activities from oil exploration to industrial wastes discharge and mining activities worldwide. They have been widely used both to obtain initial finances and consents for operation and to protect companies from unwarranted claims of environmental damage by Third Parties.

Marine Ecological Surveys Ltd. has specialist expertise in the preparation of full Terms of Reference (TOR), Scoping Documents and literature reviews for Environmental Impact Assessment and Impact Statements for major engineering and industrial projects in coastal, estuarine and marine environments. MESL has experience in baseline monitoring surveys for coastal windfarm installations. The Company also regularly carries out the complete range of data collection surveys approved as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment process for marine biological resources including plankton studies, fisheries assessment, impacts on marine benthic communities and food webs leading to commercially significant fish stocks, birds and mammals. Most of our work is carried out by our permanent staff and includes specialist expertise in GIS technology, multi-variate community structure, and presentation techniques suitable for electronic transmission. For the purposes of assessment of impacts on birds and mammals, we supplement our in-house expertise with external certificated consultants.

A feature of the Company is that all our staff are recognised experts in their fields and specialise in all aspects of Environmental Assessment and fisheries & wildlife enhancement projects. They are available as Expert Witnesses in litigation proceedings, and are expected to give authoritative advice in strategic planning of environmental policy to both Government and industry. This has led to an increasing involvement in a wide range of environmental impact assessment, including socio-economic effects, wildlife resource management and effluent treatment systems for proposed industrial developments worldwide.

Two of our directors, Dr.R.C.Newell BSc, PhD, DSc (Lond) and Dr.L.J.Seiderer BSc, PhD have been actively involved in the preparation of Expert Testimony and representation of clients in recent years. Dr.Newell has presented evidence to a House of Lords Select Committee on the Humber, and to a subsequent Public Inquiry. Both Dr.Newell and Dr.Seiderer prepared and presented evidence for a recent Public Inquiry on behalf of East Sussex County Council. Dr.Newell presented evidence for a Public Inquiry in relation to the London Gateway Port Development on behalf of the developer P&O. Dr.Newell is also on the OSPAR Sustainable Energy Panel, following the OSPAR Environmental Assessment of Renewable Energy in the Marine Environment workshop.

Marine Ecological Surveys Limited is equipped with all necessary apparatus for the separation/identification of macrobenthic fauna and subsequent analyses. Our staff are fully qualified to carry out faunal analysis using the facilities available in our well-equipped on-site laboratory. This information is assimilated using the latest computer software including the statistical software package PRIMER for community analysis and GIS (MapInfo) for resource mapping and data presentation. All MES Survey data (including survey logs, physiochemical and biological data), is stored within our specially tailored UNICORN data management system. All staff members have received appropriate training with regard to these packages.

For projects which require extensive geophysical work, we have collaborated with Andrews Survey of Great Yarmouth, UK. They have extensive expertise in bathymetry, side scan and mosaic techniques, sediment core sampling, current monitoring and other methods of sampling the seabed environment. These data are fed into our biological analyses of seabed communities, to produce GIS images that relate the physical environment to the distribution of biological resources of conservation and economic significance. The work includes sophisticated multi-dimensional modelling techniques to predict changes in the physical environment associated with major infrastructure developments, and the impacts on biological community composition.

Marine Ecological Surveys Limited is currently insured for £5 million public liability, £2 million professional indemnity and £10 million for employers liability. Policy summaries can be supplied on request.