Success for young marine biology graduate

A FIRST Class Honours Marine Biology graduate who trialled and tested a novel escape gap mechanism for lobster pots has joined the team at MacAlister Elliott & Partners (MEP).
As part of her dissertation, twenty-three-year-old Vicki Gravestock trialled and tested the escape gap for use within local lobster and crab fisheries, in conjunction with the local Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA).
The device is designed to allow the release of juveniles back onto the seabed. The new escape gap design was taken one stage further by the local IFCA, who are now conducting a voluntary district wide trial of the escape gap with fishermen.
Vicki, who graduated from the University of Southampton and winning the prize as best graduate on her course, joins MEP as a Marine Stewardship Council Auditor and Project Officer.
She is no stranger to MEP, having worked with the company on a voluntary internship last summer. Vicki said: I’m delighted to be joining MacAlister Elliott & Partners, especially since I have a real passion for fisheries and they have a strong global reputation within the fishery consultancy world.’
David Elliott, MEP managing director, said: ‘Vicki really proved her worth to us on her voluntary internship last year and we are confident that she will prove an invaluable addition to the team.
‘To have developed an escape gap design that is now being trialled on a commercial basis is a remarkable achievement for someone so young.’