About MarLIN
'The Marine Life Information Network - MarLIN' is an initiative of the Marine Biological Association of the UK (MBA). MarLIN pioneered the use of the Web for the dissemination of quality assured information on marine biodiversity of the North East Atlantic.
MarLIN aims to:
In the last ten years, MarLIN has become the most comprehensive source of information on the marine biodiversity of the North East Atlantic. Our information is made freely and rapidly available through the Internet. The programme has developed in collaboration with the major environmental protection agencies in the United Kingdom together with academic institutions.
The aims of MarLIN are progressed through the following programms of work.
- Biodiversity and Conservation Science (BACS).
- Education and Outreach.
- Marine Life Recording.
The data acquisition and dissemination programme of MarLIN transferred to the Data Archive for Seabed Species and Habitats (DASSH), a national marine data archive centre
Biodiversity and Conservation Science programme 
Its core aim is to:
To fulfil this aim, the BACS information web pages provide a comprehensive review of the marine biodiversity of Britain and Ireland, including marine species and habitats, their ecology, habitat preferences, distribution and life histories. In addition, information on the likely effects of human activities and natural events (i.e. sensitivity) is included.
The BACS programme also conducts contract research for statutory and other Government agencies, NGOs, and policy makers on aspects of marine biodiversity, marine environmental management, marine spatial planning (MSP) and marine protected areas (MPAs)
Education and outreach programme
The 'Education and outreach' programme aims:
The programme engages at local, regional and national level with schools and community groups. We run a number of seashore safaris with schools and the public as well as teacher training and other events. We produce a range of guides and activities for all users. We also run national education programmes including the Shore Thing engaging with students and the public to undertake shore surveys.
Recording Marine Life programme
The 'Recording' programme aims:
Towards this aim, the 'recording' web pages provide access to our on-line marine life recording scheme. The recording web pages also link to other recording schemes via the 'Sealife Signpost'. The 'recording' programme works with local and national recording schemes to improve data flow, data standards and information exchange.
All data collected through the MarLIN recording scheme are progressed to DASSH and made available as widely as possible through websites such as the National Biodiversity Network (NBN), the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).
The MarLIN Team
Dr Harvey Tyler-Walters, BSc, PhD, MSc - Strategic Director
Harvey is responsible for the strategic development of MarLIN and leads the Biology and Conservation Science (BACS) programme. Harvey supervises information research staff and manages biodiversity and information research contracts.
Jon Parr, BSc, MSc, MRICS - Programme Manager
Jon manages the overall MarLIN programme including contract management. Jon leads the 'Education and Outreach' and 'Marine Life Recording' programmes.
Dan Lear, BSc, MSc - Information Systems Co-ordinator / DASSH Project Co-ordinator
Dan oversees software development, including the MarLIN Website, associated databases and MarLINs spatial mapping capabilities. Dan is a certified Linux Systems Administrator and ESRI trained.
Dan also coordinates the Data Archive Seabed Species and Habitats (DASSH) project which is the national marine data archive centre for species and habitat data and images, at the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.
Emma Jackson
Olivia Langmead
Emma Jackson and Olivia Langmead, BSc, PhD - BACS Programme managers (job-share)
Emma and Olivia manage the BACS programme of MarLIN and oversee the development of the species and habitat information web pages of MarLIN. They are responsible for the development of our contract research programme and undertake research into marine biodiversity, conservation, and spatial planning.
In addition, Olivia and Emma manage the UK Marine Protected Areas Centre.
Guy Baker, BSc, MSc - Communication & Outreach Officer
Guy develops the Learning Zone Website, education / recording projects and produces outreach materials. He acts as the point-of-contact for the MarLIN Education and Outreach programme, liaises with the press and answers enquiries, and provides the secretariat for our Advisory Group.
Jack Sewell, BSc, MSc - MarLIN Education and Research Officer
Jack is involved in a number of educational and research projects. He provides expertise for non-native species projects and coordinates our schools activities and 'Seashore Safaris'. He also creates illustrations, graphics and visualizations for use in reports and other MarLIN products.
Becky Seeley, BSc, MSc - Biological Records Officer
Becky maintains and manages marine life data holdings within the MarLIN programme and, in particular, the Data Archive for Seabed Species and Habitats (DASSH) project. Becky also manages our volunteer biological records and the sightings section of the website.
Jayne Evans, BSc - Biological Records Assistant / GIS Officer
Jayne works for the DASSH project and is responsible for inputting data sets and updating sightings and survey data. Jayne is also responsible for overseeing data validation and helping to update databases and web pages. Jayne provides GIS support on a number of research contracts
Fiona Crouch, HND, MSc - Shore Thing Project Co-ordinator
Fiona co-ordinates the Heritage Lottery funded Shore Thing Project. She is developing a national training programme for teachers and volunteers, resources and a programme of Shore Thing surveys throughout the country. Fiona also attends events and festivals to promote the work of MarLIN and likes nothing more than fishing around in rockpools.
Cat Wilding, BSc - BACS Information Assistant
Cat prepares information on marine species and habitats for the BACS programme. In particular, she is working on guidance on Scottish priority species and habitats for Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).
Stuart Higgs, BSc - Data Assistant
Stuart assists on various MarLIN and DASSH projects with data entry, validation and GIS applications.
Ian Luckraft, Bsc - MBA/MarLIN Web Developer
Ian is responsible for the design and maintenance of the MBA, MarLIN and affiliated websites.