An Interview with WiseOceans… Lloyd Nelmes from Sea Trust
This week we chat to Lloyd who used his volunteering experience to land his current job, working with Sea Trust in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Communicating his knowledge and educating the public has been an unexpected, but welcome, focus of his work.

Name: Lloyd Nelmes

Job Title: Project Coordinator

Organisation: Sea Trust CIC

  • What inspired you to pursue a career in marine conservation?

It is hard to pinpoint exactly when but when I was 7 my family went to Kenya and I went snorkelling off a boat for the first time. When I put my head under, the whole water column was full of wildlife, it was amazing.

  • What steps did you take/are you taking to achieve your career goals?

I have always volunteered in related areas and volunteered at my current workplace for a few months before a job came up there. I don’t think I would have been successful in getting the job if I hadn’t volunteered beforehand.

  • How did you land your current job/position? 

Through volunteering for the organisation first.

  • Which part of your job do you enjoy the most?  

Really hard to say, I enjoy it all but standing at Strumble head on a calm sunny day watching porpoise leap out of the water after a good feed has to be up there.

  • Are there aspects of your position which make you feel that you are really ‘making a difference’? 

Definitely, there is the research side of it which will definitely make a difference but you don’t get to see the impact that much. Education is where you can see the most difference, inspiring a love for our marine life really makes a difference towards people attitude and behaviour will is where I believe the real change needs to be.

  • What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were starting out?  

No one thing really stands out but since starting the job I have learnt so much! So many little things and social skills that I didn’t know I lacked. It’s also a big difference putting theory into practice.

  • Are there any skills you never thought you would need but did?

Educational skills, I didn’t think such a huge part of marine biology would envolve guiding and education members of the public. I thought there would be more research opportunities.

  • What advice would you give to budding marine conservationists?  

I know everyone says it but there is no substitute for experience. Even if it’s not in the exact area that you think is relevant.

  • What is your favourite marine creature and why?  

Cnidarians are fascinating, and if I had to be specific I’d say the Dahlia anemone, It’s so pretty, glows under UV, fascinating reproduction, this list is huge. People are always amazed by the anemones in our aquarium once you talk about them.

  • What is your most unforgettable moment in the sea?  

There are so many that come to mind but probably snorkelling in turkey and swimming round into a bay that looked really weird from a distance as I got closer I realised it was completely full of very small silver fish, thousands and thousands of them (not sure what they were). They would part around you and close up again leaving you in a ball of fish, it was incredible.

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Thank you Lloyd. Standing and looking out at leaping porpoises sounds good to us! If you’d like to join Lloyd at Sea Trust they have an amazing internship opportunity right now.

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