I am a marine biogeographer in the Ecosystems team, with an interest in developing scientific advice for policymakers in the polar regions. My work is focused on research to support conservation of the marine environment and the sustainable use of marine resources, including the development of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and spatial management. I have been a scientific advisor as part of the UK delegation to the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) since 2005.

Research interests

• Spatial planning for conservation and sustainable fisheries
• Design and implementation of Marine Protected Areas
• Research and monitoring in support of protected area management
• Marine ecosystem services

• Linse, K., Grant, S., Whittle, R., Reid, W., McKenzie, M., Federwisch, L., Polfrey, S., & Apeland, B. (2020). Benthic seafloor images from Prince Gustav Channel and Duse Bay, Eastern Antarctic Peninsula, March 2018 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/48dcef16-6719-45e5-a335-3a97f099e451

1. Conservation and leadership in Southern Ocean ecosystems

   CONSEC explores how climate change and human activity are transforming the Southern Ocean, guiding global science and conservation.

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2. Science-Policy Challenges in Polar Conservation and Management

   The British Antarctic Survey and the Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI) are convening a series of half day workshops focused on the science-policy interaction within highly topical conservation and management issues.

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3. Larsen-C Benthos

   The Larsen-C Benthos project studied benthic biodiversity on the seabed exposed by the 2017 calving of the Larsen-C Ice Shelf.

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4. Higher Predators – Long-Term Science

   Higher Predators carries out long-term science to measure changes in Antarctic ecosystems. The aim is to understand the processes that drive these changes.

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5. Building data resources for managing the South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area

   This project ensures the protection and conservation of the region’s rich and diverse marine life, whilst allowing sustainable fisheries.

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6. SO-AntEco Biodiversity

   In this collaboration with the Natural History Museum (NHM) and the University of Liverpool, we have developed novel methods for using existing data to contribute to marine conservation and fisheries […]

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7. Managing South Orkney’s seafloor communities

   SO-AntEco was a British Antarctic Survey (BAS) led expedition undertaken in conjunction with an international team of scientists from the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR) AntEco research programme.

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1. SHIP BLOG: Heading for home

   The ship’s science labs have all been packed up and cleaned, kit boxes stowed in the container, cargo paperwork finished and cruise reports written. The SO-AntEco team is ready to […]

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2. SHIP BLOG: Science Week questions answered from the Southern Ocean

   Last week was UK Science Week, and we asked schools and anyone else who had burning questions about the Antarctic deep sea to send them to us here on the […]

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1. BAS shortlisted for NERC’s 2023 Impact Awards

   The shortlist has been announced for The Natural Environment Research Council’s (NERC) Impact Awards 2023. Four BAS projects have made the shortlist and commended list, ranging from biodiversity and ecology to space weather.

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2. New resource for Marine Protected Areas

   A new Data Portal is being launched today by the British Antarctic Survey and the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI), which will help to enhance the management of one of the world’s largest Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

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3. Report highlights changes in Antarctica

   A new report published today (Tuesday 24 May) sends a strong message to countries responsible for Antarctic governance meeting this week in Berlin, that there’s a need for urgent action on minimising climate change impacts in Antarctica and their far-reaching global consequences.

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4. Leading scientists warn of global impacts as Antarctic nears tipping points

   As governments convene for the annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) June 14–24, 2021, an Expert Working Group1 of leading Antarctic scientists warns that climate change is pushing this remote […]

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5. Penguins benefit from extended maritime zone

   Gentoo penguins are benefiting from a newly enlarged no-fishing zone (known as a No-Take Zone NTZ) around the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia following British Antarctic Survey (BAS) tracking research […]

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6. International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2020

   The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is organised by UNESCO and UN-Women to promote full and equal access and participation in science for women and girls. The United […]

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7. Studies highlight fragility of Antarctic ecosystems

   Two studies published in a special issue of the journal Science Advances this week (27 November 2019) highlight the fragility of the Antarctic and its ecosystems in the lead up […]

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8. Bright spots at the science-policy-practice interface – what makes a success story?

   This workshop is the 3rd in a series of workshops the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI) are convening on Science-Policy Challenges in Polar Conservation and Management.

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9. Scientists join policy makers to discuss conservation

   BAS marine researchers join nearly 300 international delegates at the annual meeting of the Convention on the Conservation or Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) beginning in Hobart today. For the […]

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10. Science meetings on conservation of Southern Ocean

    Science meetings of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) take place over the next two weeks (starting 2 July 2018) at the Cambridge Headquarters of […]

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11. Special protection for area exposed by Larsen C iceberg

    An international agreement is now in place to give special protection to the area of ocean left exposed when one of the largest icebergs ever recorded broke free from the […]

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12. Huge Antarctic iceberg finally breaks free

    After months of ‘hanging by a thread’ a vast iceberg the size of Norfolk has finally broken off Antarctica’s Larsen C Ice Shelf.  Around 30 metres of this 190m thick […]

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13. South Orkneys Marine Protected Area

    A UK proposal for the designation of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) covering a large area of the Southern Ocean in the British Antarctic Territory, south of the South Orkney […]

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