Our Motivation:

Long-term studies are critical to monitoring the health and status of marine mammal populations. Since 1991, the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation (BMMRO) has compiled an unprecedented longitudinal dataset for cetaceans in the region which has become increasingly valuable to inform about the baseline ecology and conservation of some species both locally and globally. 
 
 
Our Vision:
  1. To conduct scientific field studies in the Bahamas to increase the understanding of species' biology and conservation needs.
  2. To disseminate results that raises awareness and appreciation of marine mammals in the Bahamas and ultimately influences policy makers.
  3. To remain a small professional non-profit organisation, proportional to the needs of the Bahamas.

Board of Directors


 
Jim Brickman
 
Jim is the founder of Brick Breweries in Ontario, Canada. Jim has a strong history in marketing and operations. Jim has been coming to the Bahamas since the 1970's and is married to a Bahamian. Jim joined the Board in 2009, is our Chairman and sits on the Executive and PR committees. 


 
Diane Claridge
 
Diane was born in Nassau and began the Bahamas Marine Mammal Survey in 1991 which later became BMMRO. She completed her PhD in beaked whale population ecology at the University of St Andrews, Scotland in 2013 and serves as Executive Director for BMMRO as well as Vice-President. She is also an honorary research fellow at the University of St Andrews.



Charlotte Dunn
 
Charlotte was born in Nassau and began working with BMMRO in 2004 as a field biologist. She recently completed her PhD in beaked whale communication at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. She serves as BMMRO's President and Treasurer. She is also an honorary research fellow at the University of St Andrews.



Leigh Hickmott
 
Leigh is an independent contract scientist, with over ten years experience conducting marine mammal science in the Bahamas. Leigh has been a BMMRO Board member since shortly after the organisation was founded in 2006. He is currently a PhD student at the University of St Andrews studying the foraging efficiency of Blainville's beaked whales in the Bahamas. Leigh sits on our PR and Science & Advocacy committees.



Matt McCoy
 

Matthew McCoy is a Bahamian science and conservation filmmaker, currently residing in Wilmington, North Carolina. A lifetime of sailing, diving, and thousands of miles of offshore has instilled in him a deep respect for the ocean. Through collaborations with BMMRO he has enthusiastically learned so much more about the diversity and importance of marine life. Matt joined the board in 2010 and is the Chair of our PR committee.



Keith Salvesen
 

Keith Salvesen is a retired British barrister. A founder member of The Delphi Club, a small lodge on Abaco, he started the eclectic Rolling Harbour Bahamian wildlife blog in 2012. His book The Birds of Abaco was published in 2014. More recently Keith developed a shore-watch programme for the rare piping plovers that overwinter on Abaco. Throughout, Keith has followed and promoted the work of the BMMRO, and joined the Board in 2016. He was elected a Fellow of the Linnean Society in London in 2017. Keith sits on our PR committee. (Non-voting member)

 


 

Jim Theriault


Jim is the President and Senior Scientist with Ocean Environmental Consulting. He has a four decade involvement in underwater acoustics with much of that time working on mitigating the potential impacts of man-made sound on marine mammals.  He retired from Defence Research and Development Canada in 2017. Jim joined BMMRO's Scientific Advisory Board in 2009 and is the Chair of our Science & Advocacy committee.