Nicola James

As from January 2009 I have been employed as an Aquatic Biologist at the South African Institute
for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) focusing on global change research. Previous to this I was a
postdoctoral researcher at SAIAB and the South African environmental Observation Network
(SAEON) Elwandle Node. My work at SAEON/SAIAB involved long-term ecological surveys of
Algoa Bay and the ports of Richards Bay, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Mossel Bay,
Cape Town and Coega, and analyzing and publishing existing long-term datasets as well as
publishing the results from my PhD. I have worked as an assistant scientist at the Oceanographic
Research Institute involved in various projects such as reviewing the status of swordfish in South
Africa, analyzing subsistence and recreational fisheries, stock assessments of coastal and
estuarine fish species, long-term monitoring of fish and sand prawns in Durban Harbour and GIS
mapping of the coastline to establish recreational use areas for off road vehicles. I have also
worked on a part-time basis at Talbot & Talbot as a scientific consultant where I was involved in
marine pipeline monitoring and compiled specialist reports for EIA’s. I also conducted surveys of
sediment metal concentrations in Durban Bay and investigated chemicals of concern released via
marine pipelines. My broad research interests include climate and global change, estuarine
population studies, ecological studies and fisheries ecology.