 Marine ecologist and television presenter Maya Plass is a self confessed modern day mermaid. Her working life is spent on or near the water sharing her knowledge and love of the sea, in particular the British coast. She is passionate about communicating marine sciences to the general public in an exciting, knowledgeable and understandable way.
With audiences' interest in the marine environment and the British coast, Maya has recently appeared on BBCs Springwatch, Autumnwatch, The Hungry Sailors and BBC Coast.
Marine and Coastal Specialist
Maya has a BSc in Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology, and an MSc in Integrated Coastal Zone Management.
She studied seahorses at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth and has a sound knowledge of them - both their conservation status and their physiology.
Her MSc dissertation, An Evaluation of Sustainable Tourism in Peninsula Valdes, Argentina, looked at the impact of “ecotourism” on the World Heritage Site Peninsula Valdes. This gave her a great understanding of all the different perspectives of stakeholders and her report is still used today for policy on this WHS by the organisation that she worked for - Fundacion Vida Silvestre Argentina.
In the UK she developed sustainable coastal management projects in the Exe Estuary in Devon. She also leads on marine education projects in the South West of Britain.
Maya is writing her first book 'RSPB Handbook of the Seashore'. This book is inspired by some of the style of the historical seashore guides but with considerable new content and stories about the sea creatures that live in the intertidal. To be published in Spring 2013 by Bloomsbury.
A Life Changing Assignment
An overseas career highlight for Maya was a trip to Midway Atoll in a leadership role promoting marine education. In June 2010 she was selected to become the first international representative for the PA’A 'experiential leadership programme' in Midway Atoll which helps encourage individuals to work towards marine conservation.
Maya: "Here, I discovered the plight of the albatross and their stomachs filled with plastic. This was an amazing and influential trip and really inspired me to continue to pursue marine conservation. My dream would be to go back and spread the word about this magical place and its amazing triumphs over damaging human impact. As a Marine Protected Area and World Heritage Site it also gave me first-hand experience of the value of Marine Conservation Zones."
Midway was made famous by the “Message in the Waves” film by Rebecca Hosking and her Plastic Bag free Modbury campaign.
www.papahanaumokuakea.gov/education/teachers_midway.html
A Family at Sea
When her daughter was 2 years old Maya started a business that incorporated her knowledge and love of the sea, that could be developed as her daughter was growing, and that would fit in with the practicalities of being a mother. The funds to set up her business, Learn to Sea, came via an award she won in 2008 - Social Entrepreneurs through Unltd.
Maya cherishes time with her husband and daughter who are equally obsessed with the sea. They are an active family who sail, kayak, snorkel and surf. They fish for mackerel, bass, crabs and whatever else they can find sustainably on the shore. And when not on the water they love to travel around the coast of the UK in their camper van.
Maya Plass was born in 1978. She speaks very good French and basic Spanish. |
