My research career was spent with the Biology Department of the Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, Wormley, Godalming, UK (now Southampton Oceanography Centre) a unit internationally renowned for its development of highly innovative and successful biological sampling systems.

I have had over twenty two years of involvement at both laboratory and field stages with the design, development and refinement of a wide variety of samplers. These ranged from sophisticated opening-closing mid-water and epibenthic nets to such devices as 'pop-up' corers, large volume sediment traps and benthic sieving systems.

On the practical, sea-going side, I acquired extensive experience of gear-handling and the problems associated with it, through my participation in over thirty oceanographic cruises on major British, French, German, Dutch and Japanese research vessels.

I set up THE NET WORKS in 1994, since when we have been supplying nets and expertise to leaders in the field of marine research.