Plotting the Wild logoPlotting the Wild
Marine ecological modelling

Getting more from
imperfect data.

I'm Dr Tim Awbery, a marine ecologist specialising in cetacean distribution and abundance. I turn messy, opportunistic and hard-won survey data into results that inform policy and protected-area design.

Fully booked to April 2027 · taking enquiries for later in 2027
Get in touch See projects
Science to policy

Making the science count

The first step in conservation is showing there is a problem. The second is showing how big it is. That's where most science stops, but it isn't conservation yet.

I enjoy projects that have the whole pipeline in mind, from data collection to meaningful change. Most of my work feeds directly into policy recommendations or the design of protected areas.

Real-world data

The data is never perfect

Fieldwork gets messy. The weather turns, crew get ill, budgets run short, and you rarely get a second chance. That doesn't mean the data is wasted.

You may not be able to run the analysis you planned, but with the right tools there's almost always something valuable to be learned. Discounted rates are available for non-profit organisations.

Services

What I do

01

Abundance estimation

Distance sampling and density surface models to estimate how many animals are present and where.

02

Species distribution models

Dynamic SDMs built from a range of data sources, specialising in non-systematic, opportunistic and citizen-science data.

03

Bayesian spatial modelling

INLA and inlabru models that handle spatial structure and uncertainty in complex datasets.

04

Surveys and acoustics

Land- and boat-based visual and acoustic surveys in some of the world's most data-deficient regions.

05

Human pressures

Mapping the distribution and magnitude of human impacts and their overlap with marine mammals.

Selected work

Projects

  • Minke whalesDynamic distribution and abundance modelsScotland
  • Sperm whales of the Hellenic TrenchDensity surface modelling and abundance estimationGreece
  • Bottlenose dolphin distributionSpecies distribution modelsMalta
  • Giant Guardians IIOffshore visual and acoustic surveysTürkiye
  • Dolphin researchLow-budget baseline surveysMontenegro
  • First dedicated cetacean surveysBaseline surveysAlbania
  • Migratory pathwaysHumpback whale surveysTanzania
4Continents
15Countries
∞Complex spatial problems
What collaborators say
“I would without a doubt recommend Tim Awbery and Plotting the Wild. We have engaged Tim in a number of complex spatial projects and he has always found a solution!”
Dr Aylin Akkaya, Founder and Scientific Director, DMAD – Marine Mammals Research Association
Contact

Have a project in mind?

I'm based in Dunedin, New Zealand, and work with organisations worldwide. Get in touch to talk about your data and what it could tell you.

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