Episode 115: Alistair Cheal (Coral Reef Ecologist) - Part 1

This episode features Part 1 of Craig's interview with coral reef ecologist Alistair Cheal, who, prior to retirement in 2021, was a scientist with the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in Townsville (Qld) for 25 years.  You will hear Alistair relate his interesting path from birth in Jamaica to his upbringing in Western Australia, a Bachelor of Science in Zoology at the University of Western Australia and onto three jobs he did prior to joining AIMS, each of which carries a great story. He also talks of his early years at AIMS, monitoring fish populations and coral health on the Great Barrier Reef, which included the "manta towing" method of census and assessment (often jokingly referred to by fishers as the 'human lure' technique).  Part 2 of Alistair's interview will feature as the next episode of Vibes Under The Sea.