MARINE SCIENCES

Qualifications:
BSc Environmental Biology and Education, University of Brighton, United Kingdom, 2011 – 2014
MSc Sustainable Aquaculture, University of St. Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom, 2014 – 2017 
PhD Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom, 2018 – 2023

Periklis Kleitou is working at the interface of applied marine ecology, fisheries, aquaculture, conservation and policy. His work focuses on turning ecological data, socio-economic evidence and stakeholder knowledge into practical management measures for marine ecosystems, with particular emphasis on non-indigenous species, marine protected areas, elasmobranch conservation, sustainable fisheries, aquaculture and priority marine habitats.

He holds a PhD in Marine Sciences from the University of Plymouth, where his research focused on the management of non-indigenous species in the Mediterranean Sea, with emphasis on lionfish. He also holds an MSc in Sustainable Aquaculture from the University of St Andrews and a BSc in Environmental Biology and Education from the University of Brighton. Much of his academic development took place alongside applied work at MER, combining field surveys, data analysis, technical reporting, stakeholder engagement and coordination of marine research projects.

Periklis has held leadership and implementation roles in more than 80 funded projects. His project experience spans biodiversity assessments and ecological surveys, invasive species monitoring and management, ecosystems restoration, sustainable aquaculture, elasmobranch conservation, fisheries, marine protected areas, artificial reefs, coastal water monitoring and habitat vulnerability assessments.

A defining part of his work is connecting science with society. He works closely with fishers, divers, aquaculture producers, public authorities, managers and policymakers, using stakeholder engagement, local ecological knowledge and citizen science to support marine conservation and management. Through MER, his long-standing voluntary work with iSea, and initiatives such as MECO, he has helped turn public observations and fisher participation into usable evidence for research, monitoring and decision-making.

Between 2018 and 2022, Periklis also worked as a marine scientist at the University of Plymouth, contributing to doctoral research and collaborative scientific outputs. He has published extensively, with more than 80 peer-reviewed articles, over 100 technical and other reports, and more than 50 conference contributions. He serves as Associate Editor for Frontiers in Fish Science, has guest-edited for Frontiers in Marine Science and Fishes, and reviews for a wide range of international marine and environmental journals.

His field background includes diving- and vessel-based surveys, offshore sampling, fisheries data collection, marine mammal observation, training and stakeholder-based field research. He is certified for offshore work, a JNCC Marine Mammal Observer, certified diver, skipper and first-aid qualified. During his compulsory military service in Cyprus, he graduated first in his class from the 70th Navy SEAL School.

Contact at pkleitou@merresearch.com