Rachel Charish

Associate Scientist

Email: rc@smruconsulting.com

Rachel Charish joined SMRU Consulting as a Project Scientist in 2022. Rachel is a marine acoustician with an interest in understanding anthropogenic impacts on cetaceans. Rachel first became interested in cetacean ecology while working as a marine naturalist for a whale-watching company based in the Canadian Pacific Northwest. She developed cetacean identification skills during this time and an awareness of the anthropogenic impacts associated with underwater noise. Rachel subsequently enrolled in an interdisciplinary MSc program at Ghent University, with study semesters in Spain, Italy, and Ireland, and completed coursework in MPA Management, Marine GIS and Spatial Planning, and Marine Acoustics. Rachel’s graduate research involved analysing C-POD data to model trends in dolphin and harbour porpoise presence and foraging on the west coast of Ireland. Rachel has completed several contracts processing spatial and acoustic datasets for Wildlife Conservation Society Canada. In addition to Rachel’s experience analysing data and reporting scientific results, Rachel has a background in stakeholder engagement and science communication.

  • Degrees and Education

    • 2020 MSc Marine Biological Resources, Ghent University, Belgium

    • 2014 BSc Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Canada

    Skills and Expertise

    Bioacoustics, cetacean identification, data analysis, stakeholder engagement and science communication, R, Raven Pro, PAMGuard, MATLAB, ArcGIS, C-POD, MS Office.

    Key experience

    • Underwater ambient noise analyses and cetacean PAM.

    • Acoustic analysis of Arctic marine datasets.

    • Processed large marine spatial datasets in ArcGIS to assess the impacts of vessel traffic on Arctic marine mammals.

    • Statistical modelling in R.

    • Practical experience evaluating the boundaries of the Lower River Shannon SAC and a deep understanding of MPA-relevant legislation such as the EU Habitats Directive.

    • Organized a conference on marine pollution and Single-Use Plastics Directive. Responsible for all aspects of conference planning including stakeholder identification and engagement, conference design, social media promotion, and drafting press releases.

    • Extensive boat-based experience including ship-based surveys during graduate studies, operating a small commercial vessel in a busy inner harbour, and working as a marine naturalist for a whale watching company.

  • Martin M J, Halliday W D, Ferguson S H, Young B G, Charish R, Dawson J, Fortune S M E, Juanes F,, Qaunaq L, & Insley S J (2024). Exposure of satellite tagged bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) to transiting vessels in the Eastern Canadian Arctic. Marine Mammal Science, e13125. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.13125

    Charish R, Berrow S & O’Brien J (2021). Acoustic monitoring of a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) population: Trends in presence and foraging beyond the limits of the Lower River Shannon SAC. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 9: 650.

    Beakes M, Sharron S, Charish R, Moore J, Satterthwaite WH, Sturm E, Wells BK, Sogard SM & Mangel M (2014). Using scale characteristics and water temperature to reconstruct growth rates of juvenile steelhead Oncorhyncus mykiss. Journal of Fish Biology 84: 58-72.

  • Key Projects

    • Monitoring and reporting on underwater noise levels in Burrard Inlet for the Port of Vancouver’s ECHO Program.

    • Reviewing killer whale and harbour porpoise detections in Burrard Inlet for the Port of Vancouver’s ECHO Program.

    • Long-term monitoring of the Lime Kiln hydrophone.

    • Assessing the performance of C-PODs used at the FORCE tidal turbine demonstration site in the Bay of Fundy

    • Comparing PAM and MMO data on cetacean presence at Lime Kiln, WA.

    • Processing C-POD data from the Scottish ECOMMAS, NNG and Seagreen sites

    • Animal movement modelling in the context of offshore wind noise risk assessment.

  • Phone: +1 (604) 737-7678

    Email: rc@smruconsulting.com

    Mail: 604 – 55 Water Street

    Vancouver, BC

    V6B 1A1 Canada