Linkedin Youtube Bluesky Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.comBluesky
Annual Science MEETINg

Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland

Deep Sea Forum

Research

Welcome to the MASTS Deep Sea Forum

This Forum provides a platform for knowledge exchange (information, education, networking), enabling the MASTS community to collaborate on Deep Sea Research.
As a more holistic approach to studying the deep-sea is needed to solve present issues this Forum engages researchers representing a variety of disciplines.

Get Involved!

News & Events

Forum Activities

Working Groups

MASTS Research Forums and Working Groups form the major scientific driving force of the MASTS community. Working Groups (WG) provide opportunities for more focused Forum and cross-Forum activities, addressing specific time-bound challenges related to established or emerging areas of marine research, policy initiatives or regulation.

Drawing of a rock under water with crabs and plants on top of it
Credit: Emily Hague "Deep Sea Scene"
2025: MASTS Working Group “Effects of Climate Change on Scottish Deep Seas – a Story Map & Policy Brief”

The MASTS Deep Sea Community identified the need for clear communication of the impacts of climate change on Scottish deep-sea ecosystems together with the associated socio-economic impacts. The Forum formed a Working Group which produced an interactive Story Map and a Policy Brief, both of which were published in March 2025 and can be viewed here: 

STORY MAP – Effects of Climate Change on Scottish Deep Seas

POLICY BRIEF – Protecting Scotland’s Deep Sea in a Changing Climate

Open Forum Sessions

MASTS Open Forum Sessions aim at connecting the MASTS community with its diverse Research Forums and Steering Groups. At these online sessions, Forums “open their doors” to present their members’ work, network with the community and exchange ideas on Forum objectives and activities.

Abstract art and text
“Microplastics & Marine Carbon Dioxide” (2024)

A recording of this session is available on the MASTS YouTube Channel! Talks from Dr Rachel Brackenridge, Senior Lecturer at the University of Aberdeen “The deposition of microplastics in the deep ocean” and Dr Marta Maria Cecchetto, Postdoc at Heriot-Watt University “Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal, the new (old) challenges“

MASTS Annual Science Meetings

The MASTS ASM is a cross-disciplinary event that brings together the marine science community, with the aim of promoting and communicating research excellence and forging new collaborations. The event includes expert plenary speakers, general science and panel sessions, and e-posters.
Please see here for an overview of previous ASMs and programmes. 

The Forum hosted a Workshop to finalise their Story Map and Policy Brief on “The Effects of Climate Change on Scottish Deep Seas”.

Please see the full programme here.

The Forum hosted as Special Session with a variety of interesting talks. 

Please see the full programme here.

  • Mauvis Gore (Heriot-Watt University): “Characterisation and Mapping of Cayman Islands Deep Reef Invertebrate and Fish Communities”
  • Danielle de Jonge (SAMS): “How Shifts in Pelagic Food Falls May Directly Impact Abyssal Scavenging Dynamic”
  • Mark Hartl (Heriot-Watt University): “Deep-sea ecotoxicology. Baseline biomarker data for deep-sea fish”
  • Andrew Sweetman (SAMS): “Unprecedented oxygen production at the manganese nodule-covered aphotic abyssal seafloor”
  • Georgy Lyapunov (University of Aberdeen): “Extending stand-off distance for Underwater LIBS”
  • Kelsey Archer Barnhill (University of Edinburgh): “Ship-to-shore training for active deep-sea capacity development”

Forum Objectives

Scotland has a vast deep-sea area stretching out to the 200 nautical mile boundary, encompassing a range of diverse habitats as well as economic resources such as fishing, oil and gas. In addition to scientific interest in the deep sea, policy makers are required to protect many of these poorly understood habitats and the often fragile ecology and biodiversity that they support. Increasing access to deep sea habitats and exposure through various media has also stimulated significant public curiosity in the life found in these deep, cool and dark environments.

A more holistic approach to studying the deep-sea is needed which requires engagement with researchers representing a variety of disciplines, including ecologists, chemists, physicists, modellers and climate scientists. These researchers have to be supported by technology that can operate remotely under extreme conditions. Only then can we truly begin to understand how the ecosystem functions. Deep sea researchers operating within the MASTS community have access to a variety of state of the art equipment, some of which has been specifically designed to operate and sample in the deepest parts of the world’s oceans. The challenge of conducting research in these extreme environments means that much of the science is by definition, cutting edge. However, use of modern technology, together with practical ingenuity is leading to novel discoveries including species and ecosystems new to science.

  • Interacting with the different communities which have an interest in the deep-sea.
  • Engaging with new partners and promoting collaboration across disciplines to further deep water research both at a national and international level.
  • Ensuring greater integration between researchers investigating deep/shallow water and the climate/atmosphere.
  • Discussing and helping to deliver the best scientific knowledge available to policy makers.

Forum Steering Group

Forum Convenor:
Johanne Vad (University of Edinburgh)

PostDoc | School of GeoSciences

Interests:

  • Marine Biology
  • Ecology and Evolution
  • Ecosystem and Conservation Ecology
  • Oil and Gas Industry – Impact on cold-water sponges and their habitats
Forum Convenor:
Dominique Anderson (Heriot-Watt University)

Post-Doc | School of Energy, Geo-science, Infrastructure and Society

Interests:

  • Contaminant pathways in deep-sea environments
  • Impacts of multiple stressors on deep-sea ecosystems and their resilience
Andrew Dale (SAMS/Scottish Association for Marine Science)

Physical oceanographer

Interests:

  • Flow processes at relatively small scales and understanding their implications for the marine environment
  • Bridging the gap between modelling/theoretical studies and the real world, in contexts from the coastal waters of Western Scotland to the deep ocean
Andrew K. Sweetman (SAMS/Scottish Association for Marine Science)

Leader of the Seafloor Ecology and Biogeochemistry research group and chair of Benthic Ecology and Biogeochemistry

Interests:

  • Seafloor biodiversity and ecology
  • Impact of anthropogenic stressors on shallow and deep-sea benthic ecosystems
  • Importance of jellyfish blooms in the biological C-pump, and the effect of dead jellyfish (from jellyfish blooms), wood and kelp material on deep-sea benthic environments
Daniëlle de Jonge (JNCC/Joint Nature Conservation Committee)

Deep-sea scientist | Strategic Marine Management Adviser

Interests:

  • Deep-sea ecology and biogeochemistry
  • Providing scientific advice on deep-sea mining and UK domestic marine management policies
  • Ecosystem-based approaches to marine management, including functioning, ecosystem services and natural capital.
  • Technical expertise in abyssal in situ experiments, food-web dynamics, carbon cycling, and environmental DNA
Bee Berx (Scottish Government, Marine Directorate)

Marine Directorate Climate Change Lead | Environment Monitoring and Assessment Programme Oceanography Group | ICES Working Group on Oceanic Hydrography

Interests:

  • Prevailing ocean climate and its variability, mainly in Scottish waters and the adjacent North Atlantic Ocean
  • Impacts of climate change on the marine environment, ecosystems and activities
  • Knowledge translation for decision makers and general public
David Paterson (University of St Andrews)

Director of Sediment Ecology Research Group (SERG) | Executive Director of MASTS

Interests:

  • Ecology and dynamics of marine systems with a strong focus on the “biodiversity-ecosystem function” debate and the dynamics of marine microbiota
  • Climate change research including the combined effects of temperature and CO2 on system response
  • Interdisciplinary studies of “biogenic stabilisation” by microbes and microphytobenthos, through the extracellular polymers produced by biofilms that increase the critical threshold for sediment re-suspension
David Stirling (Scottish Government, Marine Directorate)

Deep-water ecologist

Interests:

  • Ecology
  • Marine Biology
  • Zoology
Sofie Voerman (JNCC/Joint Nature Conservation Committee)

Benthic ecologist | Marine Monitoring Manager

Interests:

  • Science-policy interface
  • Sustainable management of natural resources
  • Finding nature-based solutions to global challenges whilst keeping people and nature connected.
Teresa Fernandes (Heriot-Watt University)

Director of Research at the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society (EGIS)

Interests:

  • Assessment and management of eutrophication
  • Assessment and management of aquaculture impacts
  • Assessment and development of biomarkers of pollution
  • Development of a sustainable sprat fishery within the Firth of Forth
  • Study of intertidal habitats as nursery for flatfish
  • development of approaches for the management of coastal systems
  • Assessment of effects and management of nanomaterials in the environment.
Secret Link
MASTS Resources

We’re working behind the scenes to bring you a suite of useful, and updateable, resources including: 

  • Find an expert
  • Find facilities & equipment
  • MASTS Publications

 

If you would like to be updated when the resources section is live please let us know.

Twitter Linkedin Youtube