This Forum is a world-class fisheries science collective which provides research and advice relevant to sustainable fisheries management. By focusing on the ecology, economics, sociology, and governance of commercially exploited marine fish and fisheries, this Forum intends to improve our understanding of marine [fish & shellfish] systems, and the human [fisheries] influence on them.
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.
A recording of this session is available on the MASTS YouTube Channel. Speaker: MASTS Fisheries Forum member Marija Sciberras, Heriot-Watt University.
Basis for this session was a report by NFFO & SFF on the mounting concerns within the fishing industry across the UK about the loss of fishing grounds to an array of competing spatial pressures. This sessionb was not recorded. Speakers:
Professor of Fisheries Michel Kaiser represented MASTS and gave evidence at a meeting of The Scottish Parliament Rural Affairs and Island Committee last week.
He sat alongside other leading experts to discuss the state of Scotland’s marine science sector and suggested ways in which it can flourish for the benefit of fishers, researchers and the Scottish economy.
For more information please read the full meeting report and watch the meeting online here.
The Committee held a roundtable evidence session on 26 Oct 2022, including stakeholders from both the fishing & environmental sectors, designed to support the Committee’s understanding of key issues affecting Scotland’s inshore fisheries. The Committee will use this evidence to inform its future work programme. More information here.
A newly published scientific report highlights the potential for a sustainable razor clam fishery in Scotland. The study looked at evidence from an ongoing trial of electrofishing for razor clams. It adds to the evidence base around razor clams and fishing practices and will inform any future policy decisions and potential fisheries management measures.
The razor clam electrofishing trial began in 2018 and is currently authorised until the end of January 2025. Conducted in partnership with the Health and Safety Executive and Food Standards Scotland, the trial brings together scientists, policy makers, compliance officers and the fishing industry. Participating vessels contribute to scientific research, following the trial’s terms and conditions, and have an exemption from a ban on fishing and landing razor clams in Scotland.
The fishing method involves inshore fishing vessels slowing pulling electrodes over the seabed to draw out burrowed razor clams, which are then collected by hand. This has a lower impact on the marine environment than alternative methods such as dredging. A sustainable razor clam fishery could bring economic and social benefits to coastal communities. Razors worth approximately £6.1 million were caught as part of the trial in the year ending 31 January 2022. Scottish razor clams are considered a delicacy in many parts of the world, particularly in far eastern markets.
This event provided the opportunity to showcase to Marine Scotland Policy colleagues, the scope and research expertise relevant to fisheries across the MASTS community. The symposium was designed to allow a broad selection of research to be highlighted through a series of brief presentations and time for questions and discussion.
Policy colleagues were invited to participate in a facilitated open discussion to explore how the research community can engage and help to better inform policy. The facilitator for this event was Kara Brydson, Executive Director at Fisheries Innovation & Sustainability.
A copy of the abstract booklet and links to selected presentations is available to view here.
2020: ECR and PhD Fisheries Science Conference (2020)
On the 15th and 16th January 2020, the Lyell Centre and Heriot-Watt University hosted a conference for PhD and early career fisheries and conservation scientists, organised by the MASTS Fisheries Forum. This was the first such conference that the FSF had sponsored and it was hosted by Professor Michel Kaiser who joined HWU in February 2019.
One of the aims of MASTS is to ensure that Scottish HEIs punch above their weight, so the conference was an excellent opportunity for the fisheries community to get together and share their research findings, ambitions and ideas. Thirty students and researchers attended from Orkney, Oban, Stirling, Edinburgh, St Andrews, Strathclyde, and Aberdeen. There were 25 PhD and ECR presentations, covering all types of fisheries, with topics as wide ranging as fisheries acoustics (counting cod in Greenland), to parasite infections in scampi in The Clyde, to environmental effects of ghost-fishing. The workshop had two keynotes speakers; Aoife Martin from Seafish who spoke about her experience of managing fisheries in New Zealand, and David Donnan from Nature Scotland (formerly SNH) who spoke about the importance of science in implementing conservation policy. The conference concluded with a social media and communication workshop run by Michel Kaiser and Dr Heidi Burdett (both based in The Lyell Centre). MASTS kindly sponsored the catering for the event.
2019: Special Session at the MASTS Annual Science Meeting
This Forum hosted a special session at the 2019 ASM on “The future of Scottish fisheries in a changing world”.
2015 Publication with contribution from Forum members: “A review of Scotland’s marine fisheries: stock status, knowledge gaps, research requirements and stakeholder engagement”
Alyson Little, Nick Bailey, Robin Cook, Clive Fox, Hazel Curtis, Michael Heath, Tara Marshall, Beth Mouat, Paul Fernandes.
Please find the publication here.
FIS – Fisheries Innovation & Sustainability
A coalition of experts driving innovation for the UK seafood industry with a focus on Smartrawl (AI-aided precision fishing system), decarbonising fishing vessels and digitalisation.
The MASTS Fisheries Science Forum aims to be a world-class fisheries science collective which provides research and advice relevant to sustainable fisheries management. The Forum works under the MASTS ‘Productive Seas’ Theme to improve our understanding of marine [fish and shellfish] systems, and the human [fisheries] influence on them, by undertaking research into the ecology, economics, sociology, and governance of commercially exploited marine fish and fisheries. This is important not only for the long term economic future of an important global industry, but for the well-being of rural communities, and the food security and good health of the general public.
The forum will complement and supplement work carried out by national agencies such as Marine Scotland, but focus on medium to long-term strategic research, although members may provide short-term objective scientific advice on fisheries matters, as well as expert opinion & comment. The Forum will use and develop innovative technology and tools in support of these goals, drawing on the broader range of expertise available in the Scottish HEI community and the Scottish fishing industry. Finally, the forum will help to develop a new generation of fisheries scientists, providing a vibrant research atmosphere and training opportunities for young scientists.
This Forum works closely with Fisheries Innovation & Sustainability (formerly known as Fisheries Innovation Scotland). Find out more here. Download “A review of Scotland’s marine fisheries: stock status, knowledge gaps, research requirements and stakeholder engagement” here.
Professor | Global Research Institutes & The Lyell Centre
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Senior Scientist and Fisheries Lead
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Chief Economist
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Director of Research, Enterprise & Impact
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Marine Biology and Oceanography
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Lecturer School of Geography and Sustainable Development
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Senior Research Fellow Mathematics and Statistics | Fish stock assessment scientist
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Senior Lecturer Fisheries Ecology
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Reader Mathematics & Statistics
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Senior Fisheries Policy and Science Manager
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Fish Polulation Modeller
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Professor of Marine Ecology | Head of the Centre for Conservation and Restoration Science (CCRS)
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The Lyell Centre
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Operations Director (MASTS)
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Co-Director of the Lyell Centre | Professor of Fisheries Conservation
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PhD student in Marine Ecology
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