PhD to Assess Spatial and Temporal Approaches to Managing Scallop Fisheries to Achieve Good Environmental Status With a Viable Commercial Fishery.

Bangor University, in partnership with Welsh Government and Heriot-Watt University, is offering a fully funded PhD position focused on the sustainable management and modelling of Welsh scallop fisheries. The project aims to support spatial, temporal, and rotational management strategies to enhance sustainability and achieve Good Environmental Status, contributing vital evidence for the implementation of the King Scallop Fisheries Management Plan in Wales. The successful candidate will join the Sustainable Fisheries Research Group at Bangor University, renowned for its work in fisheries management and ecosystem assessment, and will also spend funded time at Heriot-Watt University’s Marine Sustainability, Policy and Conservation Evidence Group. Research activities will include participation in annual fishery-independent surveys in Cardigan Bay, data collection on scallop abundance, age, size, maturity, meat yield, bycatch, and benthic community assessments. The student will model scallop distribution, productivity, and habitat suitability, assess growth rates under varying environmental conditions, study recruitment and movement of pre-recruits, compare natural seafloor disturbance with fishing impacts, and develop innovative management options for sustainability. The project encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and open science practices. The stipend is approximately £20,000 for the first year and £21,000 for subsequent years, with all tuition fees covered. The position starts in November 2025, and participation in the annual Welsh scallop survey is included. Applicants should have a background in biology, environmental science, or a related field, and demonstrate critical thinking, independence, and a commitment to open science. Applications should include a CV and cover letter addressing the personal specification. Interviews will be held online in late October. For further information, contact Dr. Natalie Hold at [email protected].