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

Supervisors: Natalie Hold, Michel Kaiser, Jan Hiddink, Marianna Chimienti

Bangor University, in collaboration with Welsh Government and Heriot-Watt University, invites applications for a PhD focused on research and modelling to support spatial, temporal, and rotational management of the Welsh scallop fishery, aiming to enhance sustainability and achieve Good Environmental Status.

Partial funding is confirmed, with full funding expected. Details can be discussed at interview.

Bangor University – Sustainable Fisheries Research Group  Renowned globally for sustainable fisheries research, Bangor has worked with Welsh Government and industry since 2012. Current projects support management of scallop, whelk, crab, lobster, and bass fisheries. Research includes biological data collection (growth, maturity), ecosystem assessments, fishery-independent surveys, fishery-dependent data improvement, and development of assessments. The group includes MSc/PhD students, early career researchers, and academic staff.

Heriot-Watt University – Marine Sustainability, Policy and Conservation Evidence Group  Based at the Lyell Centre, Heriot-Watt supports UK-wide fisheries sustainability research, collaborating with industry, NGOs, and government. Focus areas include seabed impact reduction, fishery management modelling, and scallop biology. The Centre hosts ~50 PhD students and a strong fisheries/conservation science team.

Project Overview  Effective fisheries management supports biological, ecological, economic, and social sustainability. Following the UK Fisheries Act (2020), new Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) are being developed. The King Scallop FMP was published in 2023; this PhD will contribute vital evidence for its implementation in Wales.

Welsh scallop fisheries operate in Liverpool Bay, Caernarfon Bay, and Cardigan Bay—the latter being most significant. Cardigan Bay includes open fishing areas and a large closed zone (since 2009). Bangor has conducted annual fishery-independent surveys since 2012, including dredge and camera sampling (abundance, age, size, maturity, meat yield, bycatch) and beam trawl surveys (benthic community). The PhD student will participate in these surveys and may access broader UK/EU datasets and fishery-dependent data (landings, VMS/iVMS).

Aims and Objectives

• Model scallop distribution, productivity, and habitat suitability using empirical and public datasets.
• Assess growth rates under varying environmental conditions to inform rotational management.
• Study recruitment and movement of pre-recruits to guide survey timing and fishery planning.
• Compare natural seafloor disturbance with fishing impacts to inform spatial management.
• Develop management options, including rotational and innovative strategies for sustainability.

Personal Qualities

• Critical thinker with attention to detail
• Self-directed and independent
• Collaborative and interdisciplinary
• Committed to open science and reproducibility

The successful candidate will start in November 2025. The stipend is approx. £20,000 (2025/26) and £21,000 (2026/27 and 2027/28). The student will be based at Bangor University, with funded time at Heriot-Watt University. All fees are covered, and participation in the annual Welsh scallop survey is included. 

Funding: Welsh Government and Bangor University 

Application: Submit with CV and cover letter addressing the personal specification.

Interviews: Late October (online) Contact: Natalie Hold – n.hold@bangor.ac.uk