How to build the foundations for a career in fi sh biology and fi sheries - Fisheries Society of the British Isles
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Winter 2018
How to build the foundations for a
career in fish biology and fisheries
By Stephen Long
Stephen Long spent time on the RV Paamiut and witnessed this spectacular view of the northern lights. The vessel is run
by the Greenland Institute for Natural Resources. Photo: Mona Fuhrmann.
Stephen Long had support and fascinations of field work on of our planet.
from the FSBI to enable him a grand scale. Because of this his Stephen reports that his
to attend the 15th Deep-Sea report below is supplemented by PhD addresses the impacts of
Biology Symposium, in Monterey, further details of the organisations demersal trawling on deep-sea
California. This triennial event, funding his work and of Stephen’s benthic ecosystems in the Davis
held by the Deep-Sea Biology career so far. His story is an Strait, by deploying a low-cost
Society, brings together exciting exemplar of how to (GoPro) camera sled across a
researchers exploring the murky grab opportunities and lay the spectrum of Greenland halibut
depths. Stephen sent some foundations for an interesting fishing effort. The conference
inspirational photos and his work career that contributes towards the he attended allowed him to
captures some of the challenges way we understand a remote part showcase new imagery from a ➤
CONTENTS: Editorial ... 4 Travel Reports ... 4 President’s Piece ... 5 Fresh from the Press ... 7
➤ previously unseen area, with a wracking) experience, but for him concerning how to apply UN-FAO
talk and a poster. He described at the best part of the conference guidelines on vulnerable marine
the conference how this budget was listening to other people and ecosystems (VMEs) to images.
friendly approach yields high- finding out about their research. Stephen comments that
resolution imagery from depths This furthered his ideas to employ this conference was a great
down to 1,500m, identifying machine learning approaches to experience, taking his research
vulnerable marine ecosystem image classification. It has also in new directions, establishing
(VME) indicator species, led to potential new research collaborations and widening his
estimating mega-fauna abundance cruise collaboration and greatly involvement in the deep-sea world.
and quantifying trawling impacts. expanded his network, one of None of this would have been
He also contributed to a second the main values of a conference. possible without the support of the
poster describing the Zoological Before the conference began he FSBI, to whom he is very grateful.
Society of London’s deep-sea attended a meeting of the Deep-
science communication efforts Ocean Stewardship Initiative
from this year, including events, (DOSI), where he contributed To elaborate on Stephen’s
a virtual reality video and the to the Fisheries Working Group. project
development of a game. Subsequently, he has been Stephen’s PhD is part of an
Stephen reports that giving engaged in a DOSI group starting ongoing collaboration between
a talk was a valuable (if nerve- to address a number of questions the Greenland Institute for Natural
A B
C
D
Legend to pictures. A. Stephen Long on the RV Paamiut. B. Stephen
with a Greendland halibut. C. A grenadier fish at 870m depth. D. The
sledge with camera and lights being launched off the stern of the
RV Paamiut. E. RV Paamiut moving through icebergs. F. A coral and
sponge garden at 550m.
fsbi Newsletter Winter 2018 2
E F
Resources (GNIR) and the Institute it was forty or fifty years ago. Even The FSBI has been funding PhD
of Zoology (IoZ) at the Zoological before that people like Sidney studentships for at least 15 years
Society of London (ZSL). The Holt and Ray Beverton, two of the and the recent introduction of the
project is currently funded by an giants of fisheries science, went internship system has moved the
IUCN BEST 2.0 grant, with support straight into research from an support the Society offers one
from ZSL partner, Sustainable undergraduate degree, no PhD stage earlier to undergraduates
Fisheries Greenland (SFG). required. Now it is becoming the who might consider a career
Stephen himself is funded by NERC norm that people do a masters in fish biology. The Society’s
through the London NERC Doctoral degree then a PhD. Gaining PhD programme expects the
Training Partnership. experience in other areas of life are prospective student to create
The IUCN BEST programme also becoming more important for their own projects and this is
is part of the EU’s Biodiversity anyone competing for postdocs or sometimes challenging for people
for Life scheme. BEST is an relatively permanent jobs. Gaining who have little life experience.
acronym with a rather contrived that experience often requires The path followed by Stephen,
expansion, which is Voluntary considerable sacrifice either although he is not an FSBI student,
scheme for Biodiversity and financial or in terms of the places illustrates the length young people
Ecosystem Services in Territories one is prepared to work. have to go to these days to gain
of Europe overseas. The objective Stephen Long exemplifies the the experience that gives them the
is to promote the conservation of career route that is becoming more competitive edge allowing them to
biodiversity and sustainable use and more common although for enter our field.
of ecosystem services, including each individual the route taken
ecosystem-based approaches will be unique. After his degree Based on Stephen’s travel grant
to climate change adaptation at Durham University, Stephen report but with additions by the
and mitigation, as a basis for did a masters at Exeter but then editor.
sustainable development in went off to Madagascar. It was
the EU Overseas Countries and here that he worked on a FAO
Territories. The scheme funds project to establish community-
biodiversity research in the South based, sustainable lobster
Pacific, particularly island states, fishery management, including
the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean, the introduction of periodic no
Polar and sub-Polar areas (hence take zones. This led to further
Greenland in the case of Stephen’s small-scale fisheries research in
project) and the South Atlantic. Madagascar, yielding two papers
Stephen has sent a number of giving Stephen an excellent
dramatic photographs from his advantage when applying for
field work which are included here. the next stage of his career
progression. Stephen continues
Build up to a PhD to work with SEED Madagascar in
For the current generation of a consultant capacity through a
doctoral students, the path to a Darwin Initiative project to refine
career in research or academia is and scale-up the lobster fishery
so much more complicated than management model.
3 fsbi Newsletter Winter 2018
the size of audience was entitled it and behavioural economics.
Editorial Towards a better understanding
of human behaviour for improved
The FSBI has had a significant
influence on the application of
fisheries science and management behavioural economic ideas into
In September I attended the convened by Melania Borit (Norway), fisheries management through its
International Council for the Bruce Edmunds (UK) and Marloes sponsorship in 2014, together with
Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Kraan (The Netherlands). There ICES, of a workshop instigated by
Annual Science Conference (ASC) was also an excellent keynote Sarah Kraak and Ciaran Kelly on
in Hamburg, Germany. I have been talk by Ingrid van Putten of CSIRO Insights from Behavioural Economics
attending the ASC on and off since Fisheries and Oceans, Australia, to improve Fisheries Management.
2000 and it is interesting to observe on Unexpected outcomes and Ingrid van Putten’s
the shift in emphasis as shown by unpredictable managers, fishers, talk can be watched at
the choice of theme sessions. There and scientists, which focused on https://www.youtube.com/
has been a gradual increase in the underlying aspects of human watch?v=ZpWNDeD9gmA&t=1108s.
interest in socio-economic factors behaviour that have important The report of the 2014 workshop
in fisheries management. Whereas influences on how fishers respond can be found at https://
in the early days of fisheries to management measures. Together www.researchgate.net/
management the emphasis was with Sarah Kraak from the Thünen publication/298785507_Report_
very much on the biological basis Institute, I gave a talk about how of_the_Workshop_Insights_from_
of fisheries with studies of growth, the application of findings from Behavioural_Economics_to_improve_
mortality rates and population behavioural economics can be used Fisheries_Management_jointly_
dynamics in general, there is now to design management measures funded_by_ICES_and_FSBI_21-23_
much more emphasis on how for sustainable fisheries that take October_2014_Copenhagen_Denmark
management can be structured to account of the way people actually
achieve sustainable exploitation. behave. Sarah and I have spent all or Paul J B Hart
In Hamburg the biggest theme parts of our careers as behavioural Leicester, November 2018
session, measured in terms of ecologists and find that there is Next deadline: 1st February 2019
the number of contributions and considerable crossover between
Travel Reports
Rachel Paterson from the School of providing me with the opportunity Matthew Cobain, from the
Life Sciences, Cardiff University, was to interact with the charr research Southampton University marine
funded by the FSBI to attend the 9th community, and I found this meeting Isotopes and Ecology Section, used
International Charr Symposium (18- to be an excellent platform for an FSBI Travel Grant to present work
23 June 2018), Duluth, Minnesota, developing new collaborations conducted during my PhD at the
USA. http://charr.glfc.org/#home with other charr researchers. I was IsoEcol conference in Viña del Mar.
Using a Travel Grant from the FSBI, I particularly impressed with the He gave both an oral and poster
attended the 8th International Charr quality of presentations by the early presentation.
Symposium (Duluth, Minnesota, career researchers, such as University The grant supported me to present
USA) in June 2018. This meeting of Tromsø MSc graduate Paolo my PhD research at the only major
brought together world leading Moccetti’s work on trophic niche international conference on the
Salvelinus experts to discuss the evolution patterns in polymorphic application of stable isotopes in
major challenges facing charr charr populations, which ecological research. I was accepted
populations including climate demonstrated the excellent research to give two presentations. Firstly a
change, invasive species impacts coming from the next generation poster on my theoretical work on
and sustainable management. I of fish biologists. There were a the geometric properties of isotopic
participated in the ‘Parasites and number of other meeting highlights, niches and an oral presentation
Predators’ session presenting my including the field trip to the Iron on my work quantifying monthly
current Sêr Cymru II – Marie Curie River Hatchery - a US Fish and resolution temporal dynamics of
fellowship research investigating Wildlife Service operated hatchery stable isotopes in an entire fish
the effects of multiple stressors on responsible for reintroducing lake community. Both presentations
European Arctic charr – parasite trout Salvelinus namaycush to the were well received by scientists at
assemblages. I also presented a Great Lakes, and Duluth City Mayor all stages in their careers and I was
new study demonstrating how local Emily Larson’s declaration of 18 June awarded the second best student
climate gradients may constrain 2018 as the International Charr Day. oral presentation prize.
both the trophic niche and parasite For anyone interested in learning Attending the conference
communities of sympatric charr and more about this meeting, keynote provided me with a great platform
brown trout populations. presentations are available at http:// to present my isotopic work to
I appreciate the FSBI’s support in charr.glfc.org/#streaming. relevant researchers in the field, ➤
fsbi Newsletter Winter 2018 4
➤ which until IsoEcol had been introduced to several researchers been impossible without attending
limited to my immediate contacts. and holding several discussions IsoEcol, and has provided me with
This was my first experience of on limitations in the application confidence going into a career as
showing my isotopic research to a isotopes. Post presentations, I had a researcher. I greatly appreciate
wider audience. The presentations several conversations regarding and very much thank FSBI for their
have greatly facilitated my network potential research collaborations generous support.
development, having been after my PhD, which would have
President’s Piece – Winter 2018
As the days shorten and we
gradually lose the splendid
autumnal colours from the trees, it
is conventional to begin to reflect
on the past year, and it has been
another really full one for the FSBI.
This year saw a major transition
in the leadership of our Journal, as
Tony Farrell took over the reins from
John Craig, but it is testimony to
both incoming and outgoing Editors-
in-Chief and the editorial team
that the production of excellent
content has continued more or less
uninterrupted. I am also a big fan
of the new look of the Journal, and
I was delighted to see my copy of
the July 2018 issue drop through
my letterbox in its glorious larger delayed; rebuilding the site from which will be held at the University
format, in full colour and with an scratch has proven to be a bigger job of Hull from 15th-19th August 2019
eye-catching cover image. I keep than we originally anticipated, and on the many applications of eDNA in
a close eye on comments posted our desire to include a ‘Members’ fish and fisheries science – is now
on Twitter and other social media, login’ section, which would allow open for the submission of abstracts
and it seems to me that there is members of the Society to gain (https://fsbi.org.uk/annual-
overwhelming support for the new direct access to the Journal of Fish symposia/symposium-2019/).
look and feel of the Journal, which Biology content and our funding In December, Council will
is really gratifying. I mentioned schemes, meant that we had to meet in London to discuss a wide
in my last President’s Piece that jump through a number of other range of topics that are of pressing
we were in the final stages of re- hoops related to GDPR. We are really importance. It will be an historic
negotiating our contract with Wiley pleased, though, with the final meeting, in that it will be the
over publication of the Journal, and product and hope that you agree first one at which we welcome a
am delighted to let you know that the new website is cleaner, more student member of our Society.
this contract has now been agreed functional and provides a more After being granted the authority
and signed. The contract will help logical and streamlined interface for by the membership to change our
the Journal to develop still further, the Society than its predecessor. The constitution to allow this important
and guarantees the financial status ‘under the hood’ changes also mean development, we elected our first
of the Society until 2025, allowing us that the site is more sustainable student member – Nick Jones (who
to maintain the support we provide over the longer term, and can be is studying for a PhD at St Andrews)
for research and researchers at all edited far more easily by the Society – at the AGM in the Summer. I think
levels in the fields of fish biology than previously, which will help this is a really important step for the
and fisheries science. us keep it up to date, fresh and Society, and one that will allow us to
By the time you read this, accurate. gain a broader range of perspectives
the FSBI’s new website will have One unfortunate consequence on our work, goals and ambitions for
been launched. This has been a of the delay to ‘going live’ with the the future.
major project that has occupied a website, is that we are now later With all my best wishes, and
significant amount of time this year, than we would normally expect to be greetings for the forthcoming festive
and – as appears to be common in terms of advertising our Annual season.
with such projects – our initial plans Symposium, but just to bring to your
to launch early were somewhat attention that this exciting event – Iain Barber
5 fsbi Newsletter Winter 2018
Arctic Charr in the Lochs of Scotland: An assessment
of distribution and status
By P. S. Maitland & C. E. Adams. 382 pp. Published by Fast-Print Publishing,
Peterborough, U.K., 2018. Price £42.95. ISBN: 978-1-78456-477-3
major part of the book is presented
in Chapter 10 which assembles
detailed records of Arctic charr
occurrences on a loch by loch basis
organised into hydrometric areas.
Chapter 10 is the strength of
this book and is a masterpiece
of information collation and
organisation. Each loch is presented
with information on its morphology,
chemistry, fish community, Arctic
charr population status and a
I must start my review of this book relevant research. Chapter 2
sensitivity score, supported by
by declaring that its publication presents the information sources
additional notes which for some
was supported by sponsorship from used during the book’s writing, with
sites are considerable. In a world
the Fisheries Society of the British Chapter 3 calling on this information
where one can now make digital
Isles (FSBI), i.e. the owners of this to consider the history of Arctic charr
searches of vast amounts of online
journal, and that I have worked with records in Scotland from the 17th to
data, the wealth of information
its authors for many years. However, the 20th centuries. General aspects
presented here from records collated
I consider that I am still able to give of the distribution of this species
in large part from pre-digital times
an objective review of this book in are then described at length in
is so impressive and few individuals
what is a somewhat specialised area Chapter 4 where the authors report
are likely to possess or to have
of fish biology with relatively few that of the 295 sites with records,
access to the required hard copy
alternative reviewers. 141 of these have robust and recent
literature. This is fantastic work and
Given that many of Scotland’s records and so are considered to be
a real service to anyone involved
Arctic charr populations have never extant. A further 44 sites with less
in research on or the management
been subjected to scientific study robust data are considered to be
of Arctic charr in Scotland, while
(the authors report that only 112 probably extant. The authors also
also providing an example to the
sites have been investigated in this identify a further seven sites from
rest of the world of just what can be
way), it is to the authors’ great credit which Arctic charr are now extinct
done in terms of collating existing
that this substantial book runs to and a further two sites where they
information on this remarkable fish.
382 very informative pages. This are presumed extinct. An additional
This is a fantastic book and one
remarkable collation of information 32 putative sites are presented for
which has more than repaid the
has been achieved by drawing on which existing records are poor, but
investment of FSBI’s sponsorship.
many sources from the non-scientific where the species is likely to exist,
Indeed, without such a grant it is
literature, but more on that later. The with a further three sites considered
unlikely that this book would ever
book is structured as 10 chapters, as doubtful. Nevertheless, the
have been produced because it is
supported by a bibliography authors contend that there are likely
unlikely to be commercially viable.
worth its weight in gold and a to be considerably more populations
Its market is necessarily limited
thorough index which is dominated, awaiting discovery and present an
to those relatively few individuals
unsurprisingly, by the lochs interesting distribution modelling
involved in field research on or the
containing or having once contained exercise which suggests that the
conservation management of this
Arctic charr populations. The text is total number of lochs supporting
remarkable species, but if you are
supported by a liberal sprinkling of Arctic charr populations in Scotland
active in either of these areas this
high quality figures, many of which may be as high as 671. The chapter
book is a fantastic resource. I wish
are colour photographs of individual goes on to review introductions
that it had existed back in the early
Arctic charr and their sites. of Arctic charr, before Chapter 5
1990s when I first entered this area!
Chapter 1 introduces the considers Arctic charr ecology
reader to the Arctic charr through with a particular emphasis on
Ian J. Winfield
an expected review of its general reproduction. Chapters 6, 7, 8 and
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology,
biology supported by a discussion 9 then cover variation, exploitation,
Lancaster, U.K.
of its arrival in what was to become factors affecting populations, and
Scotland and other aspects of conservation, respectively. The
fsbi Newsletter Winter 2018 6
Fresh from the Press: News on your Journal
I thought it would be good to from the FSBI, the Fry Medal (the
start by briefly introducing myself. highest honour to a scientist from
I grew up in the heart of the Black the Canadian Society of Zoologists)
Country – Wolverhampton. I and the Medal of Excellence (the
obtained a B.Sc. honours degree highest honour to a scientist from
in Biology at Bath University the American Fisheries Society). I
(Drs. Lutz, Potter and Hardisty am a Fellow of the Royal Society of
were some of my professors). I Canada.
then moved to Canada where I In closing, here are a few of the
obtained my Ph.D. in Zoology at changes coming to the Journal of
the University of British Columbia, Fish Biology. You may have already
supervised by Dr. David Randall. I noticed some of them in of the
was a professor at Mount Allison July issue, which unfortunately
University and then Simon Fraser was a tad late getting published.
The Journal of Fish Biology is University. I currently hold a The layout style for the journal
an integral part of the Fisheries Canada Research Chair (Tier I) at has changed completely. In
Society of the British Isles and I the University of British Columbia. addition, all colour figures are now
am its new Editor-in-Chief (EiC). Before taking on the EiC role published free of charge. Also, we
Therefore, I hope to keep you up for the Journal of Fish Biology are highlighting papers in each
to date with ‘Journal happenings’ in January 2018, I had had a issue with a new feature called
through regular contributions to wide variety of experiences with Between JFB’s Covers. Lastly,
this Newsletter. So, this is the first scientific publishing. Foremost, there is another new feature called
of many to come! I was an Assistant Editor for the Opinions that I hope will become
My most important task is to Journal of Fish Biology for nearly a ‘must read’ for all members.
thank Dr. John Craig for his sterling 20 years. Also, I have served of the Please check out the July issue for
leadership of the Journal of Fish editorial teams for Aquaculture, the first of these Opinions - the
Biology for almost 20 years. I have the Canadian Journal of Zoology, invasion of Pacific pink salmon
been a part of the Editorial Team Physiological and Biochemical into European rivers. Perhaps
for this entire period. Not only Zoology, and the American Journal some of you have an opinion to
have I enjoyed working with John, of Physiology. I have co-edited express on a hot topic. If you do,
I have greatly appreciated the over 25 volumes of the treatise Fish drop me an email.
quality control that he maintained Physiology and I was EiC for the
throughout his leadership. Also, Encyclopedia of Fish Physiology: Tony Farrell, Editor-in-Chief for
I have contributed over 30 works From Genome to Environment. I Journal of Fish Biology
to its content. The Journal of Fish have been generously rewarded Vancouver, BC, Canada
Biology is a solid journal. for my scientific endeavours: I September 2018
have received the Beverton Medal
Notices
Net your idea for World Aiming to foster cooperation
and engagement in commercial,
Fisheries Congress 2020
recreational and indigenous
The next World Fisheries Congress fisheries, the World Fisheries
is only two years away. Congress 2020 (WFC2020) will
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the premier international fisheries and inspiring forums on key
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management and the latest of the world’s oceans, lakes,
technological advances in fisheries estuaries and rivers.
worldwide under the theme Organisers of this major event
‘Sharing our oceans and rivers – a are now seeking expressions
vision for the world’s fisheries’. of interest to lead innovative
7 fsbi Newsletter Winter 2018
➤ sessions, symposia and Sponsors and exhibitors
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Save the date – the Congress
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if you have a key topic or theme to 15 October 2020.
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“The program is shaping up The World Council of
to be very comprehensive, with Fisheries Societies, including
something for every delegate to the Australian Society for Fish
take away and learn from.” Biology is proud to support the
Help set the future directions 8th World Fisheries Congress in
for the world’s fisheries and lead Adelaide, 2020. The Congress
in these critical discussions by is supported by foundation
emailing your ideas or suggestions sponsors the South Australian
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Government and FRDC on behalf
by 31 January 2019 (extended
of the Australian Government.
deadline).
Information Desk
For all membership enquires (except In the UK and Europe subscription enquiries
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