Room: Thie Slieau Whallian, Isle of Man   Phone: 01624 685840

E-Mail: i.bloor@bangor.ac.uk

Web: http://fisheries-conservation.bangor.ac.uk

After graduating from Queen Mary’s University of London with an MSc in Marine Ecology and Environmental management, I worked as a marine ecologist at a small independent marine consultancy managing the impacts of marine related projects. I then worked on a 3 year cross-Channel EU project on cephalopod ecology and completed my PhD in conjunction with the Marine Biological Association and the Marine Institute, University of Plymouth on Cephalopod ecology, movement and behaviour, undertaking the first electronic tagging field study of the common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) in the field. My research has been predominately fisheries and field-work based working directly with inshore potting fishermen, undertaking acoustic and data storage tagging studies and completing in situ scuba surveys of spawning grounds. I also have experience in developing presence-only and presence-absence species distribution models. My current role as a postdoctoral fisheries scientist on the Isle of Man involves developing and undertaking stock assessments and providing the science necessary to assist the government in managing the scallop, lobster and crab fisheries within the territorial sea.

  • PhD: The ecology, distribution and spawning behaviour of the commercially important common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) in the inshore waters of the English Channel
    University of Plymouth, 2009–2012
  • MSc: Marine Ecology and Environmental Management
    Queen Mary University of London, 2006–2007
  • BSc: Biology with North American Studies
    University of Sussex, 2001–2005

I have supervised MSc students that have based their projects on the  Isle of Man. Research topics have ranged from trialling of 'distruptive technology' in the Queen scallop (Aquipecten opercularis) otter trawl fishery to reduce bycatch; assessments of scallop populations in closed areas,  tagging experiments in common whelk (Buccinum undatum) populations, habitat mapping of closed areas, Onboard camera systems for static gear fisheries and the prevalence of shellfish disease in the Brown crab (Cancer pagurus) population.

My Current research focuses on stock assessment of scallop stocks within the Irish Sea.  I am also working on developing innovative ways to improve and increase data collection by industry for use in scientific advice and management of commercial fisheries. 

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2024

  • ICES Scallop Assessment Working Group (ICES WGScallop)

    Members of the Scallop Assessment Working Group (WGScallop) discuss the key issues surrounding scallop species and are working towards the improvement and further development of appropriate stock assessment methods.

    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The working group shares expertise on survey methodologies, advances in technology and recent studies on scallop species.

    The group has identified main data sources, collated information on biological parameters, developed a preliminary list of assessment or management units, and discussed the merits and limitations of fisheries dependent and fisheries independent methods for scallop assessment. The group also considers the implications of bycatch and issues surrounding closed areas.

    This work improves our understanding of scallop populations and the fishery. It is hoped that any future assessments will be used to underpin advice and be directly integrated into an approach for ecosystem-based fisheries management.

    7 Oct 2024

    Links:

    Activity: Participation in Academic workshop, seminar, course (Chair)