I gained my MSc in Marine Environmental Protection at Bangor University in 2008 with a research project on the population genetics of the Caribbean spiny lobster in the western Antilles. I completed my PhD in 2012 which focused on the connectivity and spatial structure of the scallop fishery around the Isle of Man, funded by the Isle of Man Government. The project involved surveys on the research vessel Prince Madog as well as collaboration with stakeholders including fishermen and processors. Work included population genetics of scallops around the Isle of Man and across the wider European range, statistical modelling of environmental and anthropogenic drivers of spatial variation in scallop reproductive status and modelling of the impact of hatchery reared scallop seed on wild populations.

Post-doctoral research at Bangor University (2012-2015 and 2019- present) has focused on inshore, data poor, shellfish fisheries across Wales, requiring active engagement with the fishing industry for collaborative data collection. All research aims are closely aligned with fisheries management and policy evidence requirements in order to deliver meaningful research to impact sustainable fisheries management. A key framework for our sustainable fisheries research is to provide evidence for the management of key commercial fisheries within the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM), ensuring that single species approaches (such as stock assessment and single species reference points) are complemented with wider ecosystem evidence such as appropriate spatial scales, adjacent effects and long term effects.

I have also spent three years working as a fisheries scientist for a consultancy (2016-2019) where I worked on a range of projects including environmental baseline studies for energy developments, intertidal aquaculture developments and coastal realignment schemes. I have worked in collaboration with fishers and statutory conservation agencies to develop fisheries management plans for several order fisheries and to carry out annual stock status surveys on the fishery. I have also modelled the effect of river flow on salmonid up-stream migration including drought scenarios.

I am currently the project manager for the EMFF sustainable fisheries in Wales project. As well as project management I am the lead researcher for the component of the project using our long-standing relationships with the industry to develop innovative technology for maximising high quality, high resolution fishery-dependant data collection. In addition my current research is investigating the reproductive ecology of lobsters and how this can influence stock assessment and fishery management measures.

n.hold@bangor.ac.uk

01248 383948

I am willing to supervise PhD students in the fields of fisheries science and fisheries management.

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2017

2015

2013

2025

  • Seafood Innovation Conference

    Held a workshop within the Seafood Innovation Conference 2025 to showcase the fisheries team in Bangor University. Specifically, European Lobster tagging was shown in poster format to discuss the site fidelity shown during telemetry research conducted by Harry Thatcher at Aberystwyth University. Also, the Brown Crab soft shell project looking into the hardness of shells and the possibility of applying a threshold to shell softness that can be utilized in the field for fisher and enforcement agency.

    25 Feb 2025 – 26 Feb 2025

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

2024

  • Future Marine Research Infrastructure Grand Challenges

    SOS/BU writing sandbox

    11 Dec 2024

    Activity: Participation in Academic workshop, seminar, course (Participant)
  • 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 (Speaker)
  • ICES Workshop on Whelk Fisheries

    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Whelk and other gastropod fisheries are key species in small-scale artisanal and commercially valuable fisheries worldwide. Within the eastern Atlantic, the whelk Buccinum undatum is commercially important however there is minimal management in most countries.

    This inaugural meeting aims to bring together scientists already working on whelk fisheries from across Europe, North America, and the rest of the world to share best practice, spark collaborations, and review recently published work as well as that underway.

    The workshop will focus on:

    - whelk aging techniques, error and use in routine data collection and stock assessment

    - current stock assessment approaches and challenges, and direction of research/travel for whelk stock assessment​

    8 Jul 2024 – 9 Jul 2024

    Links:

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

2023

2022

  • ICES working Group on the biology and life history of crabs

    8 Nov 2022 – 10 Nov 2022

    Activity: Participation in Academic workshop, seminar, course (Speaker)
  • John Hoenig

    John and his PhD student Julie Gross visited for a 2 week collaborative working visit. We worked on two papers and John gave 3 seminars

    Oct 2022

    Activity: Hosting an academic visitor (Host)
  • BU-IIA Funded Project: Maximising Impact from Fisheries Research

    Bangor’s sustainable fisheries team currently carries out research into baseline biology of commercially important species, fisheries science and how these data can be applied to achieve sustainable fisheries management in Wales. This research has potential to create impact through policy change, guidance to fisheries management and change within the fishing industry through providing and disseminating evidence in support of sustainable fishing practices. It is expected that a range of research carried out by the sustainable fisheries team will come together to create a single impact case study concerning the management of shell fisheries in Wales.

    Funding awarded through the Bangor University Innovation and Impact Award (Research Wales Innovation Funding). Value = £42,335

    4 May 2022 – 30 Apr 2023

    Activity: Other (Contributor)

2020

  • UK whelk Management Group

    This group meetings quarterly and is ongoing. It is a transdisciplinary group with stakeholders from fishing industry, government, CEFAS, environment, fisheries management, science. This meeting series does not have an end date, so currently set to today's date. This also includes a scientific sub-group who meet regularly outside the quarterly main group meetings. This group is involved in the R&D and implementation surrounding whelk management in the UK and the Fisheries Management Plans.

    1 Jul 2020 – 12 Mar 2025

    Activity: Other (Contributor)

EFF funded "Sustainable use of fisheries resources in Welsh waters" - lead role in application for £300K for an 18 month extension to the project. (2013-2015)

EMFF funded "Fisher-Scientist collaboration" - during an NRN grant writing fellowhsip I developed the grant proposal capturing £1.2m in funding for this 4 year project. (2019-2022)

EMFF funded "Video and electronic fisheries data collection" - during and NRN grant writing fellowship I wrote the grant proposala capturing £140K in funding for the 2 year project. (2019-2021)

EMFF funded "Bass and Ray ecology in Liverpool Bay". This project extends the Welsh bass and ray science across the political boundary into north west English waters. £86K (2019-2020).

Welsh Government Marine Evidence Framework Agreement "Standardised stock assessment survey for whelk fisheries". £11,000 (2020)

I am a member of the UK whelk management group and Crab and Lobster management group, providing scientific input alongisde scientists from CEFAS and Scotland. The group is a multi-stakholder group with representivies from industry, DEFRA, Welsh Government, Seafish and academia.

I sit on the ICES working groups for crab, lobster and scallop.