Professor Selina Stead
Prof of Marine Gov & Environ Science

 

Selina Stead is Professor of Marine Governance and Environmental Science in the School of Marine Science & Technology and the 'Governance, Management and Planning' Topic Leader for marineNewcastle.

She joined Newcastle University in 2004, focussing on developing methods to improve decision-making about balancing peoples’ use of marine resources with conservation needs as a ‘hands on’ researcher who loves fieldwork.

With specialist skills in natural and social marine science she applies mixed-methods to tackle issues related to aquaculture, fisheries, governance, ICZM and MPAs.

Selina’s expertise in applying scientific evidence to inform policy especially in aquaculture and fisheries led to senior appointments as President of European Aquaculture Society (2008-2010), Member of the Scottish Government’s Marine Science Advisory Board (2010-2015), UK Ministerial Appointed Scientific Fisheries Officer (NESFC, 2005-2010) and MMO Appointee on NEIFCA (2010-2015).

Background

In 1999, I changed the direction of my research from fish physiology to integrated coastal zone management, specialising in aquaculture and fisheries, after identifying a shortage of interdisciplinary scientists in marine resource management that worked on both sectors.

I was a staff member in 2 social science departments (Agriculture & Rural Economics; Land Economy; University of Aberdeen) for 8 years (1996-2004) before coming back to a marine science department in Newcastle in 2004. I learned through working closely with social scientists a wide range of social science research methods and ways of thinking.

I understand the tensions between producing robust science and meeting policy advice timelines through working at the Fisheries Research Services (FRS) Marine Laboratory in Aberdeen (1992-1996), which was formerly an agency before becoming part of the Scottish Government for whom I now act as an advisor on strategic science priorities (2010-2015).

My research uses empirical data, underpinned by analytical frameworks to provide evidence for informed decision-making about marine resource management, policy advice and coastal development.

Roles and Responsibilities

1. MSc Aquaculture Enterprise and Technology Stream Leader (MAST).

2. Chair of Marine Science MSc Exam Board (MAST).

3. Member of UTLC (University).

4. Topic Leader on Governance, Management and Planning for marineNewcastle (University).

5. Member of University Athena Swann Working Group (University).

6. Member of SAgE Ethics Committee (SAgE).

7. Member of SAgE Career Pathway Review Advisers Team (SAgE).

Qualifications

PhD Zoology (1992-1995) University of Aberdeen
MSc Fisheries Biology & Management (1991-1992) Univ Wales Bangor
BSc (Hons) Marine Biology & Oceanography (1988-1991) Univ Wales Bangor

Previous Positions

Director, Marine Resource Management, Univ of Aberdeen, 1999-2004
Director, Aquaculture & Manager of Finfish Hatchery, Aberdeen, 1996-1999
Postdoc - modelling feeding of fish in multi-species management, FRS 1996
Scientific Adviser for elasmobranchs in TV documentary, ‘Ocean Forest’ 1996

Memberships

CoastNET
European Aquaculture Society
Fisheries Society of the British Isles
Marine Biological Association UK
Scottish Association for Marine Science

Research Interests

As a marine interdisciplinary scientist, I collect empirical data for improving decision-making (governance) and policy advice on contemporary marine issues, e.g., ‘can MPA’s achieve both conservation and human dependency goals when communities are socially and economically dependent on declining fish?’

I apply mixed social science methods to joint analysis of biophysical, ecological and socio-economic survey data to investigate how we can reconcile conservation needs with human behaviour. I work at different geographical scales (local, national and regional) in different parts of the world, recent examples include,  Anguilla, Barbados, Belize, Honduras, Mauritius, The Philippines, Rodrigues, Saudi Arabia, the Seychelles, the Solomon Islands, St Kitts and Nevis, Tanzania, Thailand and UK.

I examine impacts of using scientific evidence to improve policy development using social and economic surveys, integrated coastal zone management principles, marine governance and marine spatial planning including marine protected areas.

My expertise in aquaculture and fisheries led to senior appointments as President of European Aquaculture Society (2008-2010), Member of Marine Scotland's Science Advisory Board (2010-2015), UK Ministerial Appointed Scientific Fisheries Officer (NESFC, 2005-2010) and MMO Appointee on NEIFCA (2010-2015). I have a unique mix of interdisciplinary research skills gained having trained as a natural scientist (1988-1996) and been a staff member in two social science departments (1996-2004).

Current and Recent Funded Research

1. European Union, 2010-2015, Future of Coral Reefs in a Changing Environment,  PI on two work packages on governance, €6.7million involving 18 partners from the Caribbean, Europe and US (with Pete Mumby, Robin Mahon, Clare Fitzsimmons and Nick Polunin).

2. Leverhulme Trust, 2010-2012, PI, Poverty eradication through aquaculture - sea-cucumber farming in Tanzania, £300,000 (with Yunus Mgaya and Matt Slater).

3. Darwin, 2012-2016, CI, Responding to fish extirpations in global marine biodiversity epicentre, the Philippines, £294,151 (with Nick Polunin and Maragrita Lavides).

4. Defra, 2011-2013, CI, Methodology for the assessment of priorities for international species conservation, CI, £136,501 (with Mark Whittingham, Phil McGowan, Jon-Paul Rodriguez and Alison Rosser).

5. Defra, 2012-2014, CI, Impacts and Threats to biodiversity in the UK COTs, £149,944 (with Clare Fitzsimmons and Nick Polunin).

6. NERC, 2011-2012, CI, Valuing nature network - Interdisciplinary methods to build a socio-ecological decision-making tool to inform marine governance and policy, £47,819 (with Sue Chilton, Hugh Metcalf, Maggie Roe, Pia Schuchert and Matt Slater).

7. European Union, 2009, CI, The effect of marine reserves on attitudes, perceptions and livelihoods of communities socio-economically dependent on the lagoon fishery in Rodrigues £81,000 (with Emily Hardman and Shoals Rodrigues).

8. European Union, 2004-2008, CI, Operational evaluation tools for fisheries management options, 4,500,000 Euros (with Rasmus Nielsen, Jenny Hatchard and Doug Wilson).

9. Heritage Lottery Fund, 2006-2008, PI, Sustaining our coastal heritage: value of local knowledge, £141,500 (with Joanna Redhead).

10. WIOMSA/World Conservation Society/Leverhulme Trust, 2005-2007, CI, Effects of coral bleaching on coral reef fish, fisheries and ecosystem services in the Western Indian Ocean £155,939.49 (with Tim McClanahan, Josh Cinner and Tim Daw).

11. European Union, 2004-2008, CI, Coastal Research Policy Integration, COREPOINT, 4,200,000 Euros (with Valerie Cummins, Bill Ritchie and David Green).

Postgraduate Supervision
PhD students (7 current):

(1) Katharine Hart (with T Gray and D Bell) – Turtle conservation in Costa Rica; Nwamaka Okeke (with T Gray) – Marine environmental management in the Niger Delta; (3) Georgina Robinson (with Gavin Johnston, Cliff Jones and Matt Slater) – sea cucumber biology and aquaculture; (4) Rebecca Korda (with T Gray) – Inshore fisheries management in England; (5) Mohammed Al-Qattan (with T Gray) – piracy in Kuwait and Somalia; (6) Estelle Jones (with T Gray) – MPA governance in Thailand; (7) Angelie Peterson (with Fitzsimmons, Forster, Mahon, Turner) – Social Network Analysis of marine governance players in the Caribbean.

PhD graduates (11):

(1) Hatim Al-Bisher (2006-2009) - Developing an integrated maritime policy for Saudi Arabia; (2) Md. Shaha Ali (1997-2001) - Effects of salinity and feeding on growth of Nile tilapia; (3) Helen Bloomfield (2006-2009) - Fisheries science and management; (4) Natalie Bown (2006-2009) - MPA governance in Honduras; (5) Jenny Brack (2006-2009) - Impact of acoustic noise from offshore windfarms on marine mammals and fish; (6) Annette Breckwoldt (nee Muehlig-Hofmann) (2002-2007) - Interdisciplinary appraisal of community-based marine resource management of a traditional Fijian fishing ground (qoliqoli); (7) Alex Caveen (2009-2012) - A critical examination of the scientific credentials of Marine Protected Areas: sound science or a leap of faith?; (8) Tim Daw (2003-2007) - How fishers’ count: engaging with fishers’ knowledge for fisheries science and management; (9) Margarita Lavides (2005-2009) - Multi-disciplinary study of reef fisheries depletion in Philippines; (10) Reuben Sulu (2006-2010) - Social and ecological changes in Solomon Islands reef fisheries; (11) Rachel Turner (2007-2010)- Fishers' behaviour in Northumberland lobster fisheries.

Esteem Indicators – from 2008

President (elected:2008-2010) of European Aquaculture Society & Board Member of Directors (2000-2012).

Scottish Government – Marine Scotland Science Scientific Advisory Board Member (2010-2014).

Marine Management Organisation – appointed to NEIFCA Committee and Scientific and Governance Working Group (2011-2016).

Ministerial and Defra Scientific Fisheries Adviser, North Eastern Sea Fisheries Committee (2005-2011).

Expert Advisor on AquaInnova - strategic research priorities for aquaculture governance, socio-economics and management (2011-2013).

Invited member to International Validation Team for the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Ecology, Bremen, Germany (May 2013).

Invited Expert Advisor – First MMO Workshop on Fisheries Management (December 2011).

Member of the ICES Socio-economic Aquaculture Working Group (2012-2014).

Editorial Board Member, Journal Aquaculture International (2002-present).

Plenary address: EUA-CDE Interdisciplinarity: three perspectives. Developing future interdisciplinarists, Italy, 17-18 January 2013.

Plenary address: Marine aquaculture - 21st century challenge for world fishing, Vigo, 2009.

Keynote speaker: Integrated coastal management and the development of a knowledge-based marine economy, Ningbo, China (September 2012).

Keynote speaker: British Ecological Society, Balancing food security and environmental concerns: challenges of sustainability, UK (December 2012).

Keynote speaker: The Changing Nature of Scotland, Scotland, 2009.

Invited Panel member to review future of social sciences at the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Ecology, Bremen, Germany (May 2011).

Session Chair, Royal Society of Edinburgh, Sustainable Aquaculture, 2009.

Session Chair, AE2009, New Research Frontiers, Trondheim, Norway, 2009.

Session Chair, Fisheries and Aquaculture, World Fishing Exhibition, Vigo, 2009.

External Examiner for Imperial College, MSc Conservation Science (2012-2015)

External Examiner of PhDs for Imperial College and universities of Cardiff, East Anglia, Swansea, Tasmania.

Esteem Indicators – before 2008

Invited Seminar, Indigenous knowledge in marine science research, Durham University, 2006.
Invited Speaker, Aquaculture Canada, Newfoundland, Canada, 2005.
Invited Speaker, Coastal Futures Conf 2005, London, UK, 2005.
Invited Speaker, FAO Conf, Wierzba, Poland, 2004.
Invited Speaker, EU Aquaculture Workshop, Glasgow, UK, 2004.
Invited speaker (Keynote), AE2003 Conf, Trondheim, Norway, 2003.
Invited speaker (Keynote), AE2002 Conf, Trieste, Italy, 2002.
Steering Committee Chair, AE2003, Trondheim, Norway, 2003.
Steering & Programme Committee Member, AE2002, Trieste, Italy, 2002.
Programme Co-Chair, AE2001, Trondheim, Norway, 2001.
Programme Co-Chair, Aquaculture & ICZM. Oostende, Belgium, 2001.

Editor for Springer/Praxis Publishers, 1999-2005.
Expert Evaluator, European Commission, 2001-2002.
External Examiner, UK Institute of Fisheries Management, 1999-present.

Funding

Carnegie Trust, Darwin, Defra, Economic & Social Research Council, EU; Heritage Lottery Fund, Natural Environment Research Council, Leverhulme Trust, Scottish Executive, Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association, Wildlife Conservation Society, World Bank.

Industrial and Government Relevance

Defra – Methodology for the assessment of priorities for international species conservation. 

Consultant for UNDP to determine how MPAs can integrate socio-economic and governance considerations.


Consultant for Cleveland Potash Limited leading scientific research examining impacts of seismic surveys on lobsters.


EC – advised on strategic research priorities for aquaculture governance, socio-economics and management as part of AquaInnova project. 

Projects

TEACHING

Module leader for 6 modules (MST8002, MST8004, MST8103, MST8015, MST8017, MST8018);

I also teach in MST3021 and MST8103;

I supervise UG and MSc research projects in: MST3099; MST8018; MST8009; MST8005.