Claire Lambden

I completed my undergraduate degree in 2019 in Marine Biology at Bangor University. My dissertation focused on the effects of bottom trawling on the benthic ecosystems. During my degree I was able to spend 12-months working with DEFA on the Isle of Man, during this internship I worked with local fishers on board vessels and from the lab facilities at DEFA. I spent many hours dissecting scallops (Pecten maximus and Aequipecten opercularis) and whelks (Buccinum undatum) and was able to get an insight into sustainable fishery management. This year in industry during my degree sparked an interest in fishery longevity and management and gave me invaluable experience working with different sectors of the inshore fishing industry.

After completing my degree, I was able to secure a position as a research scientist with the Orkney Regional Inshore Fisheries Group (RIFG). I continued my work as a fisheries observer on fishing vessels, collecting catch per unit effort (CPUE) data and bycatch information.  During my time as a research scientist in Orkney I was able to attend the ICESWG Scallop and present information about the Orkney fishery and share ideas and information on scallop fishery management and aging practices.

I am now studying a PhD with Heriot Watt University supervised by Clayton Magill, Marija Sciberras, Andrew Want, Jen Harland and Mike Bell.