Ecological, Conservation and Societal Consequences of Shellfish Restoration in Marine

Ecological, conservation and societal consequences of shellfish restoration in Marine Protected Areas

Supervisors: William Sanderson (Primary, Heriot-Watt University), Richard Bates (St Andrews University), David Donnan (Scottish Natural Heritage).

Supervisory team: Under this project, additional modelling supervision and guidance will be supplied by Dr Mike Bell and Dr Susana Baston at HWU ICIT campus in Orkney. Additional fieldworking supervision and support (especially scientific diving) will be provided by Dr Jo Porter and Prof Hamish Mair. Richard Stillman at Bournemouth University will support the development of IBM bird models.

Background and rational

Shellfish beds are one of “the most imperilled marine habitats on earth” [1],[2],[3]. Consequently, European flat oysters (O. edulis) are desirable conservation features in UK Marine Protected Areas3,[4]. Throughout the NE Atlantic these habitats are identified as largely extirpated and flagged as priorities for conservation. Shellfish beds are species-rich[5],[6], depositional habitats supporting a range of ecosystem services: increasing biodiversity and secondary production; acting as nursery areas for numerous other marine species, some with commercial value9,10; and maintaining water quality.

The UK Charting Progress report[7] and Scotland’s Marine Atlas[8] show large areas of the Scottish seabed have been affected by mobile fishing gear. Nationally rare native oyster beds were once widespread[9] and shellfish beds are clearly vulnerable to mobile fishing gear[10]. Present day distributions of shellfish beds are far less than modelled ‘most suitable habitat’[11] and likely to be fragmented at a time when a changing climate will require greater connectivity for MPAs and restorative measures if they are to achieve conservation objectives17, [12].

Historically the native oyster O. edulis formed extensive beds throughout the North Sea, but have now largely been extirpated6,7. Restoration of shellfish reefs is widespread in the USA. Facilitating habitat restoration in MPAs could lead to biodiversity gains, improved water quality and organic discharge mitigation, increases in fishable stocks of associated species and greater resilience of the MPAs themselves. However, there is potential for restoration to also alter the balance of other protected shellfish and other habitats within any given MPA and this might also cause changes to the populations of higher predators that themselves may be conservation features of designations such as SPAs[13], [14]. Examination of this re-balancing is important in the reconciliation of conservation objectives and the interpretation of monitoring results that support management. Furthermore, there is also a legitimate concern that alteration to the balances within systems resulting from restorative activities may also change fisheries revenues for established mussel fisheries such as those in the Dornoch Firth managed by the Highland Council (project partner).

Aims

The project aims to investigate scenarios for shellfish restoration using the Dornoch Firth as a case study site. The project seeks to do this by understanding carrying-capacity and populations of different shellfish and dependent bird species within the system then manipulating the system in environmental models that reflect potential restoration scenarios and thereby explore potential consequences for biodiversity and livelihoods. The project will also interpret the findings within the context of at least two other MPAs in Scotland using extant data.

Objectives:

1. To use hydroacoustics combined with drop down video, scientific diving and shore survey to map habitats in the middle and outer Dornoch Firth
2. To use stock assessment techniques developed by Bournemouth University the Countryside Council for Wales and latterly Heriot-Watt University to estimate shellfish populations for blue mussels and horse mussels
3. To construct an Individuals-Based Model to predict wading bird and wildfowl foraging requirements on shellfish and other mudflat habitats
4. To sample suspended particulate food availability in the Dornoch Firth and estimate available resource
5. To model restoration scenarios within the Dornoch MPA and examine potential consequences on: other habitat features, fishable mussel stocks, protected bird populations.
6. Extrapolate findings to two other protected areas where shellfish restoration might be appropriate (eg Firth of Forth)

Funding structure:

The studentship is fully funded with 50% support from The Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland and 50% from the Glenmorangie Whisky Company.

The studentship will be part of the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology in Scotland and jointly registered at Heriot-Watt and St Andrews University.

Ecological, conservation and societal consequences of shellfish restoration in Marine Protected Areas

Selection criteria

Essential

·  A strong academic record (2:1 degree in Marine Biology, Zoology or similar discipline).

·  A high level of competence in diving and appropriate level of diving qualification for compliance with the Diving at Work Regulations 1997.

·  Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential and willingness to spend time working away from home.

·  Experience in data handling using databases, spreadsheets, GIS and statistical packages.

·  Experience in using office software programs e.g. Word

·  Ability to work well as part of a interdisciplinary team and to show initiative

·  Reasonable fitness level – frequently there will be a need to move equipment, or work long hours that are physically demanding

·  Willingness to undertake fieldwork and to join near-shore research cruises

·  An enthusiasm for the marine environment and conservation

·  Meticulous approach to scientific work

Desirable

·  An understanding of practical and theoretical aspects of marine ecology.

·  A full UK driving licence or equivalent qualification that would qualify to drive on UK roads

·  Diving certification to CMAS 3 star equivalent ie Dive Master, Dive Leader etc.

·  Experience of work at sea and the shore

·  Experience of spatial data handling

·  Experience of Individuals Based Modeling

·  Experience of hydroacoustic survey

[1] Beck, et al., (2009). Shellfish reefs at risk: a global analysis of problems and solutions, Nature. TNC, Arlington,VA.

[2] Beck et al., (2011), Oyster reefs at risk and recommendations for conservation, restoration and management. BioSci.,61(2): 107-116.

[3] Zu Ermgassen et al. (2012) Historical ecology with real numbers….. Proc. R. Soc. B., 288: 1803, 1-8.

[4] Sanderson, et al., (In prep.). Climate change and marine protected areas in the UK and the wider NE Atlantic. Aqu. Cons: Mar. & Fw Eco.

[5] Sanderson et al. (2008) Small-scale variation within a Modiolus modiolus reef ….Epifauna …. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. UK, 88(1), 143-149.

[6] Rees, Sanderson et al. (2008). Small-scale variation … Crevice, sediment infauna and epifauna... J. Mar. Biol. Ass. UK, 88(1), 151-156.

[7] http://chartingprogress.defra.gov.uk/node/31

[8] http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/03/16182005/0

[9] Olsen, OT (1883). The piscatorial atlas of the North Sea, English Channel, and St. George's Channels…. Grimsby.

[10] Cook, Fariñas-Franco, Gell, Holt, Holt, Lindenbaum, Porter, Seed, Skates, Stringell, & Sanderson (2013). The substantial first impact of bottom fishing on rare biodiversity hotspots: a dilemma for evidence-based conservation. PLoS ONE.

[11] Gormley, Porter, Bell, Hull & Sanderson, W.G. 2013. Predictive habitat modelling as a tool to assess the change in distribution and extent of an OSPAR Priority Habitat under and increasing ocean temperature scenario: consequences for Marine Protected Area networks and management. PLOS ONE, 8(7)

[12] Gormley, Hull, Porter, Bell & Sanderson, W.G. 2015. Adaptive management, international cooperation and planning for marine conservation hotspots in a changing climate. Marine Policy, 53: p 54-66

[13] Stillman RA, ……& Sanderson WG. 2010. Assessing waterbird conservation objectives: An example for the Burry Inlet, UK. Biological conservation. 30;143(11):2617-30.

[14] West AD, Stillman RA, …. Sanderson WG, Willis J. 2011. WaderMORPH–a user‐friendly individual‐based model to advise shorebird policy and management. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 1;2(1):95-8.