Plankton science for supporting the implementation of marine ecosystem-based management and conservation
Lead Research Organisation:
Plymouth University
Department Name: Sch of Biological and Marine Sciences
Abstract
Ecosystem-based management is key to holistically managing our seas. Under this approach, robust scientific evidence provides the critical foundation upon which to base policy and management decisions. The science and policy communities must work together to integrate scientific research into the decision-making process. Such collaboration can be challenging as policymakers and scientists communicate in their own jargon-centric languages; limited funding is available for scientists to input into the policy process; policy-makers work to tight timescales that can be difficult for scientists to respond to; and the route through which scientists can engage with decision makers may be unclear. Consequently, end users may be left either unaware of or not clearly understanding how science can support and inform management options. My first KE fellowship enabled me to overcome these challenges, resulting in significant progress towards the development of biodiversity indicators for UK, EU and international policy obligations, production of the first ever coherent assessment of UK and OSPAR (Northeast Europe) pelagic habitats, and the fostering of collaboration within the previously-disparate UK plankton research community. My understanding of policy needs has expanded, placing me in an informed position to respond to evolving policy challenges such as Brexit. Despite these successes, substantial work remains towards implementing ecosystem-based management in UK, EU and international seas, such as setting politically-agreed environmental targets, achieving regional coherence for management, and continued development of plankton indicators.
This fellowship will build on the achievements of my first NERC KE fellowship to: progress the integration of UK plankton science and data into the UK and European decision-making processes; facilitate the interpretation and translation of UK scientific research into targeted policy advice; communicate policy needs to the scientific community to facilitate and encourage scientific input to decision-making; and turn emerging marine policy challenges into opportunities to use UK plankton data and research to support existing and emerging legislation.
I will apply my science-policy expertise to integrate UK plankton science into the UK and EU political processes through involvement in national and international pelagic expert groups, including leadership of the implementation of the MSFD for pelagic habitats at the UK and OSPAR levels, and membership on key UK and international policy boards. UK plankton data and research will also be transformed to targeted policy-relevant scientific advice for UK, EU and international policy-makers. Policy advice gaps and future needs will be assessed in order to steer the plankton research community towards policy relevance. The new political challenges of Brexit and the MSFD's 2017 Revision will require innovation by both scientists and policy-makers as we seek to implement marine ecosystem-based management under new and uncertain political requirements. This fellowship will exploit my position of influence in the UK and EU science-policy communities to ensure that scientific evidence and data continue to underpin the marine policy process. These steps towards the effective application and development of plankton science will result in the best use of evidence to support marine management and conservation.
I am experienced in engaging and communicating with UK, EU and international policy and decision makers, and drawing links between scientific research and policy needs. I would like to continue and evolve the work I started, directly contributing to UK and EU marine policy implementation; building scientific cohesion, and therefore the capacity to address policy problems, within the UK plankton research community; and acting as a conduit between the UK and EU science and policy communities by serving on evidence groups and providing targeted and timely advice.
This fellowship will build on the achievements of my first NERC KE fellowship to: progress the integration of UK plankton science and data into the UK and European decision-making processes; facilitate the interpretation and translation of UK scientific research into targeted policy advice; communicate policy needs to the scientific community to facilitate and encourage scientific input to decision-making; and turn emerging marine policy challenges into opportunities to use UK plankton data and research to support existing and emerging legislation.
I will apply my science-policy expertise to integrate UK plankton science into the UK and EU political processes through involvement in national and international pelagic expert groups, including leadership of the implementation of the MSFD for pelagic habitats at the UK and OSPAR levels, and membership on key UK and international policy boards. UK plankton data and research will also be transformed to targeted policy-relevant scientific advice for UK, EU and international policy-makers. Policy advice gaps and future needs will be assessed in order to steer the plankton research community towards policy relevance. The new political challenges of Brexit and the MSFD's 2017 Revision will require innovation by both scientists and policy-makers as we seek to implement marine ecosystem-based management under new and uncertain political requirements. This fellowship will exploit my position of influence in the UK and EU science-policy communities to ensure that scientific evidence and data continue to underpin the marine policy process. These steps towards the effective application and development of plankton science will result in the best use of evidence to support marine management and conservation.
I am experienced in engaging and communicating with UK, EU and international policy and decision makers, and drawing links between scientific research and policy needs. I would like to continue and evolve the work I started, directly contributing to UK and EU marine policy implementation; building scientific cohesion, and therefore the capacity to address policy problems, within the UK plankton research community; and acting as a conduit between the UK and EU science and policy communities by serving on evidence groups and providing targeted and timely advice.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Abigail McQuatters-Gollop (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Addison P
(2018)
A new wave of marine evidence-based management: emerging challenges and solutions to transform monitoring, evaluating, and reporting
in ICES Journal of Marine Science
Batten S
(2019)
A Global Plankton Diversity Monitoring Program
in Frontiers in Marine Science
Batten S
(2018)
Interannual variability in lower trophic levels on the Alaskan Shelf
in Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography
Bedford J
(2020)
Implications of taxon-level variation in climate change response for interpreting plankton lifeform biodiversity indicators
in ICES Journal of Marine Science
Bedford J
(2019)
A century of change in North Sea plankton communities explored through integrating historical datasets
in ICES Journal of Marine Science
Bedford J
(2020)
Lifeform indicators reveal large-scale shifts in plankton across the North-West European shelf.
in Global change biology
Bedford J
(2018)
Plankton as prevailing conditions: A surveillance role for plankton indicators within the Marine Strategy Framework Directive
in Marine Policy
Capuzzo E
(2018)
A decline in primary production in the North Sea over 25 years, associated with reductions in zooplankton abundance and fish stock recruitment.
in Global change biology
Chee S
(2021)
Enhancing Uptake of Nature-Based Solutions for Informing Coastal Sustainable Development Policy and Planning: A Malaysia Case Study
in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
Djeghri N
(2023)
Reinterpreting two regime shifts in North Sea plankton communities through the lens of functional traits
in Global Ecology and Biogeography
| Description | Plankton are microscopic organisms which occupy the base of the marine food web. They are sensitive to changes in their environment and are crucial to the functioning of the marine ecosystem, making them responsive indicators for environmental change. Much of our knowledge of macroecological plankton change in the North Atlantic is the result of the NERC-supported Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) survey, an ecologically rich and spatially extensive near-surface plankton monitoring program with >80 years of data. CPR research has shown that there have been significant climate-driven changes in the community composition and dynamics of both phyto (plant-like) plankton and zoo (animal-like) plankton in the North Sea and Northeast Atlantic. Phytoplankton biomass has increased, phytoplankton functional group dominance has changed, biogeographical shifts have increased the population of warm-water taxa, changes in plankton biodiversity have been observed, and Arctic sea ice decline has allowed the establishment of a non-indigenous species in the North Atlantic. Ocean acidification is an emerging issue, and the CPR provides a baseline against which to monitor its impact on North Atlantic plankton. In addition to climate change, regional plankton also responds to direct anthropogenic pressures such as nutrient loading, with climate change found to exacerbate the undesirable effects of increased nutrients in the coastal North Sea. Changes in the plankton resonate upward to higher trophic levels, many of which, such as fish, have considerable economic value. To sustainably manage European seas in a holistic manner, in 2008 the European Commission passed the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) with the goal of managing the marine ecosystem to a healthy and productive state (Good Environmental Status, GES) by 2020. The MSFD applies an 'ecosystem approach' to management, which requires understanding of all aspects of the marine system, and their responses to human pressures as well as to climate change. This is a novel approach to management, particularly at such a large spatial scale as the European Union; the MSFD's execution is therefore a learning process for both scientists and policy makers. Successful implementation of the MSFD requires long-term biological datasets, such as that provided by the CPR, to inform indicators, construct environmental targets and describe a vision for GES. Key plankton-relevant aspects of the ecosystem, such as biodiversity, non-indigenous species, eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, and food webs, must meet environmental targets for GES to be achieved. Interactions between climate change and direct anthropogenic pressures, scientific knowledge gaps in food web dynamics, system-specific responses to pressures, and differing methods of plankton sampling present difficulties in constructing operational indicators. Despite these challenges, effective and easily-communicable plankton indicators are in development for the MSFD implementation for the UK, via Defra, and for the Northeast Atlantic, via the Oslo-Paris Convention (OSPAR). Both the UK and OSPAR have agreed to the development of plankton indicators based on a 'lifeform' approach. This methodology groups plankton taxa into ecologically-relevant lifeform pairs, changes in the relative abundances of which are linked to manageable anthropogenic pressures. NERC-supported CPR data and research have been fundamental in the lifeform indicator development process, and are required throughout the North Atlantic for monitoring towards GES. |
| Exploitation Route | I work with policy makers to provide evidence for decision making. Policy can make decisions based on these results. For example, I authored the UK Marine Strategy assessment for pelagic habitats: https://moat.cefas.co.uk/biodiversity-food-webs-and-marine-protected-areas/pelagic-habitats/ |
| Sectors | Environment |
| URL | https://planktonpolicy.org/blog/ |
| Description | 1. Summary of the impact (indicative maximum 100 words) Marine ecological systems are responding to human pressures such as climate change, fishing, and nutrient loading. Therefore, an ecosystem approach to marine management is required to manage and conserve marine biodiversity. Plankton are robust indicators of environmental change and can be used to support marine policies which inform conservation efforts for fish and seabirds and protect human health. McQuatters-Gollop led the development of new plankton indicators which contributed to the first ever regional marine biodiversity assessment in Europe. Her research influenced UK Fisheries policy and the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and resulted in policy changes within Europe. These indicators now inform the regional implementation of management measures for the achievement of Good Environmental Status in the North East Atlantic. 2. Underpinning research (indicative maximum 500 words). Pelagic habitats are found in the ocean water column and cover 90% of the world's seas. Plankton, microscopic algae and animals, are ubiquitous throughout pelagic habitats. Their short lifespans, close links to their environment and high diversity, mean that they can be used as robust indicators of environmental change. The development of scientifically robust indicators that can track changes in pelagic habitats is therefore a critical but novel field, which is evolving quickly to fill the needs of UK and EU policymakers. The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is the first large-scale mechanism to holistically manage marine biodiversity through the setting of biodiversity indicators. These legally required plankton indicators can be monitored towards environmental targets representing Good Environmental Status (GES). In response to this, McQuatters-Gollop developed three plankton biodiversity indicators revealing important information about changes in plankton species composition, functioning, and production linked to wider changes in pelagic habitats [1, 2]. Though critical for marine management and policy, biodiversity indicators are only useful if they are both scientifically robust and fulfil policy objectives. These three plankton indicators were therefore co-developed with the UK (Defra) and OSPAR (the mechanism by which 15 Governments & the EU cooperate to protect the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic). This was the first time that the pelagic plankton community had been assessed at the North-East Atlantic and UK-wide scales and the assessments formed the foundation of the UK's 2020 Marine Strategy Assessment, and the 2017 OSPAR Intermediate Assessment, for pelagic habitat biodiversity and food webs. Such assessments depend on setting biodiversity targets. This is not straightforward, however, as often the links between human disturbances and plankton responses may not be clear due to environmental and climate change. In order to resolve this challenge, a clear articulation of GES for pelagic habitats was developed by McQuatters-Gollop and is now in use in UK and OSPAR MSFD assessments, providing the foundation for environmental target setting for the implementations of the MSFD and the UK Marine Strategy [3]. In addition to the operational role of pelagic indicators, McQuatters-Gollop showed that plankton indicators can also serve a surveillance role where information on plankton change can provide evidence critical for understanding of variations higher up in the food web (higher trophic levels) e.g. fish, seabirds, or seabed habitats [4]. Subsequently, McQuatters-Gollop investigated links between multiple trophic levels in the North Sea and demonstrated that change in plankton communities resonates upward through the food web, causing alterations to fish populations [5]. From a policy perspective, understanding of the role of plankton as surveillance indicators and the manifestation of links to higher trophic levels are required evidence to determine if UK and EU waters are in GES. These concepts addressed the key policy challenge of separating the drivers of change in higher trophic levels (birds, non-commercial fish) in MSFD assessments, underpinning the assessment of food webs in the UK and OSPAR areas. This evidence [1-5] provided information to policy makers about if and where to enact management measures such as sewage treatment and changes to farming practices. The results also showed that climate change, which is manageable by reducing carbon emissions, is driving the changes in plankton indicators [6]. This analysis was reported in the OSPAR Intermediate Assessment 2017 and the UK Marine Strategy assessment in 2020. 3. References to the research (indicative maximum of six references) [1] McQuatters-Gollop, A., Atkinson, A., Aubert, A., Bedford, J., Best, M., Bresnan, E., Cook, K., Devlin, M., Gowen, R., Johns, D.G., Machairopoulou, M., Mellor, A., Ostle, C., Scherer, C. and Tett, P., (2019). Plankton lifeforms as a biodiversity indicator for regional-scale assessment of pelagic habitats for policy Ecological Indicators, 101: 913-925. [2] Rombouts, I., Simon, N., Aubert, A., Cariou, T., Feunteun, E., Guérin, L., Hoebeke, M., McQuatters-Gollop, A., Rigaut-Jalabert, F. and Artigas, L.F., (2019). Changes in marine phytoplankton diversity: Assessment under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Ecological Indicators, 102: 265-277. [3] Dickey-Collas, M., McQuatters-Gollop, A., Bresnan, E., Kraberg, A.C., Manderson, J.P., Nash, R.D.M., Otto, S.A., Sell, A.F., Tweddle, J.F. and Trenkel, V.M., (2017). Pelagic habitat: exploring the concept of good environmental status. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 74: 2333-2341. [4 Bedford, J., Johns, D., Greenstreet, S. and McQuatters-Gollop, A., (2018). Plankton as prevailing conditions: a surveillance role for plankton indicators within the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Marine Policy 89:109-115. [5 Capuzzo, E., Lynam, C.P., Barry, J., Stephens, D., Forster, R.M., Greenwood, N., McQuatters-Gollop, A., Silva, T., Sonja M. van Leeuwen and Engelhard, G.H., (2017). A decline in primary production in the North Sea over 25 years, associated with reductions in zooplankton abundance and fish stock recruitment. Global Change Biology, 24: e352-e364. [6 Bedford, J., Ostle, C., Johns, D.G., Atkinson, A., Best, M., Bresnan, E., Machairopoulou, M., Graves, C.A., Devlin, M., Milligan, A., Pitois, S., Mellor, A., Tett, P. and McQuatters-Gollop, A., (2020). Lifeform indicators reveal large-scale shifts in plankton across the North-West European shelf. Global Change Biology. Grant: Abigail McQuatters-Gollop. Knowledge Exchange Fellowship: Interpreting and targeting NERC-funded research outputs to inform and influence marine policy. NERC. 2013-2017. £110,269. Grant: Abigail McQuatters-Gollop. Knowledge Exchange Fellowship: Plankton science for supporting the implementation of marine ecosystem-based management and conservation. NERC. 2018-2020. £70,000. Grant: Abigail McQuatters-Gollop. ICEGRAPH: Increasing Confidence in Evaluating GES for Regional Assessments of Pelagic Habitats. MMO/EMFF. 2019. £190,000. 4. Details of the impact (indicative maximum 750 words). At the base of the marine food web and closely linked to their immediate environment, plankton are increasingly needed as indicators to support marine policy, inform conservation efforts for higher trophic organisms such as fish and seabirds, and protect human health. McQuatters-Gollop's research has informed national and international policy through the novel use of plankton indicators to provide evidence for policy decision making. Europe has and continues to implement ecosystem-based management (EBM) of its seas. McQuatters-Gollop's research has resulted in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) being instrumental in delivering EBM and requiring European marine habitats and species to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) for their biodiversity and food webs which will protect the resource base upon which marine-related economic and social activities depend. Influencing policy to achieve GES McQuatters-Gollop's research has aided the articulation of a policy vision of GES under the MSFD for pelagic habitats, which is the foundation of the environmental target development for pelagic habitats. This novel work has led to the development and policy uptake of pelagic habitat biodiversity indicators in close collaboration with Defra (UK) and the OSPAR Commission. McQuatters-Gollop developed three new plankton biodiversity indicators which identified statistically significant changes in plankton communities throughout UK and North East (NE) Atlantic. As plankton communities change due to climate change or other direct anthropogenic pressures, composition of other marine food web components such as seabirds or commercial fish can be affected. The development and operationalisation of environmental indicators and targets using plankton data from the EU plankton community was critical for this work. These innovative biodiversity indicators, targets, and assessments were developed in close collaboration with international policy makers (13 EU Member States, Iceland, and Norway) through OSPAR's Pelagic Habitats Expert Group (chaired by McQuatters-Gollop since 2011) [1]. Emily Corcoran, Deputy Secretary, OSPAR Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic stated "[McQuatters-Gollop's] 'contribution to this process [was] valuable for achieving regional coherence in the implementation of the Directive through the provision of advice to OSPAR." [2] These indicators now inform the regional implementation of management measures for the achievement of GES in the North East Atlantic [3]. Assessing environmental targets for GES McQuatters-Gollop developed and led the first ever assessment of the status of the UK and OSPAR's pelagic habitats against environmental targets representing GES [4]. She chaired and represented the UK in the pelagic group of OSPAR COBAM and at the national (UK) level chairing (for Defra) the pelagic expert group in the Healthy and Biologically Diverse Seas Evidence Group (HBDSEG) which facilitated the delivery of eco-system based assessments and management of the UK's marine environment. This enabled the draft assessment to go out to public consultation in the UK in late 2019 and co-led the process for pelagic habitats with Defra [5]. This was pivotal in the development of marine conservation policy in the UK and ensured that the UK has the added benefit of a consistent approach across the two groups in the development of indicators and targets for pelagic habitats under the MSFD at both UK and EU levels for Defra. McQuatters-Gollop's leadership within the OSPAR MSFD processes allowed the UK to take a leading international role in the MSFD and enabled the development of scientifically robust targets which have enabled the first ever assessment of pelagic biodiversity for UK and NE Atlantic (OSPAR) waters. Her understanding, interpretation and ongoing contributions to these activities enabled the UK to take a leading role in the MSFD. Dominic Pattison, Defra stated that, 'Your advice has allowed us to progress development of robust indicators and targets which stand up to scrutiny and challenge and beyond this for use in consideration against wider UK marine policies' [6]. Impact on ecosystem approach and UK Fisheries Policy McQuatters-Gollop's research directly influenced recommendations on post-Brexit marine management, including the construction of the new UK Fisheries Policy. She was an advisor to MPs and Ministers on sustainability and on fisheries policy and facilitated the uptake of the ecosystem approach by contributing scientific expertise to the UK Fisheries Management POSTnote [7]. She also provided evidence as an expert witness for the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee Sustainable Seas Inquiry [8] and the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs Committee Fisheries Bill Inquiry [9]. Dr Charlotte Marshall, Defra said 'Mc-Quatters-Gollop's research has made a significant contribution to the development of marine conservation policy in the UK.' [10] 5. Sources to corroborate the impact (indicative maximum of ten references) [1] UK MSFD Assessment for pelagic habitats biodiversity indicators https://moat.cefas.co.uk/biodiversity-food-webs-and-marine-protected-areas/pelagic-habitats/) [2] Corroborating letter from OSPAR (LoS Emily Corcoran OSPAR.pdf) [3] Marine Strategy Part 3 Programme of Measures [4] OSPAR 2017 Intermediate Assessment: I led the following sections: a) McQuatters-Gollop, A., Artigas, F., Aubert, A., Budria, A., Johansen, M., Ostle, C. and Rombouts, I., (2017). PH1/FW5: Changes in phytoplankton and zooplankton communities. In: OSPAR (Editor), OSPAR Intermediate Assessment 2017. OSPAR, London, UK, pp. 2. https://oap.ospar.org/en/ospar-assessments/intermediate-assessment-2017/biodiversity-status/habitats/changes-phytoplankton-and-zooplankton-communities/ b) Aubert, A., Artigas, F., A., Budria, A., Johansen, M., Ostle, C., and Rombouts, I., and McQuatters-Gollop, A., (2017). PH2: Plankton biomass and/or abundance. In: OSPAR (Editor), OSPAR Intermediate Assessment 2017. OSPAR, London, UK, pp. 2. https://oap.ospar.org/en/ospar-assessments/intermediate-assessment-2017/biodiversity-status/habitats/plankton-biomass/ c) Rombouts, I., Budria, A., Aubert, A., Artigas, F., Johansen, M., Ostle, C., and McQuatters-Gollop, A., (2017). PH3: Changes in biodiversity index(s). In: OSPAR (Editor), OSPAR Intermediate Assessment 2017. OSPAR, London, UK, pp. 2. https://oap.ospar.org/en/ospar-assessments/intermediate-assessment-2017/biodiversity-status/habitats/pilot-assessment-changes-plankton/ [5] Draft UK monitoring options proposal and evaluation of evidence presented at HBDSEG March 2018 [6] Corroborating letter from Defra (LoS Dominic Pattinson Defra.pdf) [7] Program and materials from The Science of Managing UK Fisheries, Westminster, Feb 2018 b) UK Fisheries Management. POSTnote. POST-PN-0572, 2018. https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/POST-PN-0572 [8] Creagh, M., and the Environmental Audit Committee, (2019). Sustainable Seas. Fourteenth Report of Session 2017-19. Environmental Audit Committee, House of Commons, UK Parliament, London, 66 p. [9] Parish, N., and the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Committee, (2019). Beyond the Common Fisheries Policy: Scrutiny of the Fisheries Bill. Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Committee, House of Commons, UK Parliament, London, 38 pp. [10] Defra testimonial |
| First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
| Sector | Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |
| Description | Chairing of UK and OSPAR level Marine Strategy Framework Directive implementation expert groups for pleagic habitats |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | 1. Outcome: Development of MSFD indicators which form important contribution to EU and UK policy. a. Evidence: Indicators and targets now legally binding in UK, accepted for international development in OSPAR. b. Evidence: NERC-supported CPR data and research form key evidence source for informing and assessing indicators at UK and OSPAR levels. c. Evidence: Input into development of UK plankton monitoring strategy which explicitly names the CPR survey as data contributor; advice sought on UK MSFD programme of management measures, which will be implemented to manage human pressure on marine waters. d. Evidence: Representatives from multiple EU countries are now collaborating to develop regionally-cohesive OSPAR level policy indicators. e. Evidence: Led development of plankton indicators which will be published as OSPAR Indicator Assessment Cards in 2017. f. Reach and value: Robust delivery of MSFD meets EU legal requirements and avoids infraction for member states; progress towards sustainable marine management benefits all users of marine ecosystems. 2. Outcome: Progression of wider non-plankton aspects of MSFD implementation. a. Evidence: Production of guidance on evaluation of indicator criteria through ICES WGBIODIV now in use in OSPAR implementation. b. Evidence: Production of guidance on MSFD-climate change interactions through MCCIP now in review phase, soon to be published for use in implementation process. c. Reach and value: Clear and practical guidance to support the MSFD's approach to management is used by scientists and policy makers in the implementation of individual member states (for example UK, NO, SE, NL, FR, BE) as well as collaboratively at the OSPAR level. 3. Outcome: Development of close working relationship with UK, European Commission and OSPAR policy makers through leadership roles in the UK and OSPAR level processes; facilitates effective and wide ranging application of CPR science to current policy needs and identification of upcoming opportunities to contribute. a. Evidence: UK, EU and OSPAR policy makers contact me frequently for advice and I often approach them for input as well; these conversations are both informal and formal. b. Evidence: Policy engagement facilitates production of personal research which is responsive to policy needs and useful to decision makers. c. Evidence: Knowledge of policy needs used to influence CPR colleagues' research to address policy-relevant knowledge gaps. d. Evidence: Increasingly asked to represent 'policy point of view' in scientific collaboration, raising the profile of the CPR and creating products useful to policy makers. For example, I am leading a policy-targeted 'Governance Guide' as part of a collaborative project. This guide will include two CPR science-policy case studies, demonstrating impact from the NERC-supported survey. e. Reach and value: Availability to policy makers and reputation for open and cooperative communication ensures policy objectives at UK, OSPAR and EU levels are supported by the best available information and feature a CPR point of view; dissemination of CPR-policy throughout the wider scientific community, who may not normally be involved in science-policy work, encourages responsive research and consistent linking of research to policy needs. 4. Outcome: Targeted and accessible advice provided to the wider European and international science-policy communities has increased the use of science in decision making and has facilitated policy application of scientific research. a. Evidence: Increasingly invited to speak as expert on applying science to policy and communicating across the science-policy interface (see http://planktonpolicy.org/publications/conference-presentationsposters/ for details). b. Evidence: Policy-targeted publications, which explicitly draw connections between science and policy needs, are written in clear and non-technical language and disseminated throughout the EU and internationally. These products are used by both science-policy advisors and policy makers to support decision making. c. Evidence: Leading role in EU and international science-policy workshops as invited convenor/speaker/facilitator. A recent success occurred at a Tokyo science-policy workshop ("Towards the better collaboration between scientists and policy makers") which brought scientists and policymakers together, an uncommon event in Japan. We identified key barriers inhibiting science-policy knowledge exchange and possible avenues to overcome them. The CPR survey was used as a successful example of a research programme which supports decision making. The best practices learned in the UK and Europe were adapted to guidelines that may be applied to incorporate science from the NERC-funded Going Global project, into the Japanese policy process. d. Reach and value: These activities influence international science-policy advisors, pure scientists, and decision makers. 5. Outcome: Engagement with society raises awareness of plankton and the CPR and their importance at the science-policy interface. a. Evidence: Public talk to adults as part of National Science and Engineering Week event addressed importance of plankton monitoring to policy. The venue was filled to capacity (~50 attendees). b. Evidence: Engagement with the public through new NERC KE Fellowship-inspired blog (Plankton and Policy http://planktonpolicy.org/blog/) and social media (Twitter: @anaturalstate) disseminates policy work and research, stimulates conversation, and illustrates the humanity of science by incorporating personal points of view in scientific messages. c. Evidence: Featured in 'This is what a scientist looks like', a campaign to challenge the stereotypical perception of scientists http://tinyurl.com/AMGscientist d. Reach and value: Building respect for sustainable use of the marine environment in wider society increases the value of the sea. |
| Description | Cited in Parish, N. and Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Committee (McQuatters-Gollop provided evidence), (2019). Beyond the Common Fisheries Policy: Scrutiny of the Fisheries Bill. Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Committee, House of Commons, UK Parliament, London, 38 pp. |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Impact | My oral evidence in Parliament as part of the Fisheries Bill Inquiry was used to form recommendations for improvement of the Bill which are published in: Parish, N. and Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Committee (McQuatters-Gollop provided evidence), (2019). Beyond the Common Fisheries Policy: Scrutiny of the Fisheries Bill. Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Committee, House of Commons, UK Parliament, London, 38 pp. |
| Description | Edwards, M., Atkinson, A., Bresnan, E., Helaouët, P., McQuatters-Gollop, A., Ostle, C., Pitois, S. and Widdicombe, C., (2020). Plankton, jellyfish and climate in the North-East Atlantic. MCCIP Science Review 2020: 322-353. |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://www.mccip.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-07/15_plankton_2020.pdf |
| Description | Hayhow, D., Eaton, M., Stanbury, A., Burns, F., Kirby, W., Bailey, N., Beckmann, B., Bedford, J., Boersch-Supan, P., Coomber, F., Dennis, E., Dolman, S., Dunn, E., Hall, J., Harrower, C., Hatfield, J., Hawley, J., Haysom, K., Hughes, J., Johns, D., Mathews, F., McQuatters-Gollop, A., Noble, D., Outhwaite, C., Pearce-Higgins, J., Pescott, O., Powney, G. and Symes, N., (2019). The State of Nature - 2019. The State of Nature partnership., UK. |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | Evidence for decision making. |
| URL | https://nbn.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/State-of-Nature-2019-UK-full-report.pdf |
| Description | Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology (McQuatters-Gollop, contributing author), (2019). POSTNOTE: UK Climate Change and Fisheries, No. 604, London, 4 pp. |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology (McQuatters-Gollop, contributing author), (2019). POSTNOTE: UK Climate Change and Fisheries, No. 604, London, 4 pp. Evidence for parliament for development of FIsheries Act |
| URL | https://post.parliament.uk/research-briefings/post-pn-0604/ |
| Description | Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology (McQuatters-Gollop, contributing author), (2021). POSTNOTE: Effective biodiversity indicators, No. 644, London, 4 pp. |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://post.parliament.uk/research-briefings/post-pn-0644/ |
| Description | Policy engagement - UK, OSPAR, international |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | 1. Outcome: Development of MSFD plankton indicators which form important contribution to EU and UK policy. a. Evidence: UK and OSPAR indicator assessments to be published in 2017 before submission to the European Commission. I led the plankton work for both assessments. The assessments deliver the first regional scale plankton assessments for the UK and OSPAR. b. Evidence: NERC-supported UK plankton data and research form key evidence source for informing and assessing indicators at UK and OSPAR levels. c. Evidence: Input into development of UK plankton monitoring strategy which explicitly names the CPR survey as data contributor; advice sought on UK MSFD programme of management measures, which will be implemented to manage human pressure on marine waters. d. Evidence: Representatives from multiple EU countries are now collaborating to develop regionally-cohesive OSPAR level policy indicators. e. Reach and value: Robust delivery of MSFD meets EU legal requirements and avoids infraction for member states; progress towards sustainable marine management benefits all users of marine ecosystems. 2. Outcome: Progression of wider non-plankton aspects of MSFD implementation. a. Evidence: Work on indicator integration will be used in the UK and OSPAR MSFD processes. b. Reach and value: Clear and practical guidance to support the MSFD's approach to management is used by scientists and policy makers in the implementation of individual member states (for example UK, NO, SE, NL, FR, DE, DK, BE) as well as collaboratively at the OSPAR level. 3. Outcome: Development of close working relationship with UK, European Commission and OSPAR policy makers through leadership roles in the UK and OSPAR level processes; facilitates effective and wide ranging application of UK plankton science to current policy needs and identification of upcoming opportunities to contribute. a. Evidence: UK, EU and OSPAR policy makers contact me frequently for advice and I often approach them for input as well; these conversations are both informal and formal. b. Evidence: Policy engagement facilitates production of personal research which is responsive to policy needs and useful to decision makers. c. Evidence: Knowledge of policy needs used to influence CPR colleagues' research to address policy-relevant knowledge gaps. d. Evidence: Increasingly asked to represent 'policy point of view' in scientific collaboration, raising the profile of UK plankton science and creating products useful to policy makers. I advised the OSPAR "Addressing gaps in biodiversity indicator development for the OSPAR Region from data to ecosystem assessment: Applying an ecosystem approach to (sub) regional habitat assessments (EcApRHA)" project and steered technical work towards supporting policy needs for the OSPAR and UK expert groups that I chair. e. Evidence: Invited to present my fellowship work to high-ranking members of Defra Marine at a Plymouth University showcase event. Since then I've secured small pots of funding from Defra to progress the scientific parts of my policy work. f. Reach and value: Availability to policy makers and reputation for open and cooperative communication ensures policy objectives at UK, OSPAR and EU levels are supported by the best available information and feature a CPR point of view; dissemination of CPR-policy throughout the wider scientific community, who may not normally be involved in science-policy work, encourages responsive research and consistent linking of research to policy needs. 4. Outcome: Targeted and accessible advice provided to the wider European and international science-policy communities has increased the use of science in decision-making and has facilitated policy application of scientific research. a. Evidence: Increasingly invited to speak as expert on applying science to policy and communicating across the science-policy interface (see http://planktonpolicy.org/publications/conference-presentationsposters/ for details). b. Evidence: Policy-targeted publications, which explicitly draw connections between science and policy needs, are written in clear and non-technical language and disseminated throughout the EU and internationally. These products are used by both science-policy advisors and policy makers to support decision-making. c. Evidence: Research used in the United Nation World Ocean Assessment http://www.worldoceanassessment.org/ which supports international decision-making about marine environments. d. Evidence: Awarded and invited fellowship from Japan Society for Promotion of Science to help Japanese policy makers and scientists work together. e. Evidence: Delivered invited talk about my science-policy work at United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre. I was hosted by the director, Professor Steve Fletcher. f. Reach and value: These activities influence international science-policy advisors, pure scientists, and decision makers. 5. Outcome: Engagement with society raises awareness of plankton and their importance at the science-policy interface. a. Evidence: Delivered public lecture about plankton and policy to CoCoast citizen science volunteers b. Evidence: Engagement with the public through new NERC KE Fellowship-inspired blog (Plankton and Policy http://planktonpolicy.org/blog/) and social media (Twitter: @anaturalstate) disseminates policy work and research, stimulates conversation, and illustrates the humanity of science by incorporating personal points of view in scientific messages. c. Evidence: Featured in 'This is what a scientist looks like', a campaign to challenge the stereotypical perception of scientists http://tinyurl.com/AMGscientist. Have been interviewed be the Times as well as Plymouth University publications. d. Reach and value: Building respect for sustainable use of the marine environment in wider society increases the value of the sea. 6. Outcome: Promotion of KE as a discipline raises awareness of importance of science-policy interface and increases respect for KE a. Evidence: Co-founded and co-chair of the Challenger Society for Marine Science Special Interest Group (SIG) which in only one year has gained 50 members b. Evidence: Co-hosted and co-convened an early career science-policy event at the Challenger 2016 Science Conference which was attended by approximately 100 delegates. We organised a panel of policy scientists, knowledge brokers and policy makers and had question and answer break out groups with attendees to guide them into working with policy. c. Evidence: Delivered multiple talks about my KE fellowship work, concentrating on how to start working with policy makers and motivating scientists to pursue this work d. Evidence: Co-authoring paper on monitoring, evaluation and response in science-policy with KE Fellow Prue Addison. I visited Prue in Cambridge and presented my fellowship work to her (mostly terrestrial) research group. It was a good opportunity to exchange points of view on my work and their conservation work. |
| Description | Provided evidence in Parliament twice |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | My testimony was cited in Parliament by MP Luke Pollard, Shadow Fisheries Minister, and also in the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Committee report which turned my testimony into recommendations for improvement to the Fisheries Bill. |
| Description | NERC: Knowledge Exchange Fellowship: Plankton science for supporting the implementation of marine ecosystem-based management and conservation |
| Amount | £70,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/R002738/1 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2018 |
| End | 03/2019 |
| Description | Nea-Panacea - North East Atlantic project on biodiversity and eutrophication assessment integration and creation of effective measures |
| Amount | € 1,000,000 (EUR) |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 03/2021 |
| End | 03/2026 |
| Description | Senior Policy Fellow - Marine |
| Amount | £61,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2019 |
| End | 04/2020 |
| Description | ICES WG BIODIV |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Department | ISIS Neutron and Muon Source |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I've participated in the development of criteria for Good Environmental Status indicator quality and in work looking at conflicts between climate change and GES. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Working Group on Biodiversity Science (WGBIODIV) gathers experts from all areas of the marine benthic and pelagic food web components. The group aims to make biodiversity an integral part of ICES work, especially given the requirements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). WGBIODIVs work can be linked to the work of other ecology expert groups (e.g. BEWG, WGFE, WGZE etc.), survey groups (e.g. WGBEAM, IBTSWG), and some assessment and advisory groups (e.g. WGECO, WGEF). |
| Impact | ICES, 2014. Second Interim Report of the Working Group on Biodiversity Science (WGBIODIV). ICES, Copenhagen, Denmark, p. 44. Greenstreet, S.P.R., Rombouts, I., Raicevich, S., Lynam, C.P., Bos, O.G., Probst, W.N., Schratzberger, M., Nilsson, H., Ojaveer, H., McQuatters-Gollop, A., Dickey-Collas, M., Hagebro, C., Reid, D.G., (submitted). Implementing ecosystem based marine management at a regional seas scale: identifying optimum "state" indicators. ICES Journal of Marine Science, submitted. |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Shimoda Marine Research Centre |
| Organisation | University of Tsukuba |
| Department | Shimoda Marine Research Centre |
| Country | Japan |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I have contributed by KE expertise, for example, working with Japanese researchers to translate their science into policy language. I will also be attending a workshop on ocean acidification and policy in Shimoda. The workshop will be attended by Chinese, Malaysian and Japanese researchers. |
| Collaborator Contribution | My host, Prof Kazuo Inaba, will contribute bench fees and access to his research team. These will enable me to work with the scientists to understand the Japanese science-policy dynamic and work on a collaborative project about translating their research into policy language. |
| Impact | A funded research fellowship from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (approximately £3000) for me to visit Shimoda for three weeks. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Press releases and newspaper interviews |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Featured in the Western Morning News talking about fisheries policy. Press releases issued for various papers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
| Description | Radio Devon interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview about new Fisheries Bill |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Various conference talks and keynotes |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | 2018 Plankton time-series are key to sustainable marine policy, L4 30th Anniversary Science Day, PML, Plymouth, UK. From data to decisions: creating impact through policy, Getting your science used in policy, University of Exeter, UK. Research in Parliament - a marine conservationist's perspective, Research, impact, and the UK Parliament. UKRI, Plymouth. Why am I here?, Shaping the next generation of early career scientists, PML, Plymouth, UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |