Projects per year
Personal profile
Research Expertise
Rachel manages the Marine Spatial Planning section within the Shetland UHI department, Marine Science and Technology. The section undertakes applied research and consultancy projects relating or informing marine management and decision making and is also responsible for delivering the Shetland Islands Regional Marine Plan.
Over the last 15 years Rachel has developed an international reputation in linking interdisciplinary marine science with real-life management opportunities and challenges, including marine planning. Rachel is a regularly invited speaker to conferences and workshops to provide keynotes in the area of marine planning, ecosystem-based management, and integration of local values in marine planning. Rachel’s research sections achievements include:
- development of decision support tools to guide commercial decision making (e.g. offshore renewables, oil and gas, harbour management)
- development of one of Europe’s first and most advanced marine plans in Shetland
- integration of cultural ecosystem services into decision making
- marine value mapping
- inclusion of local knowledge in decision making
Rachel is particularly interested in how different data types can be used as an evidence base to inform effective decision making, and how stakeholder engagement can improve data quality and acceptance.
Rachel is currently accepting PhD students.
Current and recent projects include:
- Shetland Islands regional Marine Plan
- Shetland Community Wildlife Group – Heritage Lottery Funding
- Using marine planning to balance competing demands on the marine environment: International comparisons. MAST-S report to ECCLR committee, Scottish Parliament
- Identification of suitable locations for marine renewables in Scotland
- Participatory mapping of inshore fishing grounds around Shetland
- Fisheries management in the context of shared seas – Fisheries Innovation Scotland
- Invasive Non-Native Species monitoring at key locations around Shetland
Industry and Knowledge Exchange
Rachel regularly works with a range of commercial users including aquaculture, oil and gas, marine renewables, and fisheries and stakeholders, including NGOs, government agencies, and regulators.
Policy and Knowledge Transfer
Rachel is an invited expert and speaker at multiple international workshops developing marine planning, Co-Chair of the MASTS Marine Planning and Governance Forum, member of ICES Marine planning and coastal zone management working group, lead researcher Shetland Marine Planning Partnership, and was invited to provide evidence to Scottish Parliament ECCLR committee.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Master of Science, The Open University
Award Date: 1 Jan 2008
Bachelor of Science, University College of North Wales
Award Date: 1 Jan 2003
External positions
Marine Spatial Planning and Governance Steering Group, MASTS Scotland
1 May 2015 → …
Working Group Member, ICES Working Group Marine Planning and Coastal Zone Management
1 Jan 2013 → …
Keywords
- GA Mathematical geography. Cartography
- mapping
- marine spatial planning
- data
- GE Environmental Sciences
- Marine Renewable Energy
Fingerprint
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Network
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Diving into a just transition: How are fisheries considered during the emergence of renewable energy production in Scottish waters?
Withouck, I., Tett, P., Doran, J., Mouat, B. & Shucksmith, R., 1 Jul 2023, In: Energy Research and Social Science . 101, p. 103135Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Predation in the Anthropocene: Harbour Seal (Phoca vitulina) Utilising Aquaculture Infrastructure as Refuge to Evade Foraging Killer Whales (Orcinus orca)
Hague, E. L., McCaffrey, N., Shucksmith, R. & McWhinnie, L., 12 Jul 2022, In: Aquatic Mammals. 48, 4, p. 380-393 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)4 Downloads (Pure) -
A Community Shaped by the Sea- Understanding community values and use of the Shetland coastline: A report prepared for the Shetland Marine Planning Partnership.
Slater, C. & Shucksmith, R., 1 Dec 2021, Shetland UHI. 30 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other report
Open AccessFile22 Downloads (Pure) -
Biological analyses of seabed imagery from within and around Marine Protected Areas in Orkney, Shetland, Inner Sound, and Islay and Jura in 2019.
Shucksmith, R., Shelmerdine, R. L. & Shucksmith, R., 16 Mar 2021, 2 ed. Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science. 532 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
Open AccessFile16 Downloads (Pure) -
Shetland 2021 drop-down video (DDV) survey exploring the occurrence of flapper skate eggs and horse mussels (Modiolus modiolus): preliminary results
Shelmerdine, R. L. & Shucksmith, R., Aug 2021, NAFC Marine Centre. 41 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
Open AccessFile56 Downloads (Pure) -
Shetland Coastal Character Assessment - second edition
Slater, C. & Shucksmith, R., 1 Dec 2021, 303 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other report
Open AccessFile54 Downloads (Pure) -
Using marine planning to balance competing demands on the marine environment: International comparisons. MAST-S report to ECCLR committee, Scottish Parliament
Shucksmith, R., Slater, A., stojanovic, T., Withouck, I. & Allan, K., Jan 2020, MAST-S. 60 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other report
Open AccessFile17 Downloads (Pure)
Activities
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Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Rachel Shucksmith (Participant)
1 Dec 2021Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee (RAINE) Scottish Parliament
Rachel Shucksmith (Speaker)
1 Dec 2021Activity: Talk / Presentation / Podcast / Webinar › Oral presentation
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Coastal lagoons workshop
Richard L. Shelmerdine (Participant), Rachel Shucksmith (Participant), Abigail Cowing (Organiser), Eilidh Johnston (Participant), Juan Brown (Participant), Kirsty North (Participant), Austin Taylor (Participant), Ryan Leask (Participant), Martin Schofield (Participant) & Stewart Angus (Keynote/plenary speaker)
19 Jul 2017Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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Ascophyllum nodosum ecad mackaii 2017 survey
Richard L. Shelmerdine (Participant) & Rachel Shucksmith (Participant)
20 Jun 2017Activity: Other
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Managing Shetland's Seas: the role of marine science
Beth Mouat (Speaker), Rachel Shucksmith (Presenter) & Richard L. Shelmerdine (Presenter)
11 Feb 2016Activity: Other › Types of Public engagement and outreach - Public lecture/debate/seminar
File -
Integrating Ecosystem Services into emergent Marine Spatial Plans
Rachel Shucksmith (Participant)
16 Feb 2016Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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Scottish Coastal Forum 20th Anniversary Conference 2016
Rachel Shucksmith (Invited speaker)
10 Mar 2016Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
Press/Media
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NAFC attracts £190,000 in funding for new marine planning project
12/08/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
Datasets
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Shetland Islands Marine Spatial Plan
Shucksmith, R. (Creator), UHI Research Repository, 1 Apr 2016
https://www.nafc.uhi.ac.uk/research/msp/simsp/simsp
Dataset
Impacts
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Shetland Islands' Marine Spatial Plan
Rachel Shucksmith (Participant) & Charlotte Slater (Participant)
Impact: Public policy Impacts, Cultural Impacts, Economic or commercial Impacts, Other Impacts, Quality of life Impacts, Social Impacts, REF case study development