Projects per year
Personal profile
Research Interests
Currently, Tanya's research primarily focuses on enhancing our understanding of habitats in Shetland and beyond. Her work combines both hands-on and analytical approaches, conducting marine surveys and gathering firsthand data from the marine environment to provide a holistic view of habitat health. Tanya uses marine surveys and distribution modelling to contribute to sustainable marine management, including the creation of a dominant marine biotope map for the Shetland Islands. Tanya’s work also emphasises the importance of high-resolution local data in informing decision-making.
At UHI Shetland, Tanya has developed a document and guiding principles for Guiding Marine Restoration and Enhancement in the Shetland Islands, with a strong focus on community and stakeholder engagement. In addition to her habitat and species distribution modelling work, she is investigating the role of blue carbon habitats within Shetland’s waters.
Prior to joining UHI Shetland, Tanya completed her MSci (Hons) in Marine Vertebrate Zoology at Bangor University, where her research ranged from habitat modelling for Eurasian otters to benthic taxonomy and exploring the climate change impacts on marine ecosystems.
Research links
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
PGCE Secondary Mathematics, Bangor University
Award Date: 1 Jul 2020
Master in Science, Marine Vertebrate Zoology, Bangor University
Award Date: 1 Jul 2019
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- 1 Similar Profiles
Projects
- 2 Active
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MREAP: Marine Restoration and Enhancement Action Plan for the Shetland Islands
Riley, T. (PI), Shucksmith, R. (CoPI), Giesler, R. (Researcher) & Allan, K. (Researcher)
1/08/24 → …
Project: Research
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Guiding Marine Restoration and Enhancement in the Shetland Islands
Riley, T., Giesler, R., Allan, K. & Shucksmith, R., 10 Jun 2025, UHI Shetland. 36 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other report
Open AccessFile9 Downloads (Pure) -
Guiding Principles for Marine Restoration and Enhancement in the Shetland Islands: Insights from Community Feedback
Riley, T., Giesler, R., Allan, K. & Shucksmith, R., 25 Apr 2025, UHI Shetland. 28 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other report
Open AccessFile22 Downloads (Pure) -
Shetland Islands Dominant Marine Biotope Map (2024 update)
Riley, T. & Shucksmith, R., 21 Feb 2025, 12 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other report
Open AccessFile57 Downloads (Pure) -
Comparison of the bycatch composition of the Shetland king scallop (Pecten maximus) fishery (2012-2018)
Riley, T., 30 Jan 2024, UHI Shetland. 22 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
Open AccessFile10 Downloads (Pure) -
Distribution modelling of the benthic habitats within the Fair Isle Demonstration and Research Marine Protected Area
Riley, T., Shucksmith, R. & Mouat, B., 1 Apr 2024, UHI Shetland. 36 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
Open AccessFile73 Downloads (Pure) -
Distribution modelling of the Shetland Islands benthic habitats
Riley, T., Shucksmith, R. & Mouat, B., Apr 2024, UHI Shetland. 91 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
Open AccessFile188 Downloads (Pure) -
Fair Isle Benthic Survey 2024 – Cruise Report
Riley, T., 12 Dec 2024, Shetland UHI. 10 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other report
Open AccessFile14 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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UN Ocean Decade Activity Endorsement
Riley, T. (Recipient), Shucksmith, R. (Recipient) & Moncrieff, H. (Recipient), 7 May 2025
Prize: National/international honour
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UN Ocean Decade Endorsement - Marine Restoration and Enhancement Action Plan
Riley, T. (Recipient), Giesler, R. (Recipient), Allan, K. (Recipient) & Shucksmith, R. (Recipient), 7 Apr 2025
Prize: National/international honour
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UN Ocean Decade Endorsement - SUHI Winter Seminar: Marine Restoration & Action
Riley, T. (Recipient), 1 Feb 2025
Prize: National/international honour
Activities
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Exploring Shetland’s Hidden Marine World
Shucksmith, R. (Speaker), Allan, K. (Speaker), Giesler, R. (Speaker), Hague, E. L. (Speaker) & Riley, T. (Speaker)
7 Feb 2025Activity: Talk / Presentation / Podcast / Webinar › Oral presentation
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Shetland's Sustainable Seas
Riley, T. (Organiser), Shucksmith, R. (Organiser), Moncrieff, H. (Organiser), Giesler, R. (Organiser), Allan, K. (Organiser) & Hague, E. L. (Organiser)
2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising a conference
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Restoring Shetland’s Seas: Community Identification of Challenges and Opportunities for Marine Restoration and Enhancement
Riley, T. (Speaker), Giesler, R. (Speaker), Allan, K. (Speaker) & Shucksmith, R. (Speaker)
9 Jul 2025Activity: Talk / Presentation / Podcast / Webinar › Oral presentation
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Local Data for Local Seas: Supporting Marine Planning and Restoration in Shetland
Riley, T. (Invited speaker) & Shucksmith, R. (Speaker)
22 Apr 2025Activity: Talk / Presentation / Podcast / Webinar › Podcast or webinar
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Hope the Humpback Whale Visits Shetland
Hague, E. L. (Organiser), Riley, T. (Contributor) & Harlow, L. (Contributor)
20 Apr 2025Activity: KE and Outreach activities › Types of Public engagement and outreach - Festival/Exhibition
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Week in the Life of a Marine Scientist
Riley, T. (Speaker)
7 Feb 2025Activity: KE and Outreach activities › Types of Public engagement and outreach - Schools engagement
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Local Delivery of National Objectives: Challenges and Opportunities for Shetland's Communities
Shucksmith, R. (Organiser), Giesler, R. (Organiser), Riley, T. (Participant), Allan, K. (Participant), Hague, E. L. (Participant), Harlow, L. (Participant) & Brigden, K. (Participant)
11 Jun 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Press/Media
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Shetland Times - New guide will help to protect environment
Riley, T., Giesler, R., Allan, K. & Shucksmith, R.
13/06/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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MASTS - New Marine Restoration and Enhancement Guidance Developed by UHI Shetland
Riley, T., Giesler, R., Allan, K. & Shucksmith, R.
13/06/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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BBC Radio Shetland - Scientists share their research at a UHI marine conference.
Riley, T., Shucksmith, R., Giesler, R. & Allan, K.
11/06/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Shetland News - Document supporting and guiding marine actions in Shetland’s seas and coast
Riley, T., Giesler, R., Allan, K. & Shucksmith, R.
10/06/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Shetland Times - Open marine sustainability conference at UHI Tuesday
Riley, T., Giesler, R., Allan, K., Hague, E. L. & Shucksmith, R.
9/06/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Datasets
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Shetland Islands dominant marine biotope map 2023
Riley, T. (Creator), UHI Research Repository, 18 Apr 2024
Dataset
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Shetland Islands dominant marine biotope map (2024 update)
Riley, T. (Creator), UHI Research Repository, 21 Feb 2025
Dataset
File