Katie has a background in fisheries science and collaborative research. Her research is focused on industry-science collaboration within Scottish pelagic fisheries. Through such work she is involved with fisheries data collection, data management, fisheries management and policy, science communication, ecology, and social science. Since accepting the position of Fisheries Scientist at SUHI in 2018, a key focus of Katie’s work has been establishing, developing and managing the Scottish Pelagic Industry-Science Data Collection Programme (covering herring, mackerel and blue whiting fisheries). This involves working with the Scottish pelagic industry (through the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association) and the Marine Scotland directorate of Scottish government to develop data collection methods which work practically on-board commercial fishing vessels, and which can provide high-quality data to inform science and management (routed through the intergovernmental science organisation ICES). Katie is also involved with other areas of research within Scottish pelagic fisheries, including acoustic and biological surveying; international collaboration on regional catch sampling; herring genetics; and traceability in pelagic fisheries. In 2022, Katie accepted her current role of Pelagic Fisheries Scientist at SUHI.

Background

Katie graduated from the University of Plymouth with a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science in 2006. After graduating, she spent time working in the UK with the Devon Wildlife Trust, and in Tanzania working on a scientific research project investigating coral reefs, the intertidal habitat and local exploitation of intertidal species. Following a return to the UK and the University of Plymouth, Katie completed her master’s degree in Applied Marine Science in 2010. Her research project was a study of an inshore cuttlefish fishery in Devon, investigating spawning areas from the fishermen’s perspective and the potential for utilising artificial egg laying structures.

Katie then worked as a marine biologist for the British Antarctic Survey, based at the King Edward Point research station on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. In this role she carried out work on the three species which are the focus of South Georgia’s commercial fisheries – krill, mackerel icefish and Patagonian toothfish. Following her work with BAS, Katie began her PhD with the South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute (based in the Falkland Islands) and the University of Aberdeen. The focus of her PhD research was the reproductive ecology of Patagonian toothfish at South Georgia, utilising fisheries data to address key knowledge gaps. 

On completion of her PhD Katie took part in the 2018 BAS-CEFAS science survey around Tristan da Cunha and St Helena, as part of an inter-disciplinary team carrying out science to support and inform on fisheries and marine biodiversity. Shortly after her return to the UK, Katie accepted the position of Fisheries Scientist with SUHI (formerly NAFC Marine Centre) and moved to Shetland.