Steven Mackinson has been named as the new chief scientific officer for the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association (SPFA), a role that will see him broadening the collective’s understanding of key pelagic fish stocks and then working to improve the management of said stocks.
Mackinson most recently worked at the Center for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) as senior fisheries scientist specializing marine ecosystems and fisheries. With SPFA, Mackinson will serve to expand the association’s working knowledge of economically vital pelagic fish stocks such as mackerel, herring and blue whiting.
The appointment signifies a new innovative approach being undertaken by SPFA to fisheries management where fishing vessels will play a more prominent role in the collection and dissemination of scientific information on stocks.
“In the current difficult financial climate, there is often a shortfall in information from marine scientific surveys carried out by national governments,” said Ian Gatt, chief executive of the SPFA, in a prepared statement.
“With this in mind, we decided that we should contribute to this process by appointing our own scientist to aid in the provision of key fisheries data. The scope of the activities of our fishing boats, and the wide sea area they cover, offers the ideal platform for collecting marine data on a much more comprehensive scale than would otherwise be possible," Gatt said.
The catch data gathered by the Scottish pelagic fleet alongside the information collated by Mackinson will be used to advance the formal scientific international stock assessment process, which provides advice on annual quota limits and other management measures. Vessels will collect various metrics including acoustic surveys and egg surveys, said SPFA.
“Stock sustainability is a key principle of our association, which is demonstrated by our five main fisheries participating in the Marine Stewardship Council eco-label programme,” said Gatt. “This new scientific appointment further supports the commitment shown by our fishermen for a sustainable future.”
The chief scientific officer role taken up by Mackinson has the support of SPFA, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Fishermen’s Trust. Mackinson said he was excited for the prospect of using his past experience and expertise to fulfill the requirements established in his new position.
“I’m delighted to be joining the SPFA at an exciting time for our pelagic fisheries where stocks are generally healthy and consumer demand is growing. From my work in the past, I know that fishermen can play a crucial role in helping obtain valuable data that can be used to ensure informed decision-making on fisheries management,” Mackinson said.
