Mark Belchier

Biography

Marine ecologist with over 19 years post-doctoral research experience of marine fisheries ecology in both European and Antarctic environments. For over 14 years I have been the science leader of an independent BAS project which provides scientific advice to the governments of South Georgia and the UK in support of the sustainable management of the region’s fisheries. I was involved in the establishment of the applied fisheries research laboratory at King Edward Point, South Georgia and continue to manage the science programme there. I have extensive fisheries research experience and have been the lead scientist on eight research surveys of fish resources in the South Georgia region of the Scotia Sea. My research is focused on the fish and invertebrates of the shelf and slope regions of the sub-Antarctic and, how gaining insights into their ecology can assist with implementation of ecosystem based fisheries management in the region. I have been a member of the UK delegation to CCAMLR (Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) since 2001 and convened its working group on fish stock assessment (WG-FSA) from 2012 – 2015. In October 2015 I was elected as Chairman of CCAMLR’s Scientific Committee.

Research Interest

Marine Biology