Cefas

Great to be working with partners on a new ￡4.25 million ARIA-funded project led by the University of East Anglia which aims to understand and predict ‘tipping points’ in marine ecosystems, and the consequences and opportunities for the UK, particularly for the fishing industry. The project - ‘Forecasting Tipping points In Marine Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Responses’ (TiMBER) - is a collaboration between UEA, Cefas, the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), the Institute of Computing for Climate Science (ICCS) at the University of Cambridge, and the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS). Dr Bryony Townhill, Principal Climate Change Scientist at Cefas said: “Cefas is excited to be collaborating with our partners on TiMBER. This project provides a great opportunity to combine and build on our modelling tools to predict potential risks in the North Atlantic. “By bringing together our expertise across different aspects of marine ecosystem and biogeochemistry to understand the potential impacts and opportunities in the UK, we hope to translate that into practical advice to support the fisheries and aquaculture sectors adapt to the impacts of climate change.”

Fisheries management plans... ?? What are they? ?? How do they impact you? ?? How can you get involved? Jump onboard the FMP blog to find the answers and stay updated - subscribe today! ?? https://lnkd.in/esQa4Duq

It's the end of the month and time for the latest edition of #CefasMonthlyNews ?? In February’s edition we highlight science stories that include: ?? Limited Evidence for Impacts from Offshore Wind Energy Developments ?? Marine Enforcement Knowledge Exchange ?? New Non Executive Directors ?? Tackling Eel Smuggling Plus, links to the latest Cefas Science, news from across the Defra group and vacancies. Read the newsletter here?? https://bit.ly/43baF2d You can sign up for future editions of the newsletter here. https://bit.ly/4dqck5o

It’s been once year since the deployment of marine matts off the coast of Scotland as part of the Nature Inclusive Cable Enhancement and Protection (NICE) Project. Using Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicles (ROV), Cefas in partnership with ARC Marine?, have conducted the first photogrammetry surveys of the marine life living on these matts. The work will provide valuable insights into how environmentally friendly and sustainable mattresses used to protect sub-sea power cables for offshore wind can provide a more suitable habitat for marine biodiversity compared to ‘traditional’ concrete mattresses. Funded by The Crown Estate Offshore Wind Evidence and Change (OWEC) Programme, the NICE project aims to provide vital evidence to help policymakers and developers shape the future of offshore wind in the UK. #NICEProject #Sustainability #RenewableEnergy

We are delighted to welcome Melanie Siggs and Simon Reeve as our new Non-Executive Directors. Today, Melanie and Simon visited our Cefas laboratories in Lowestoft, where they had the opportunity to tour our facilities and meet with some of our colleagues. ?? Melanie Siggs has extensive experience in fisheries and aquaculture, holding roles such as Director of the Global Seafood Alliance and Chair of Fisheries Innovation & Sustainability. https://lnkd.in/dRHG_ZDu ?? Simon Reeve has significant international leadership experience across maritime, environment, energy, and technology sectors, currently serving as Chair of Frontier Robotics and Vice Chair at the Youth Hostels Association. https://lnkd.in/dCPPCwQJ The role of a Non-Executive Director is crucial in providing independent oversight and strategic guidance to our organisation. Their expertise will be invaluable in guiding Cefas towards achieving our strategic goals. #Cefas #Leadership #MarineScience #NonExecutiveDirectors

?? Maritime IWT Conference 2025: A Closing Panel ?? The Maritime IWT Conference 2025 wrapped up today with a thought-provoking panel titled Challenges in Harnessing and Sharing Data to Tackle Marine IWT: The "So-What" Factor, hosted by Jenna Dawson-Faber from UNODC. The panel brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from government, the private sector, and civil society, including: ?? Hemanshu Parekh, Standard Chartered Bank ?? Akhiruddin Agus Salim, Prosecutor, Attorney General Office, Indonesia ?? Liz Down, CITES Head of Unit, UK Border Force ?? CG Captain Oliver Tanseco, Commander of the Coast Guard Investigation and Detective Management Service, Philippine Coast Guard ?? Dwi Adhiasto, Rekam Nusantara Foundation In a talk-show style discussion, the panellists addressed the key issue of how the vast number of tools, techniques, and actors involved in tackling illegal wildlife trade (IWT) often lead to silos of information. Despite the wealth of data, it doesn't always reach the right hands to improve intelligence-led efforts for prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution. The conversation explored the challenges in collaboration and coordination, and how these dedicated professionals are working to overcome these barriers. This session set the stage for the "What Next?" discussions to follow, ensuring the momentum continues to build. A huge thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to making the conference a success—our speakers, exhibitors, facilitators, and participants. Your engagement and insights have been invaluable. Special thanks to the FCDO Integrated Security Fund’s Southeast Asia Maritime Security Programme, NParks, and Realise Group for their support in making this event possible. We look forward to the outcomes from this conference and the continued partnerships forged here. Stay tuned for the next steps and outputs to come! #IWT #MaritimeSecurity #Collaboration #WildlifeProtection #DataForChange #SustainableFuture #ConferenceWrapUp #Partnerships #EnvironmentalJustice

?? Harnessing Data to Tackle IWT ?? Wrapping up the third and final day of the Maritime IWT Conference, the morning session focused on the crucial challenge of harnessing and sharing intelligence to combat illegal wildlife trade (IWT) in maritime supply chains. Here are some key highlights from the session: Duarte Antunes – Interpol ?? Nigham Shahid (GSMA Mobile for Development) showcased how digital and emerging technologies are transforming the fight against IUU fishing in the Gulf of Thailand using AI-driven monitoring to satellite surveillance. ?? Ang Shi-en – presented on the World Shipping Council's efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking in the maritime supply chain, including the launch of the "Joint Industry Guidelines for Combatting Illegal Wildlife Trafficking" and a "Red Flags" document to increase awareness and collaboration across global supply chains. ?? Jovy Chan (WWF) presented on the WWF IWT Cargo Screening Project, which leverages advanced algorithms and real-time data to detect misdeclared wildlife products in cargo bookings. ?? Russell Gray (GI-TOC) discussed the Global Monitoring System (GMS), an AI-driven tool that tracks and disrupts online illegal wildlife trade. ?? Andy Rhyne presented on the Nature Intelligence System (NIS), an AI-driven tool designed to combat illegal wildlife trade by detecting hidden species in shipments, analysing trade irregularities. ?? Luke Wattam presented on using technology—blockchain, real-time data verification, geo-referenced monitoring, and AI analytics—to mobilize a global network of stakeholders in tackling IWT. ?? Antony Lynam and Charlie Brown shared insights on EarthRanger and Skylight, two conservation technology platforms that enhance monitoring of illegal fishing and marine wildlife trade in the Asia-Pacific region, enabling informed decision-making for better enforcement. This session highlighted the power of collaboration and technology in driving meaningful change and protecting marine ecosystems. It's clear: a data-driven, coordinated global approach is key to tackling IWT. #IWT #MaritimeConservation #TechForGood #AI #DigitalInnovation #WildlifeProtection #SustainableFisheries #DataForChange #MarineConservation

We’re proud to see Rhoda Ofeibea Lamptey making such a significant impact in coastal resilience and food safety! ?? The Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) supports research like Rhoda’s to strengthen the sustainable management of marine resources. Her work on microbial contamination in Ghana’s oyster-growing areas is a critical step toward improving aquaculture practices, safeguarding public health, and enhancing the livelihoods of coastal communities. By undertaking specialised training in E. coli testing at the FAO Reference Centre in the UK, Rhoda is gaining expertise that will contribute directly to evidence-based policy and best practices in the region. Her research exemplifies the kind of science-driven solutions that OCPP is committed to supporting. Congratulations, Rhoda! We look forward to seeing the lasting impact of your work. ???? #BluePlanetFund #WomenInSTEM #CoastalResilience #MarineScience

What an incredible two days at the Seafood Innovation Conference 2025 ??? We were delighted to hear from Daniel Zeichner MP, Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, who discussed the importance of partnerships and how we must continue to look at future opportunities to grow and lead global innovation in the seafood sector. Across the past two days, we've had the privilege of hearing from industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers who shared their insights on the latest advancements in the seafood industry. A huge thank you to all the organisers, speakers, panellists, and attendees for your active participation and enthusiasm. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Seafish Mindfully Wired #SI25 #SeafoodInnovation2025

?? Day 2 of the Maritime IWT Conference 2025 ?? Today’s focus at the conference was on tools and technologies to identify marine species and products in trade. The day featured two sessions, which were followed by an interactive breakout session. We heard the unique perspectives of both government officials at borders and traders on how they are implementing CITES for marine species before delving into the challenges of identifying marine species and their derivative products. These products include dried products (e.g. seahorses), live species (e.g. coral), other fish products (e.g. shark oil), and other parts (e.g. turtle eggs), Experts then introduced existing and emerging tools for identifying illegally traded species and products, such as: ?? Visual species ID guides ?? DNA and eDNA molecular tools ?? Shellbank ?? Stable isotopes In the breakout sessions that followed, we explored how to match trade challenges with available tools and identified gaps where new developments and partnerships are needed. We also sought input from enforcement staff on the tools they use and what further support they need to tackle IWT effectively. #MaritimeIWT25 #WildlifeProtection #SustainableTrade #Innovation #MarineConservation #IWT #TechnologyForGood #EnforcementTools #CITES #TradeSolutions