Profile
My PhD uses marine spatial ecology, fisheries science, data science, social science and remote sensing to investigate how we can improve the enforceability of regulations within large ‘no-take’ MPAs in the UK Overseas Territories, specifically focussing on reducing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activity.
This includes the Chagos Archipelago MPA which, uniquely, has a year-round designated patrol vessel. My research has three main research questions;
- What are the drivers of illegal activity within large ‘no-take’ MPAs?
- How effective are current enforcement efforts at combatting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activity within the Chagos Archipelago MPA?
- How can predictive analysis of fishing effort improve the ability to enforce regulations of large ‘no-take’ MPAs?
Law without enforcement is just good advice
Biography
2019
Present
PhD student, University of Exeter, ZSL & OceanMind
2017
2019
Research Assistant, University of Exeter / ZSL
2016
2017
MSc Student, University of Exeter
My Project
Other Interests
My broad interest is within marine conservation science and how vessel tracking technologies can be utilised to monitor and manage environmental impacts from human activities at sea.
My Publications
Illegal Fishing Spike in MPA During COVID-19 Calls for Broader Adaptive Management
Collins, C., Kerry, C.R., de Vos, A., Karnad, D., Nuno, A., Letessier, T.B. (2023). Illegal fishing spike in MPA during COVID-19 calls for broader adaptive management. Current Biology.