Chloe Victoria Blackman


        Picture of Chloe Victoria Blackman

PhD student

I am a marine biologist and conservationist, dedicated to pursuing a career at the science-policy interface. I am passionate about engaging in research which can drive fisheries and environmental legislation to benefit both people and the planet. My primary interests are conservation physiology and benthic ecology.

Contact details:

Organism and ecological impacts of electrofishing in Scottish shallow coastal habitats

Referred to colloquially in Scotland as ‘spoots’, razor clams are bivalve molluscs belonging to the genus Ensis. They live permanently burrowed deep into the sand of extreme low intertidal and shallow sublittoral habitats, extending siphons up into the water column to suspension feed. Commanding a high price in the Far East, these common shellfish have been increasingly targeted by fishers in Scotland since the mid-1990s. Consequently, the fishery is now valued at approximately £3 million per annum and extracts 400-500 tonnes of razor clams each year.

Electrofishing is the preferred harvesting technique amongst razor clam fishers, producing a cleaner, more valuable product compared with alternative methods. It is also claimed that electrofishing is preferable from an environmental standpoint, however scientific evidence in support of this is limited.

Previously illegal under EU law, the Scottish Government is now trialing electrofishing under tight controls at a number of locations across the country. Marine Scotland is closely monitoring the impacts of the trials on razor clam stocks. Yet, concerns remain that exposure to electrical fishing gear may result in long-lasting impacts on the under-sized razor clams which are not collected, as well as on the wider benthic ecosystem.

My work will address these concerns. To do so, I am performing lab-based experiments, examining the long-term physiological performance of organisms exposed to electrical fields. Alongside this, I am undertaking field sampling to investigate whether there are any detectable adverse effects on benthic communities resulting from experimental electrofishing. Moreover, I am working with Marine Scotland Science’s Assessment team, analysing background data on the trial fisheries.

Ultimately, this work will help to inform the development of a razor clam fishery that is both environmentally and economically sustainable.    

 

Supervisors

Dr Clive Fox, SAMS

Dr Amaya Albalat, University of Stirling

 


Funder

The Scottish Universities Partnership for Environmental Research, Doctoral Training Partnership (SUPER - DTP)

 

University

University of the Highlands and Islands

Professional training courses

PADI Enriched Air Diver (MAX 40% O2), Aquasport International, Solihull, 2014

PADI Divemaster, Blue Sea Divers, Mahé, Seychelles,2015

PADI Emergency Oxygen Provider, Aquasport International, Solihull, 2016

HSE SCUBA, University of Plymouth, Devon, 2017

BSAC Snorkel Instructor, Wembury Marine Centre, Devon, 2019

Volunteer Management, The Wildlife Trusts, Devon, 2019

MARINElife Marine Mammal & Seabird Surveyor, Wembury Marine Centre, Devon, 2019

STCW Personal Survival Techniques, Stream Marine Training, Glasgow, 2020

 

Fieldwork experience

I am an adept scientific diver with experience of:

- Operating under the Scientific and Archaeological ACOP and HSE Diving at Work Regulations 1997.

- Half mask SCUBA.

- Tethered and through-water communications using Aga Divator masks.

- Benthic surveys in both temperate and tropical seas (quadrat, photo quadrat, transect).

I am also acquainted with various boat work sampling techniques, including beam trawls, Van Veen grabs and box cores.

As part of my undergraduate Marine Biology degree, I undertook week-long fieldwork courses in both Roscoff, France and the Ria Formosa, Portugal.

 

Public engagement experience

As a Marine Awareness Assistant for Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT), I spent my time educating members of the public about Devon's amazing local marine life. This involved:

- Visiting local primary schools to give talks.

- Guiding the public and local school children on ‘rock pool safaris’, and 'snorkel safaris' at Wembury Beach.

- Organising and running my own fundraising event.

- Ensuring the safety of members of the public under DWT's duty of care.

- Maintaining the Centre’s social media accounts and website.

Whilst volunteering as a diver at Plymouth’s National Marine Aquarium, I frequently interacted with the public when performing dive shows and hand feeding resident species

 

Professional memberships

Marine Biological Association of the UK

 

Employment

May 2019 – Sep 2019 - MSc Project Placement, Natural England

Jun 2019 – Sep 2019 - Marine Awareness Assistant - Intern, Wembury Marine Centre, Devon Wildlife Trust

Oct 2016 – Sep 2019 - Diver / Dive Supervisor - Volunteer, National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth

Aug 2015 – Sep 2016 - Divemaster, Aquasport International, Solihull

Apr 2015 – Jun 2015 - Trainee Divemaster / Divemaster, Blue Sea Divers, Mahé, Seychelles

Jan 2015 – Apr 2015 - Marine Conservation Intern - Global Vision International (GVI), Seychelles

 

Higher Education

2020 - present - PhD Researcher, SAMS, University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)

2020 MSc (Distinction) Marine Conservation, University of Plymouth

2019 BSc (First Class Hons) Marine Biology, University of Plymouth