University of Exeter CEC

ISRAs are not laws or restrictions, but highlight areas of global ecological importance for shark species.

Read the research here: lnkd.in/d4R7_JMK

#ExeterCEC #ExeterMarine #conservation #sharkresearch

The Isles of Scilly’s ISRA recognition helps amplify its importance as a marine biodiversity hotspot, and can strengthen the case for research and management in UK and South West seas.

It also highlights its value for nursehounds (Scyliorhinus stellaris), blue sharks (Prionace glauca) and porbeagle sharks (Lamna nasus) as supporting species of interest.

The designation, assessed by the IUCN Shark Specialist Group, recognises the archipelago’s importance for small-spotted catsharks (Scyliorhinus canicula).

Research led by the University of Exeter @exetermarine.bsky.social has helped secure Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA) status for the Isles of Scilly archipelago! 👇🦈🌊

Day five on our Azores undergraduate field trip!

A morning on the RIB deploying BRUVs (exciting BRUV footage coming soon!) and watching dolphins, sei whales and sperm whales, followed by a beach microplastic activity in the afternoon!

#ExeterCEC #MarineBiology #BRUV #Dolphins #Whales #Azores

Day three consisted of sunrise sea swims with views of Pico mountain, lectures at the Department of Oceanography and Fish (part of the University of the Azores), lunch at the beach and fish dissections as part of a fisheries monitoring programme!

Photo dump from day three of our Azores undergraduate field trip!

#ExeterCEC #MarineBiology #Azores #Fisheries #Faial

Photo dump from the 2nd day of our Azores undergraduate field trip!

A day of cetaceans, visiting the sperm whale museum and watching striped, spotted and bottlenose dolphins as well as sei whales and humpbacks!

(more cetacean footage to come!)

#MarineBiology #Azores #FieldTrip

Are you a current student with us and want a part-time job running our social media platforms?

Our social media manager position is up for grabs!

If you’re interested, contact Chris Laing (C.G.Laing@exeter.ac.uk) for all enquiries and applications!

#ExeterCEC #StudentJobs #SocialMedia

Photo credits: Andrew Whitworth

To read the full paper and learn more, visit: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

#ExeterCEC #Vulture #WildlifeConservation

These apex scavengers have specialised and highly acidic digestive systems that can destroy many of the pathogens found in carrion, thus mitigating the spread of disease from carcasses to other wildlife, livestock and humans.”

“Unloved and unappreciated – even to the point of persecution – the importance of vultures is stark when you remove them from an ecosystem.

“This research underlines the unique and irreplaceable role that vultures play as nature’s ‘clean up crew’,” says Julia Grootaers, co-author and Behavioural Ecologist at the University.

Notably, other scavengers do not fill the void left by the absence of the birds, except for flies, whose numbers were seen to double with the reduced competition.

The study was led by scientists in the Centre for Ecology and Conservation, and OSA Conservation in Costa Rica.

Falling vulture numbers in the Americas could have serious implications for public health and ecosystems, new research has found.
A first-of-its-kind study in Costa Rica revealed that pig carcasses take twice as long to decompose if vultures are not present to provide their rapid recycling services.

Fay Kahane is our PhD student undertaking ecological and social fieldwork to investigate what ‘sustainable beekeeping’ means.
If you are a beekeeper, please do take the time to participate in her survey:
🐝 tinyurl.com/2n87j4x8 🐝

@cornwall.exeter.ac.uk @uniexecec.bsky.social @bbka.org.uk

🐈 Farmers views on wildlife conservation and wildcat reintroduction.
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

@uniexecec.bsky.social @cornwall.exeter.ac.uk

This is a follow-up from the highly successful 2022 edition of this meeting. Abstract submissions have now closed but registrations are open. The scientific organisers of this event are Stineke van Houte, Jamie Hall, Mike Brockhurst and Jenna Gallie.

@cornwall.exeter.ac.uk @uniexecec.bsky.social

New project crowdfunding to support tuna recovery in UK waters A new project aims to research the diet of bluefin tuna, using the data to support the comeback of this iconic animal in UK waters. Right now, Atlantic bluefin tuna are arriving off the UK

A new project aims to research the diet of bluefin tuna, using the data to support the comeback of this iconic animal in UK waters.

@uniexecec.bsky.social @twhorton.bsky.social

Offshore wind farms act as de facto marine reserves Marine biodiversity faces increasing threats, necessitating effective conservation strategies beyond just marine protected areas. As offshore wind far…

They argue for an approach that considers offshore wind farms as a possible tool to manage fishing pressure in targeted areas.

To learn more and read the full paper, visit: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#OffshoreWindFarms #WindFarms #MarineEnergy #RenewableEnergy #MarineConservation

These findings are vital in understanding how the deployment of offshore wind farms will impact existing fishing, and highlights how offshore wind farms could promote marine biodiversity while also providing green energy.”

Benjamin said: “Our research shows that offshore wind farms act as a barrier to fishing. Interestingly, we demonstrate that this is the case not only inside the wind farms, but that the effect extends up to 4.2 km beyond their borders – considerably farther than any legal restrictions...

A new study from Exeter CEC researchers Benjamin Fitkov-Norris and Benno Simmons as well as Matthew Witt from Exeter Marine has found that offshore wind farms function as de facto marine reserves, limiting fishing without formal legal protections.