Fish Habitat Research Unit
Identifying the essential fish habitats that support fisheries and biodiversity
The Fish Habitat Research Unit (FHRU) at the University of Plymouth forms an important pool of expertise investigating how marine habitats support fisheries, sustainability and nature conservation.
From the deepest ocean to the shallowest coastal margin, marine habitats provide places for fish and shellfish to reproduce, develop and feed. The availability and quality of these habitats critically influence the sustainability and productivity of fisheries, as well as the biodiversity of marine ecosystems. Despite their importance, many habitats are heavily impacted by human activities, particularly those in coastal areas and estuaries.
Managers and policy makers are increasingly recognising the need to identify and valuate essential fish habitat in order to establish the processes that drive fluctuations in fish populations and set conservation priorities.
The FHRU leads the way in fish habitat research, combining expertise in fish biology and ecology, field survey techniques, fisheries acoustics,
telemetry
and innovative applications of camera technology to understand fundamental habitat needs of fish at all life stages. These are combined with core strengths in socioeconomics to put habitat functions in a broader context of social and cultural values. Supporting the work of the unit is a suite of nationally and internationally significant facilities, including state-of-the art
biochemical and molecular laboratories
,
workshops for developing novel technology
, a scientific
diving unit
, aquaria for holding marine and estuarine fish, and a fleet of inshore
research vessels
.
If you have any queries or would just like to get in touch, please emailDr Benjamin Ciotti
Discover more research themes and explore our recent projects – visit the
Marine Conservation Research Group
.
Research focus
The work of the FHRU is global in scope, stretching from the stunning coastline around Plymouth in South West England to the tropical shores of the Indian Ocean. Activities are embedded within pioneering conservation and management initiatives, such as the North Devon Biosphere, Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, or Defra's Marine Natural Capital Ecosystem Assessment Programme.
Through a transdisciplinary approach, the unit partners with a range of actors in fisheries and conservation, providing the research capacity to inform robust decision making and management approaches to pressing real-world problems.
Current projects
Key facilities
Find out more about the facilities, equipment and teams that support the Fish Habitat Research Unit.
Brixham Laboratory
The Brixham Laboratory provides a science- and technology-based business hub, complete with industry-leading marine and freshwater wet lab facilities.
Research vessels
Research at Plymouth is underpinned by access to a fully equipped fleet of boats, state-of-the-art instrumentation, and specialist software.
Scientific dive team
Our professional diving team have enabled research in some of the most remote and isolated places on the planet, from the Arctic to Antarctica.
Fish Intel Network
The Fish Intel Network (FIN) is a series of underwater acoustic receivers used to track fishes, elasmobranchs and crustaceans. The network has revealed vital habitats for reproduction and feeding, and generated fascinating new insights into species behaviour, including site fidelity and impressive migrations. These novel insights are providing crucial evidence to inform ambitious new sustainable ecosystem-based fisheries management and policy.
With receivers located near to mussel farm sites in Lyme Bay, as well as all along the south coast of the UK and the coast of France, the Fish Intel Network provides critical information for improving our understanding of essential fish habitats.
News
Releasing pollack at depth could benefit their long-term survival
The new research led by the University follows a UK-EU agreement to introduce recreational management for pollack
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Project investigates public attitudes and perceptions towards the decommissioning of marine artificial structures
The READ-ME initiative will document attitudes and perceptions in order to generate crucial knowledge to guide sustainable ocean management
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University experts help unlock the Secrets of the Sea
Our academics have contributed to a new series by the BBC and The Conversation that showcases local stories with global significance
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Offshore mussel farm collaboration wins at the Aquaculture UK Awards
The University has been working with Offshore Shellfish Ltd for well over a decade
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Research highlights the pressures from human activities on tropical marine ecosystems
Essential to communities in Southeast Asia, fishing and tourism are among the most damaging activities from an environmental perspective
- More related news
Publications
2024
Watson, J. W., Radford, Z., Bannister, H., Bradley, R., Brown, M., Ciotti, B. J., Goodwin, D., Graham, J. A., Nash, R. D. M., Roche, W. K., Wogerbauer, C. & Hyder, K., (2024). Assessing the coherence in biological and environmental drivers of young sea bass abundance across important estuarine nursery areas of the northern European sea bass stock. In: Frontiers in Marine Science. 10, 1209311. doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1209311
Hepburn, R., Scott, T., Prodger, S. & Ciotti, B. J., (2024). Drivers of variability in surf zone habitat use by sandy beach fish: Unwitting citizen scientists reveal detailed spatiotemporal patterns. In: Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science. 309, 11 p., 108957. doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2024.108957
Alvarez-Cienfuegos, I., Ciotti, B., Billington, R., Sutton, P. & Fraser, K., (2024). Life in the margins: the effect of immersion/emersion and tidal cycle on the North Atlantic limpet Patella vulgata protein synthesis rates. In: Journal of Comparative Physiology B. 194, 6, p. 779-792 14 p. doi.org/10.1007/s00360-024-01582-0
Stamp, T., Pittman, S. J., Holmes, L. A., Rees, A., Ciotti, B. J., Thatcher, H., Davies, P., Hall, A., Wells, G., Olczak, A. & Sheehan, E. V., (2024). Restorative function of offshore longline mussel farms with ecological benefits for commercial crustacean species. In: Science of the Total Environment. 951, 174987. doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174987
2023
Graham, J. A., Watson, J. W., García, G. L., Bradley, K., Bradley, R., Brown, M., Ciotti, B. J., Goodwin, D., Nash, R. D. M., Roche, W. K., Wogerbauer, C. & Hyder, K., (2023). Pelagic connectivity of European sea bass between spawning and nursery grounds. In: Frontiers in Marine Science. 9, 0. doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.1046585
2022
Stamp, T., West, E., Colclough, S., Plenty, S., Ciotti, B., Robbins, T. & Sheehan, E., (2022). Suitability of compensatory saltmarsh habitat for feeding and diet of multiple estuarine fish species. In: Fisheries Management and Ecology. 0, 0. doi.org/10.1111/fme.12599
2021
McCarroll, R. J., Scott, T., King, E. V., Masselink, G., Ciotti, B. J., Cloete, A., Steyn, P. P., Britz, P., Vine, N. G., Deyzel, S. H. P., Witte, A. & Clark, R., (2021). Modelling regional and local-scale larval seeding strategies for abalone (H. midae) ranching in South Africa. In: Aquaculture. 540, 0. doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2021.736668
Morris, M. T., Hauton, C., Baylay, A. J., Peruzza, L., Targett, T. E. & Ciotti, B. J., (2021). Spatial variation in the gastrointestinal microbiome, diet, and nutritional condition of a juvenile flatfish among coastal habitats. In: Marine Environmental Research. 170, 0, p. 105413-105413. doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105413
2020
Hart, M. B., Arratia, G., Moore, C. & Ciotti, B. J., (2020). Life and death in the Jurassic seas of Dorset, Southern England. In: Proceedings of the Geologists' Association. 131, 6, p. 629-638. doi.org/10.1016/j.pgeola.2020.03.009
2019
Ciotti, B. J. & Planes, S., (2019). Within‐generation consequences of post‐settlement mortality for trait composition in wild populations: An experimental test. In: Ecology and Evolution. 0, 0. doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4911
2018
Whiteley, N. M., Suckling, C. C., Ciotti, B. J., Brown, J., McCarthy, I. D., Ian, D., Gimenez, L., Luis, Hauton, C. & Chris, (2018). Sensitivity to near-future CO₂ conditions in marine crabs depends on their compensatory capacities for salinity change. In: Scientific Reports. 8, 1, p. 0-0. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-34089-0
2017
Poulter, R., Oliver, P. G., Hauton, C., Sanders, T. & Ciotti, B. J., (2017). Infestation of shore crab gills by a free-living mussel species. In: Marine Biodiversity. 0, 0. doi.org/10.1007/s12526-016-0631-x
2016
Morgan, E., Brown, A., Ciotti, B. & Panton, A., 1 (2016). Effects of temperature stress on ecological processes. Stressors in the Marine Environment. Vol. 0. p. 213-227. doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198718826.003.0012
2015
Pratt, N., Ciotti, B. J., Morgan, E. A., Taylor, P., Stahl, H. & Hauton, C., (2015). No evidence for impacts to the molecular ecophysiology of ion or CO 2 regulation in tissues of selected surface-dwelling bivalves in the vicinity of a sub-seabed CO 2 release. In: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. 38, 0, p. 193-201. doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2014.10.001
2014
Ciotti, B. J., Targett, T. E., Nash, R. D. M. & Geffen, A. J., (2014). Growth dynamics of European plaice Pleuronectes platessa L. in nursery areas: A review. In: Journal of Sea Research. 90, 0, p. 64-82. doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2014.02.010
Fox, C. J., Targett, T. E., Ciotti, B. J., de, K. K., Hortsmeyer, L. & T., B. M., (2014). Size variation of 0-group plaice: Are earlier influences on growth potential a contributing factor? In: Journal of Sea Research. 88, 0, p. 59-66. doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2013.12.015
2013
Ciotti, B. J., Targett, T. E. & Burrows, M. T., (2013). Decline in growth rate of juvenile European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) during summer at nursery beaches along the west coast of Scotland. In: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 70, 5, p. 720-734. doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2012-0331
Ciotti, B. J., Targett, T. E., Nash, R. D. M. & Burrows, M. T., (2013). Small-scale spatial and temporal heterogeneity in growth and condition of juvenile fish on sandy beaches. In: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 448, 0, p. 346-359. doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2013.08.003
Ciotti, B. J., Targett, T. E. & Burrows, M. T., (2013). Spatial variation in growth rate of early juvenile European plaice Pleuronectes platessa. In: MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES. 475, 0, p. 213-232. doi.org/10.3354/meps10087
2012
Rees, B. B., Targett, T. E., Ciotti, B. J., Tolman, C. A., Akkina, S. S. & Gallaty, A. M., (2012). Temporal dynamics in growth and white skeletal muscle composition of the mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus during chronic hypoxia and hyperoxia. In: Journal of Fish Biology. 81, 1, p. 148-164. doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2012.03319.x
2010 and earlier
2010
Ciotti, B. J., Targett, T. E., Nash, R. D. M., Batty, R. S., Burrows, M. T. & Geffen, A. J., (2010). Development, validation and field application of an RNA‐based growth index in juvenile plaice Pleuronectes platessa. In: Journal of Fish Biology. 77, 10, p. 2181-2209. doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2010.02786.x
2009
D. L. Breitburg, J. K. Craig, R. S. Fulford, K. A. Rose, W. R. Boynton, D. C. Brady, B. J. Ciotti, R. J. Diaz, K. D. Friedland, J. D. Hagy, D. R. Hart, A. H. Hines, E. D. Houde, S. E. Kolesar, S. W. Nixon, J. A. Rice, D. H. Secor, T. E. Targett. (2009). Nutrient enrichment and fisheries exploitation: interactive effects on estuarine living resources and their management. In: Hydrobiologia. 629, 1, p. 31–47. doi.org/10.1007/s10750-009-9762-4
Breitburg, D., Craig, J., Fulford, R., Rose, K., Boynton, W., Brady, D., Ciotti, B., Diaz, R., Friedland, K., Hagy, J., Hart, D., Hines, A., Houde, E., Kolesar, S., Nixon, S., Rice, J., Secor, D. & Targett, T. (2009). Nutrient enrichment and fisheries exploitation: interactive effects on estuarine living resources and their management. Eutrophication in Coastal Ecosystems. Vol. 0. p. 31-47. doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3385-7_4
People
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![Dr Benjamin Ciotti Associate Professor of Marine Biology]( "Dr Benjamin Ciotti")
Dr Benjamin Ciotti
Associate Professor of Marine Biology
Unit lead
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![Professor Emma Sheehan Professor of Marine Ecology]( "Professor Emma Sheehan")
Professor Emma Sheehan
Professor of Marine Ecology
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![Professor Martin Attrill Professor of Marine Ecology]( "Professor Martin Attrill")
Professor Martin Attrill
Professor of Marine Ecology
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![Dr Clare Embling Associate Head of School for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion]( "Dr Clare Embling")
Dr Clare Embling
Associate Head of School for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
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![Dr Bryce Stewart Associate Professor]( "Dr Bryce Stewart")
Dr Bryce Stewart
Associate Professor
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![Dr Keiron Fraser Associate Professor (Education) in Marine Conservation]( "Dr Keiron Fraser")
Dr Keiron Fraser
Associate Professor (Education) in Marine Conservation
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![Jess Cramp]( "Jess Cramp")
Jess Cramp
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![Miss Emma Doherty]( "Miss Emma Doherty")
Miss Emma Doherty
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![Miss Marion Lefebvre du Prey]( "Miss Marion Lefebvre du Prey")
Miss Marion Lefebvre du Prey
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![Miss Rachel Turnbull]( "Miss Rachel Turnbull")
Miss Rachel Turnbull
Sustainable Food Production Research Group
At the University of Plymouth, our cross-disciplinary researchers study all aspects of food production and its impact on the natural environment.
Discover our plant and animal productive systems research, and how we are applying automation and sensor technology to ensure sustainable food production without compromising ecosystem services and biodiversity.
Centre of Research excellence in Intelligent and Sustainable Productive Systems (CRISPS)
CRISPS brings together a vibrant community of transdisciplinary researchers, working towards addressing the challenge of sustainably feeding a global population of 9 billion. Founded upon research excellence in aquaculture, agricultural technology and soil health, and underpinned by investment in cutting-edge facilities, the Centre will create the critical mass required to ensure impactful research and real-world deployment in the UK and beyond.
