Aisha Abdallah, postgraduate researcher, CDT SuMMeR: Cohort 2

I graduated with a bachelor's and Master’s degree in Fisheries from the University of Ghana and University of Cape Coast respectively. Considering the high level of dependence on many of Ghana's fisheries resources, there is an escalated level of exploitation. My past research projects have revolved around conducting stock assessment studies and the interconnected arms (ecological and socio-economic dimensions) of some commercially important species in Ghanaian waters and reviewing management regimes.

I have been privileged to work with the USAID Women Shellfishers and Food Security Project (Phases I and II) to identify ways of managing the shellfish resources in order to promote food security and preserve livelihoods for the fishers in Ghana and The Gambia. Through this, I have learnt the importance of community-led approaches toward sustainable management of the stock and environment.

The scallop sector is one of the highest value commercial fisheries in the UK and supports a productive catch sector and processor businesses. Despite their economic relevance, the UK scallop fisheries lack robust management regimes to regulate effort and landings and minimize impacts on target and non-target species. In the absence of appropriate fisheries management measures that promote economic and harvesting efficiency, fishing becomes a frantic overcapitalized race for fish. The UK’s withdrawal from the EU represents an opportunity to prioritize and re-structure future fisheries management. 

This project will assess the environmental, economic and social consequences of different harvest strategies and management measures for the UK scallop fishery. The Ph.D. will utilise several different datasets and resources including (but not limited to), UK scallop stock assessment data, fishing effort and landings datasets, and economics fleet data to understand fixed and variable costs, GHG inventory databases from the IPCC to calculate GHG emissions and benthic sedimentary habitat maps. The knowledge gained through this PhD will help inform future fisheries management decisions to improve the management of scallop stocks, whilst also taking into consideration the environmental and economic implications of different management measures for commercial fishing fleets in UK waters.

First, this project connects directly with my research interests and goals. Societal benefit is among the key things that motivated me to apply for this PhD. The multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary nature of SuMMeR CDT whereby partners and stakeholders contribute practical and lived experiences to the output of the project making it wholesome with a greater societal impact. It gives diverse perspectives and touches on almost every aspect of the complex issue. The project also affords me the opportunity to interact and learn from a diverse group of researchers and build professional connections pivotal to my career aspirations.