Marine Scotland Science: directory

Dr Meadhbh Moriarty

Senior Aquatic Epidemiological Modeller

Health and Welfare Group

Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Programme

E-mail: meadhbh.moriarty@gov.scot

Marine Scotland, Marine Laboratory, 375 Victoria Road, Aberdeen, AB11 9DB, Scotland, UK

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Details of specialism

My work supports the Blue Economy. I am interested in the interactions between salmonid fish and their environment. My primary research focus is on the risk sea lice parasites pose to wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). I am interested in understanding broad scale distribution of sea lice in the coastal zone, the likely wild fish migration routes and the fine scale interactions between the host fish and the parasites to use this knowledge to help inform sustainable management of the species. 

Within the broad topic area of sea lice research my particular focuses currently include:

• bio-physical and statistical modelling to infer;
  • sea lice dispersion patterns
  • interactions of wild and farmed salmon
• quantifying potential fine scale interactions of migrating salmon with endemic lice populations

Main policy links

• area management strategies for sea lice
• finfish aquaculture
• marine planning (science advice)
• fish and shellfish health advice
• impacts of climate change on fish health

External committees and responsibilities

• invited reviewer for scientific journals

Papers of relevance

Murray, A.G., Ives, S.C., Murphy J., Moriarty, M. (2022) Modelling parasite-driven impacts of aquaculture on wild fish: the case of the salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis). Conference: Proceedings of the Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine. Belfast March 2022

Moriarty M., Tulett D., Rabe B., Murray A.G. (2021) Bio-physical models for the management of micropathogens in Scottish aquaculture: a preliminary view to farming further offshore. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 679:133-147

Murray, A.G., and Moriarty, M. (2021) A simple modelling tool for assessing interaction with host and local infestation of sea lice from salmonid farms on wild salmonids based on processes operating at multiple scales in space and time, Ecological Modelling, 443, 109459, ISSN 0304-3800

Murray, A.G., Ives, S.C., Smith, R.J., Moriarty, M. (2021) A preliminary assessment of indirect impacts on aquaculture species health and welfare in Scotland during COVID-19 lockdown, Veterinary and Animal Science, 11, 22021

Moriarty, M., Murray, A.G., Berx, B., Christie, A.J., Munro, L.A., Wallace, I.S. (2020) Modelling temperature and fish biomass data to predict annual Scottish farmed salmon, Salmo salar L., losses: Development of an early warning tool, Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 178, 2020, 104985, ISSN 0167-5877

Details of linked research pages

Research Gate: Meadhbh Moriarty (researchgate.net)