Marine Scotland Science: directory

Emma Mackenzie

Coastal and Offshore Fisheries Network

Fisheries Data Programme

Fish behaviour and Fishing Gear Scientist

E-mail: emma.mackenzie@gov.scot

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

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Details of specialism

In general terms I am interested in fish behaviour in relation to towed commercial fishing gear. To facilitate this I carry out a series of highly controlled laboratory fish behaviour trials in our Fish Behaviour Unit (FBU) aquarium facilities. The behaviour trials allow investigations into how certain species of commercially important fish react to a range of different parameters such as artificial light in terms of intensity, wavelength or strobing, as well as parameters such as sound or colour and contrast of netting. These parameters are tested for how the fish react to them and then whether any behaviours observed could be utilised to improve selectivity of towed commercial fishing gear.

Main policy links

• marine and freshwater fisheries

External committees and responsibilities

• member of the ICES Working Group on Fishing technology and fish behaviour (WGFTFB)
• home office Project and Personal licence holder for animal testing and research required under the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA)
• Aberdeen University – visiting lecturer

Papers of relevance

• O’Neill, F.G., Lines, E.K., Kynoch, R.J., Fryer, R.J. and Maguire, S. 2014. A short-term economic assessment of incentivised selective gears. Fisheries Research, 157, 13 – 23