I have joined the Institute of Aquaculture to investigate the humane treatment of decapod crustaceans in research and teaching through the use of anaesthesia and electrical stunning alongside my industry partner, Ace Aquatec.
I became interested in marine life following a Bachelor's degree in Zoology at the Cornwall Campus of the University of Exeter and went on to do an MSc in Marine Ecosystem Management at the University of St Andrews. Following this, I became a research assistant within the Coastal Resources Management Group and got involved in projects involving the Scottish Inshore Fisheries, including a Marine Scotland-commissioned evaluation of a Creel Limitation Pilot and later, anaesthesia in European lobsters (Homarus gammarus). I have since been a Fleet Researcher for Seafish Industry Authority, conducting economic surveys of fishers across the UK.
My research interests include Animal Welfare, Decapod Crustaceans, Small Scale Fisheries, Marine Ecosystems and Fisheries Management, Ocean Literacy and the Antarctic.
Project Report
Wilson F, Mendo T & James M (2023) Research and Evaluation Of the Social, Economic, and Operational Implications of the Outer Hebrides Creel Limitation Pilot. Marine Scotland. Marine Scotland. https://www.gov.scot/publications/research-evaluation-social-economic-operational-implications-outer-hebrides-creel-limitation-pilot/documents/
Article
Spoors F, James MA, Mendo T, McKnight JC, Bønnelycke ES & Khan N (2023) Investigating clove oil and its derivatives as anaesthetic agents for decapod crustaceans to improve welfare commercially and at slaughter. Frontiers in Animal Science, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fanim.2023.1180977
Article
Piloting a Regional Scale Ocean Literacy Survey in Fife
Spoors F, Leakey CDB & James MA (2022) Piloting a Regional Scale Ocean Literacy Survey in Fife. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, Art. No.: 858937. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.858937
Article
Assessing bait use by static gear fishers of the Scottish Inshore fisheries: A preliminary study
Spoors F, Mendo T, Khan N & James M (2021) Assessing bait use by static gear fishers of the Scottish Inshore fisheries: A preliminary study. Fisheries Research, 240, Art. No.: 105974. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2021.105974
