Corlett Bolton Award recipient seeks help for history of Manx seas

Mon, 18 Dec 2023

Manx marine biologist and writer Dr Fiona Gell is exploring historical sources to understand more about the Manx marine environment and help inform its future management.

Dr Gell, the recipient of The Corlett Bolton Research Award, is using old marine science documents and other local archives to explore the Island’s marine environmental history but believes that important information may also be held by the local community.  

Her study focusses on six key species and habitats: basking sharks, oyster banks, horse mussel reefs, seagrass meadows, saltmarshes and flapper skate but will also try to build a picture of the historic extent of other species and habitats.

Some of the clues that Fiona would be interested in include:

• Historic photos of basking sharks;
• Old game fishing photos;
• Giant skate egg cases;
• Locations of seagrass;
• Oyster reefs;
• Horse mussel reefs;
• Saltmarshes;

Dr Gell will be bringing together all the information she finds in a report about the history of Manx seas which she hopes will help inform and inspire conservation efforts in the Manx marine environment.

If you think you can help or would like more information about the study, get in touch with Dr Fiona Gell by emailing spring.tides@outlook.com

 

 

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