Professor Selina Stead

I have 18 years experience in research and education on marine interdisciplinary science, marine resources management, coastal governance, socio-economics, aquaculture, fisheries and scientific support for policy. I specialise in applying social science mixed methods (focus groups, mapping local knowledge, oral histories, participant observation and semi-structured interviews) to joint analysis of biophysical, ecological and socio-economic data. This unique mix of interdisciplinary skills, having trained as a natural scientist (1988-1996) and as a social scientist (1996-2004), combined with my current senior appointments as a UK Ministerial Appointed Scientific Fisheries Officer and President of the European Aquaculture Society give me a broader appreciation of integrated coastal management principles and practice.

Current Research

A key theme of my work is how local knowledge from people (fishers, aquaculturists, marine resource users, scientists, NGOs and policy makers) can be applied to formulate scientific support for marine policy. I work at different geographical scales (local, national and regional) and currently have projects running in the Caribbean, Rodrigues, Saudi Arabia, the Solomon Islands, Tanzania and Thailand. I strongly believe you can only achieve sustainable development by linking the social, environmental and economic considerations. The following are examples of current work I am leading:

• Sea-cucumber farming in Tanzania - poverty eradication through aquaculture. Funded by the Leverhulme Trust (2010-2012).
• Future of Reefs in a Changing Environment (FORCE): An ecosystem approach to managing Caribbean coral reefs in the face of climate change - EU funded (2010-2014).
• The effect of marine reserves on attitudes, perceptions and livelihoods of communities socio-economically dependent on the lagoon fishery in Rodrigues, with Shoals Rodrigues - EU funded (2009).
• Impacts of seismic surveys, specifically the effects of noise from air guns on a local lobster fishery (Homarus gammurus) (2009) – Consultancy for Cleveland Potash Limited.
• Reef NorthEast – a multi-purpose artificial reef in North East England.

Recent research projects

My main expertise is in designing methods that collect stakeholder knowledge to inform scientific policy including their concerns in different marine contexts. Below are some examples that have included examining stakeholder issues using a range of social science methods:

• Use of focus groups to aid stakeholder understanding of fisheries models - 'EFIMAS' Operational Evaluation Tools for Fisheries Management Options. EU funded (2005-2008).
• Sustaining our coastal heritage: value of local knowledge. Funded by Heritage Lottery Fund (2006-2008).
• Effects of coral bleaching on coral reef fish, fisheries and ecosystem services in the Western Indian Ocean. WIOMSA funded (2005-2007).