Research at Cefas

Research to support Defra policy

We carry out and commission research relating to:

  • the environmental impact of natural and man-made activities on marine and freshwater areas
  • risks to human and animal health, such as contamination and disease
  • the impact of climate change on the marine environment
  • fisheries management and sustainable stock levels.

Fisheries Science Partnership (FSP)

The Fisheries Science Partnership ended in 2021 and supported science projects of benefit to the English fishing industry through improved fisheries data or stock assessments and through innovative ideas on gear technology.

The programme objectives:

  • delivered demonstration projects that will help the implementation of UK fisheries policy, especially innovative approaches to the landing obligation, including more selective / environmentally friendly fishing methods;
  • provided information from commercial fishing catches on key stocks to supplement data sources traditionally used in ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Seas) assessments;
  • investigated concerns raised by fishermen on scientific assessments or on fish stocks not currently assessed;
  • investigated innovative scientific methods and/or more selective/environmentally friendly fishing methods.

Fisheries Management

We provide expert advice on fisheries assessment, monitoring and management programmes, by making impartial, independent reviews and recommendations. Our knowledge, research and advice are used by government, local authorities and industry to inform policy and decision-making, because fisheries play an important role in the economic and environmental wellbeing of the nation.

We also make impartial, independent reviews and recommendations on a range of marine-related issues - eg the effect of fishing on ecosystems - and provide research on freshwater and marine fisheries.

As part of this process, Cefas:

  • applies measuring and tagging techniques to fish to understand their movements and migration
  • participates in international assessments of commercial fin-fish
  • undertakes assessments on commercially important shellfish stocks such as Brown crab and European Lobster
  • is conducting research into the best methods for assessing scallop fisheries Cefas Red Bag Scheme Final Report 2014
  • conducts research on the likely effects of fishery management decisions, such as the Landing Obligation in England and Wales
  • works collaboratively with the fishing industry to inform its science and advice - through the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) funded Fisheries Science Partnership (FSP)

Marine environment monitoring and mapping

Shelf-seas are the areas of sea closest to land and are under the most immediate environmental threat from over-fishing.

We monitor the marine environment, particularly shelf-sea areas, by scientific and targeted surveys using:

  • Cefas’ Research Vessel, Endeavour
  • autonomous buoys and data-loggers at fixed sites
  • new technologies such as unmanned autonomous vehicles.

We’re also a leading scientific advisor, supporting marine-licensing decisions and so helping to develop the frameworks for marine planning. Our monitoring data provides government and other decision-makers with a clearer understanding of the nature, distribution and value of marine resources.

Applied Science to Support Industry (ASSIST)

The reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) requires fishermen to follow specified landing obligations for all catches of quota species. This “discards ban” is being phased in, beginning with pelagic fisheries from January 2015 and running until January 2019, when landings of all quota species will need to comply. To assist English fishermen make the transition to the discard ban, and to support and advise DEFRA in the adoption of the reformed CFP, Cefas is running a five-year project - Applied Science to Support the Industry in delivering an end to discards (ASSIST). The ASSIST project will use a collaborative approach, working with Defra, fishermen and other stakeholders to facilitate the CFP implementation, by helping the fishing industry prepare for the changes.

The new CFP will allow some exceptions from the landing obligation, including species with evidence of high survivability, which are exempt from the CFP landing obligations and may be returned to sea.

Fish and Shellfish Health and Hygiene

Safeguarding public health, food safety and food security in the aquatic environment are at the heart of our work, as is the health of fish and shellfish. In particular we focus on:

  • disease investigation in fish and shellfish (such as oysters and mussels, crabs and lobsters)
  • research into the impact of chemical pollutants on fish and shellfish health
  • assessment and monitoring of microbial contamination and algal toxins in shellfish
  • how aquaculture can play an increasingly important role in providing sustainable food choices for consumers. Our work helps to ensure that fish and shellfish, that are farmed and cultivated in UK waters, are healthy and safe to eat.
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