I’m a marine ecologist with over 19 years post-doctoral research experience of marine fisheries ecology in both European and Antarctic environments. For over 14 years I have been the science leader of an independent BAS project which provides scientific advice to the governments of South Georgia and the UK  in support of the sustainable management of the region’s fisheries. I  was  involved in the  establishment of the applied fisheries research laboratory at King Edward Point, South Georgia  and continue to manage the science programme there.  I have extensive fisheries research experience and have been the lead scientist on eight research surveys of fish resources in the South Georgia region of the Scotia Sea.  My  research is focused on the  fish and invertebrates of the shelf and slope regions of the sub-Antarctic and, how gaining insights into their ecology can assist with implementation of  ecosystem based fisheries management in the region.

I have been a member of the UK delegation to CCAMLR (Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) since 2001 and convened its working group on fish stock assessment (WG-FSA) from 2012 – 2015. In October 2015 I was elected as Chairman of CCAMLR’s Scientific Committee.

https://www.ccamlr.org/

King Edward Point Research Station

Education

University of Leicester, UK           Crustacean fisheries ecology                            PhD                  1996

Bangor University, UK                   Marine Zoology                                                   BSc                  1990

Appointments

2015-                  Chair, Scientific Committee, CCAMLR

2012-2015         Convener, Working Group on Fish Stock Assessment, CCAMLR

2000 –                Marine Ecologist (Senior Scientific Officer), BAS, Cambridge

2007 –                Honorary fellow, University of Hull, UK

1997 – 2000      Post doctoral research associate, Univ. Of Liverpool, PEML, Isle of Man.

1996 -1997       Marine Ecologist (Scientific Officer),CEFAS, Lowestoft,

1995  – 1996     Research Assistant, Western Australian Rock Lobster Project, Univ. of Leicester, UK

Research interests

The ecology of the fishes of the Southern Ocean.

The sustainable management of fisheries resources of the Southern Ocean.

Age and growth in marine fishes and crustaceans.

Larval  ecology and recruitment variability in marine fishes.

Collaborations

UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)

Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI)

CEFAS, Lowestoft – CCAMLR and South Georgia Fisheries

Marine Resources Assessment Group (MRAG), London – CCAMLR scheme of scientific observation

South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute (SAERI)

Bangor University – Southern Ocean Warming  (SOW) project

Publications (2012-2015 selected)

Young, E.F., M Belchier, L. Hauser, G.J. Horsburgh. 2015. Oceanography and life history predict contrasting genetic population structure in two Antarctic fish species. Evolutionary Applications, 8 (5), 486-509

M. Söffker, P. Trathan, J. Clark, M.A. Collins, M. Belchier, R. Scott. 2015. The impact of predation by marine mammals on Patagonian toothfish longline fisheries PloS one 10 (3)

F JC Xavier, SL Hill, M Belchier, TJ Bracegirdle, EJ Murphy, JL Dias. 2015 From ice to penguins: The role of mathematics in Antarctic research. In: Mathematics of Energy and Climate Change, 389-414

Morley, S.A., M Belchier, C Sands, DKA Barnes, LS Peck, 2014 Geographic isolation and physiological mechanisms underpinning species distributions at the range limit hotspot of South Georgia. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 24 (2), 485-492

Trathan, P.N., MA Collins, SM Grant, M Belchier, DKA Barnes, J Brown 2014 The South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands MPA: Protecting a biodiverse oceanic island chain situated in the flow of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. In: Advances in Marine Biology 69, 15-78

Duhamel G., Hulley P.-A, Causse R., Koubbi P., Vacchi M., Pruvost P., Vigetta S., Irisson J.-O. Mormède S., Belchier M., Dettai A., Detrich H.W., Gutt J., Jones C.D., Kock K.-H., Lopez Abellan L.J., Van de Putte A.P. 2014 Biogeographic patterns of fish. In: De Broyer C., et al. (eds.). Biogeographic Atlas of the Southern Ocean. Cambridge, SCAR, Cambridge, pp. 328-362.

Griffiths, H. J.; Whittle, R J.; Roberts, S J.; Belchier, M; Linse, K; Thatje, S. 2014 Decapoda: crabs and lobsters. In: De Broyer, C. et al. (eds.) Biogeographic Atlas of the Southern Ocean. Cambridge, S.C.A.R, 185-189.

S Gregory, J Brown, M Belchier -2014 Ecology and distribution of the grey notothen, Lepidonotothen squamifrons, around South Georgia and Shag Rocks, Southern Ocean Antarctic Science 26 (3) 239-249

Belchier, M., & Lawson, J. 2013. An analysis of temporal variability in abundance, diversity and growth rates within the coastal ichthyoplankton assemblage of South Georgia (sub-Antarctic). Polar Biology, 36(7), 969-983.

Griffiths, H.J., Whittle, R.J., Roberts, S.J., Belchier, M., & Linse, K. 2013. Antarctic Crabs: Invasion or Endurance? Plos One, 8(7).

Belchier, M., Peatman, T., & Brown, J. 2012. The Biology, Ecology and Development of Fishery Management Advice for the Anomuran Crabs at South Georgia (CCAMLR Subarea 48.3). CCAMLR Science, 19, 1-15.

Young, E.F., Rock, J., Meredith, M.P., Belchier, M., Murphy, E.J., & Carvalho, G.R. 2012. Physical and behavioural influences on larval fish retention: contrasting patterns in two Antarctic fishes. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 465, 201-21

Publications from NERC Open Research Archive

1. A fishy business around South Georgia

   In this blog Dr Mark Belchier from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) explains why a team of experts visits King Edward Point biennially to carry out a survey of the fish […]

   Read more of: A fishy business around South Georgia

   

1. Ocean currents shape fish survival in South Georgia’s fjords

   Scientists have uncovered how changing ocean currents in South Georgia’s fjords could affect the survival of young mackerel icefish. The species is a key component of the island’s rich marine […]

   Read more of: Ocean currents shape fish survival in South Georgia’s fjords

   

2. Scientists study whales and fish to protect South Georgia’s marine ecosystem

   scientists are focusing on two major projects: one on whales and their consumption of krill (a shrimp-like creature that’s abundant in the Southern Ocean), and another on populations of bottom-dwelling fish.

   Read more of: Scientists study whales and fish to protect South Georgia’s marine ecosystem

   

3. First images of giant iceberg from Brunt Ice Shelf

   ANTARCTICA – 13 March 2023. British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has released the first aerial pictures of the massive A81 iceberg that calved from the Brunt Ice Shelf in late January. […]

   Read more of: First images of giant iceberg from Brunt Ice Shelf

   

4. Drones survey wildlife populations in remote Sub-Antarctic island

   Next generation fixed-wing drones, capable of operating autonomously beyond the standard visual line of sight, are creating datasets of major wildlife populations around South Georgia for long-term monitoring to aid […]

   Read more of: Drones survey wildlife populations in remote Sub-Antarctic island

   

5. Penguins benefit from extended maritime zone

   Gentoo penguins are benefiting from a newly enlarged no-fishing zone (known as a No-Take Zone NTZ) around the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia following British Antarctic Survey (BAS) tracking research […]

   Read more of: Penguins benefit from extended maritime zone

   

6. State of the Polar Oceans report published

   Report published July 2018

   Read more of: State of the Polar Oceans report published

   

7. NEWS STORY: Patagonian toothfish fishery

   South Georgia Patagonian toothfish fishery recertified with flying colours Following its five-yearly Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) assessment, the South Georgia Patagonian toothfish longline fishery has, for the third time, been […]

   Read more of: NEWS STORY: Patagonian toothfish fishery

   

8. NEWS STORY: Fishing limits to be discussed at meeting

   CCAMLR underway in Hobart The annual gathering of international Antarctic scientists and policy makers is under way at Hobart in Australia. Twenty-five delegations from around the world have arrived in […]

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9. NEWS STORY: Antarctic experts gather in Australia

   World’s Antarctic marine experts converge on Hobart Hobart’s annual gathering of international Antarctic scientists and policy makers is underway. Twenty-five flags flying outside the offices of the Commission for the […]

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• Chairman, Scientific Committee,, CCAMLR