We are delighted to announce that MBA Trustee Dr Mark Dickey-Collas has been appointed an MBA Fellow.
The title of Fellow of the Marine Biological Association is awarded in recognition of distinguished and influential contributions to marine biology at a high level.
Mark Dickey-Collas began his scientific career trying to answer the question “What does a flatfish larva need to eat to grow properly?” His PhD at Port Erin Marine Laboratory, University of Liverpool, explored the nutrition of flatfish larvae in aquaculture. It was a hands-on start to a career that would take him from rearing fish to understanding how fish populations and marine ecosystems work.
He shifted into field-based fisheries science. His research helped show how circulation shapes the distribution of young fish in the Irish Sea, how food affects herring survival and how warmer waters enabled anchovy to become more abundant in the North Sea. The work involved research vessels, international partners and conversations with fishers about what was happening at sea.
Across a decade in each of Northern Ireland, the Netherlands and Denmark, Mark became increasingly interested in how scientific knowledge influences decisions, and why some advice has more impact than others. At the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), he helped further develop ecosystem-based approaches. Later, as Chair of its Advisory Committee, he worked with a large community delivering fisheries and environmental advice to the governments and institutions of the North Atlantic.
Since leaving ICES, he has worked independently through DickeyCollas Marine. Current work with FAO, IUCN and others tackles biodiversity beyond national waters, marine restoration and fisheries management. He is particularly interested in how scientific advice is developed, delivered and trusted, and how relationships between scientists, stakeholders and decision makers shape its influence.
Mark enjoys open debate, looking for different ways forward and asking awkward questions, such as “Is the problem really a lack of scientific evidence, or a reluctance to make a decision?” and “Are we answering the question that needs answering, or just the one we’re comfortable answering?”
He believes good marine science depends on working with people whose experiences and priorities differ from those of scientists. For him, knowledge comes in many forms, and diversity and equity are non-negotiable. He chairs the IUCN Fisheries Expert Group, contributes to UK biodiversity advice, and is an adjunct professor at DTU Aqua and a trustee of the Marine Biological Association.
Becoming a Fellow of the MBA offers another opportunity to support marine biologists and help connect their research with the choices that shape our seas and the communities that rely on them.
He said: “I am thrilled to become a Fellow of the MBA; I see the MBA as a strong vibrant global association of Marine Biologists and I am proud to deepen my engagement.”
