James Bell
@jamesbellocean.bsky.social
Marine Ecologist (especially #DeepSeaUK & #UKOTs) & "basically a scientist" (my daughter) | PhD from Leeds Uni & NHM | Typos/views my own | He/Him
Reposted by James Bell
Actively recruiting! If you know any strong leaders in #Ghana who have a track record of successful campaigning for change, please share this with them. Any discipline (comms, law, science, organizing) and any background (environment, ocean, human rights, public health, etc) welcome!
Oceana #Ghana VP job posting here. Please share with any promising leaders who are ready to build and run campaigns!
oceana.org/employment/v...
oceana.org/employment/v...
September 16, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Actively recruiting! If you know any strong leaders in #Ghana who have a track record of successful campaigning for change, please share this with them. Any discipline (comms, law, science, organizing) and any background (environment, ocean, human rights, public health, etc) welcome!
One day, I will remember which way round r- and k-strategists are without having to google it again
not today though....
I need a trick to help remember it. The way I finally learned port and starboard is that port has the same # of letters as left
not today though....
I need a trick to help remember it. The way I finally learned port and starboard is that port has the same # of letters as left
September 2, 2025 at 2:19 PM
One day, I will remember which way round r- and k-strategists are without having to google it again
not today though....
I need a trick to help remember it. The way I finally learned port and starboard is that port has the same # of letters as left
not today though....
I need a trick to help remember it. The way I finally learned port and starboard is that port has the same # of letters as left
Attention UK researchers interested in the deep ocean - if you haven't already done so, please join the Challenger Society Deep-Sea Ecosystems Group (www.challenger-society.org.uk/DeepSea_Ecos...)
Deep-Sea Ecosystems
www.challenger-society.org.uk
March 13, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Attention UK researchers interested in the deep ocean - if you haven't already done so, please join the Challenger Society Deep-Sea Ecosystems Group (www.challenger-society.org.uk/DeepSea_Ecos...)
Our new paper in Scientific Reports - tracks ecological impacts of ENSO cycles through to the SW Atlantic. Really interesting work to be a part of, and well led by BAS www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Dramatic ENSO related Southwestern Atlantic ecosystem shifts - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Dramatic ENSO related Southwestern Atlantic ecosystem shifts
www.nature.com
March 13, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Our new paper in Scientific Reports - tracks ecological impacts of ENSO cycles through to the SW Atlantic. Really interesting work to be a part of, and well led by BAS www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Almost 20 years ago - FAO agreed that we should avoid 'Significant Adverse Impacts' from deep-sea fishing. Today, at least for the NW Atlantic, we've finally got a method for how to work that out www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reference points for assessing significant adverse impacts on deep sea vulnerable marine ecosystems
Biodiversity loss due to human activities is a critical issue, particularly in the High Seas where bottom-contact fishing poses a significant threat t…
www.sciencedirect.com
March 3, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Almost 20 years ago - FAO agreed that we should avoid 'Significant Adverse Impacts' from deep-sea fishing. Today, at least for the NW Atlantic, we've finally got a method for how to work that out www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
A very left-field paper from me but I guess I am also sort of a #seabird scientist now! Work we developed to support development of best practice management for #bycatch in the Atlantic www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Evaluating the effectiveness of seabird bycatch mitigation measures for pelagic longlines in the South Atlantic
Incidental mortality (bycatch) of seabirds in pelagic longline fisheries remains a major threat to many populations. The design and implementation of …
www.sciencedirect.com
January 23, 2025 at 1:54 PM
A very left-field paper from me but I guess I am also sort of a #seabird scientist now! Work we developed to support development of best practice management for #bycatch in the Atlantic www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Never ask a ChatBot a question when you don't already know the answer
January 17, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Never ask a ChatBot a question when you don't already know the answer
Almost there with our small-boat deep-sea camera. Getting the micro-scale powered winch has been difficult but I'm sure the whole team will appreciate not having to hand wind a kilometre of cable next year!
December 10, 2024 at 2:44 PM
Almost there with our small-boat deep-sea camera. Getting the micro-scale powered winch has been difficult but I'm sure the whole team will appreciate not having to hand wind a kilometre of cable next year!
Cefas team out on Grand Cayman this week as part of UK Blue Belt Programme - conducting water quality surveys to inform future monitoring of this key pollution threats to ocean health
November 27, 2024 at 9:10 AM
Cefas team out on Grand Cayman this week as part of UK Blue Belt Programme - conducting water quality surveys to inform future monitoring of this key pollution threats to ocean health
I set up this bsky account over a year ago and didn't follow up with any effort on finding people to follow. Marine science & policy folks, please make yourselves known!
November 12, 2024 at 4:43 PM
I set up this bsky account over a year ago and didn't follow up with any effort on finding people to follow. Marine science & policy folks, please make yourselves known!
Reposted by James Bell
I'm James. I'm a deep sea ecologist/ fisheries scientist based in the UK, working primarily with the governments of the UK overseas territories
Science on Bluesky is growing rapidly!
Science friends, introduce yourselves below and I’ll share! Who are you? What do you work on? Where are you based?
I’ll go first. I’m David, and I study sharks and their conservation. I’m based in the Washington, DC area.
🧪🦑🌎🦈🐡
Science friends, introduce yourselves below and I’ll share! Who are you? What do you work on? Where are you based?
I’ll go first. I’m David, and I study sharks and their conservation. I’m based in the Washington, DC area.
🧪🦑🌎🦈🐡
October 22, 2023 at 1:49 PM
I'm James. I'm a deep sea ecologist/ fisheries scientist based in the UK, working primarily with the governments of the UK overseas territories
Having to migrate spatial analysis across to sf/tidy now and oh christ it's a pain in the arse - problem with it being so new is that there's not been the time to build up a base of resolved questions (which as it turns out, is what I almost solely use to learn code!)
November 6, 2023 at 11:30 AM
Having to migrate spatial analysis across to sf/tidy now and oh christ it's a pain in the arse - problem with it being so new is that there's not been the time to build up a base of resolved questions (which as it turns out, is what I almost solely use to learn code!)
Reposted by James Bell
A quarter of the countries who sponsor deep-sea mining contractors (meaning they are actively pursuing development of the industry) have come out in favor of slowing things down while we sort out the environmental impacts.
With the addition of the UK, we are now at 23 countries calling for a precautionary pause, moratorium, or ban on #deepseamining!
Summed up in this beautiful tile by @deepseaconserve.bsky.social
Summed up in this beautiful tile by @deepseaconserve.bsky.social
October 30, 2023 at 6:46 PM
A quarter of the countries who sponsor deep-sea mining contractors (meaning they are actively pursuing development of the industry) have come out in favor of slowing things down while we sort out the environmental impacts.
Reposted by James Bell
We're offering a great #PhD studentship on the effects of MPAs on people. It'll be led by environmental economist Kat Simpson with partners at Newcastle and York. A really important topic with lots to find out, bringing together natural and social science.
iapetus2.ac.uk/studentships...
iapetus2.ac.uk/studentships...
October 27, 2023 at 3:48 PM
We're offering a great #PhD studentship on the effects of MPAs on people. It'll be led by environmental economist Kat Simpson with partners at Newcastle and York. A really important topic with lots to find out, bringing together natural and social science.
iapetus2.ac.uk/studentships...
iapetus2.ac.uk/studentships...
Successful 'Let's Talk About Race' bake sale and chat for Black History Month this morning. All proceeds in aid of BBSTEM ( bbstem.co.uk )
October 25, 2023 at 1:00 PM
Successful 'Let's Talk About Race' bake sale and chat for Black History Month this morning. All proceeds in aid of BBSTEM ( bbstem.co.uk )
I'm James. I'm a deep sea ecologist/ fisheries scientist based in the UK, working primarily with the governments of the UK overseas territories
Science on Bluesky is growing rapidly!
Science friends, introduce yourselves below and I’ll share! Who are you? What do you work on? Where are you based?
I’ll go first. I’m David, and I study sharks and their conservation. I’m based in the Washington, DC area.
🧪🦑🌎🦈🐡
Science friends, introduce yourselves below and I’ll share! Who are you? What do you work on? Where are you based?
I’ll go first. I’m David, and I study sharks and their conservation. I’m based in the Washington, DC area.
🧪🦑🌎🦈🐡
October 22, 2023 at 1:49 PM
I'm James. I'm a deep sea ecologist/ fisheries scientist based in the UK, working primarily with the governments of the UK overseas territories
Reposted by James Bell
🧪🦑🦈🐡
First assessment of circle hooks as bycatch mitigation measure for deep-water sharks on longline fis...
The recognition that deep-water sharks are among the most vulnerable marine species to fisheries exploitation led to the implementation of fishing pro…
www.sciencedirect.com
October 19, 2023 at 7:50 PM
🧪🦑🦈🐡
Reposted by James Bell
What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?
A nerve cord and a centralized nervous system is present in a lot of animals outside vertebrates.
🪱🔬🧑🔬
A nerve cord and a centralized nervous system is present in a lot of animals outside vertebrates.
🪱🔬🧑🔬
Some deep sea corals can live for at least several thousand years
What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?
There’s a new species of shark or shark relative (ray or chimaera) discovered somewhere in the world about every two weeks.
🧪🦑🐡
There’s a new species of shark or shark relative (ray or chimaera) discovered somewhere in the world about every two weeks.
🧪🦑🐡
October 17, 2023 at 5:18 PM
What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?
A nerve cord and a centralized nervous system is present in a lot of animals outside vertebrates.
🪱🔬🧑🔬
A nerve cord and a centralized nervous system is present in a lot of animals outside vertebrates.
🪱🔬🧑🔬
Some deep sea corals can live for at least several thousand years
What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?
There’s a new species of shark or shark relative (ray or chimaera) discovered somewhere in the world about every two weeks.
🧪🦑🐡
There’s a new species of shark or shark relative (ray or chimaera) discovered somewhere in the world about every two weeks.
🧪🦑🐡
What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?
I'll start: Amazon makes more money out of their Cloud services than out of their e-commerce platform.
I'll start: Amazon makes more money out of their Cloud services than out of their e-commerce platform.
October 17, 2023 at 5:04 PM
Some deep sea corals can live for at least several thousand years
If it really must be exploited, the true value of the deep ocean is genetic, not mineral or protein
Newly discovered deep-sea enzyme breaks down PET plastic
Plastic pollution is increasingly affecting the health of coasts and oceans. One well-known problem is plastic bottles made from polyethylene terephthalate, or PET.
phys.org/news/2023-09...
Plastic pollution is increasingly affecting the health of coasts and oceans. One well-known problem is plastic bottles made from polyethylene terephthalate, or PET.
phys.org/news/2023-09...
Newly discovered deep-sea enzyme breaks down PET plastic
Plastic pollution is increasingly affecting the health of coasts and oceans. One well-known problem is plastic bottles made from polyethylene terephthalate, or PET.
phys.org
October 17, 2023 at 5:09 AM
If it really must be exploited, the true value of the deep ocean is genetic, not mineral or protein
Super hectic One Ocean Hub visit to Ghana over the last ten days, culminating yesterday in a briefing to the parliamentary committee for fisheries on our multi disciplinary decision support tool.
October 11, 2023 at 7:32 AM
Super hectic One Ocean Hub visit to Ghana over the last ten days, culminating yesterday in a briefing to the parliamentary committee for fisheries on our multi disciplinary decision support tool.
The One Ocean Hub multi-disciplinary decision support tool for Ghana fisheries continues to be conceptually like wrestling a huge octopus, but pleased we are making headway
October 5, 2023 at 11:37 AM
The One Ocean Hub multi-disciplinary decision support tool for Ghana fisheries continues to be conceptually like wrestling a huge octopus, but pleased we are making headway
Prepping frantically for my trip next week to Ghana as part of the One Ocean Hub project - developing a multi-disciplinary decision support tool for fisheries management
'Prepare for unforeseen consequences....' (working title for the paper 😀)
'Prepare for unforeseen consequences....' (working title for the paper 😀)
September 29, 2023 at 2:08 PM
Prepping frantically for my trip next week to Ghana as part of the One Ocean Hub project - developing a multi-disciplinary decision support tool for fisheries management
'Prepare for unforeseen consequences....' (working title for the paper 😀)
'Prepare for unforeseen consequences....' (working title for the paper 😀)
Personal favourite deep-sea coral
The spectacular "fireworks coral" Iridigorgia! East Salmon Bank from the #Okeanos CAPSTONE expedition! #octocoral
September 21, 2023 at 10:40 AM
Personal favourite deep-sea coral