Vacancy Details

Description

ESRC Wales Doctoral Training Partnership PhD Studentship:

Exploring heterogeneity in sea anglers’ motivations and behaviours for the sustainable management of recreational fisheries in England and Wales

Applications welcomed by closing date of midday Monday 1 June 2020 (12:00 hours).

The University of Gloucestershire, Countryside and Community Research Institute, supported by the ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership for Wales (Wales DTP) invites applications for funded PhD study. The ‘collaborative studentship’ involves liaison with a non-academic organisation, often at many key stages of the research programme.

Applications are invited from exceptional candidates with a first class or strong upper second-class honours degree, or appropriate master’s degree. Both the University and the ESRC Wales DTP value diversity and equality at all levels and we encourage applications from all sections of the community. We welcome applications for both full and part-time study, and studentships are available as either ‘1+3’ (i.e. one full-time year of research training Masters followed by three years of full-time Doctoral study, or the part-time equivalent), or ‘+3’ (i.e. three years of full-time doctoral study or its part-time equivalent), depending on the needs of the applicant.

Recreational sea angling has the potential to have significant impact on fish stocks and marine ecosystems. Assessment of recreational angling by the European Parliament and the UK white paper on fisheries highlights the need for sea angling to be better incorporated into fisheries management, yet data is often limited to records of catch and expenditure, neglecting the social motivations that influence angler behaviour.

This PhD provides an exciting opportunity to explore sea anglers’ motivations and behaviours, with a focus on developing a novel framework through which behavioural responses to future changes in management and catch can be anticipated and understood. The research is likely to involve both quantitative and qualitative research methods to address the following questions:

-          How do angler attitudes, behaviours, preferences and motivations differ?

-          How does angler heterogeneity influence compliance with management measures and impact on broader marine and coastal governance?

-          Are there geographical differences in angler behavioural responses and what drives these differences?

This research will have strong policy relevance that can be used to support effective management of recreational fisheries in the UK and Europe. The PhD is in partnership with Cefas who provide impartial marine science and advice to support UK and overseas governments on sea angling. The student will contribute to the ICES WGRFS  to ensure that outcomes from the PhD are utilised. It is expected that the student will attend and present work at international conferences and publish in scientific journals.

Applicants are welcomed with a background in a range of social sciences, including: rural studies, environmental management, social psychology, and human geography. 

For more information on the project please contact Dr Julie Urquhart - jurquhart1@glos.ac.uk

The successful candidate is expected to start in October 2020 and will be based in the CCRI, University of Gloucestershire. Students having to first undertake the master’s research training prior to starting the PhD will initially be based in the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University.