Is angling a significant pathway for invasive species?

Bubbly was cracked open for Dr Emily Smith on 18^th March, after she was the latest UCL Geography candidate to successfully defend her PhD thesis.

Emily’s work at UCL began with a First Class BSc (Hons) degree in Environmental Geography, followed by a distinction in UCL Geography’s MSc Aquatic Science course.

She then obtained a NERC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) award to carry out PhD research on 'Conduits of Aquatic Invasive Species into the UK: The Angling Route?’.

In this work, Emily investigated the direct and indirect impacts of angling on invasive species in the UK, including those carried on angling equipment, and the implications for the European Invasive Alien Species Regulation and the Code of Conduct for Coarse Anglers.

Emily’s supervisors were Professor Helen Bennion and Dr Carl Sayer. The thesis was examined by Dr Mike Chadwick from King’s College London Geography and Professor Frances Lucy from the Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Technology, Sligo. They congratulated Emily on an impressive piece of work which would have real-world impact.

As if to confirm this assessment, Emily has secured a post with The Angling Trust, which part-funded the research, allowing her to put the findings directly to good use.

See

• London NERC DTP
• NERC/The Angling Times
• The Angling Trust