Alec Moore

Dr. Alec Moore is a Lecturer at Bangor University's School of Ocean Sciences, a position he assumed in 2024 after working as a postdoc on the Sustainable Fisheries Wales project since 2019. With over two decades of experience in marine biology, Dr. Moore brings extensive field expertise to academia, having conducted global marine ecological surveys, fisheries observations, and Environmental Impact Assessments. His career transition from applied marine biology to academia represents a valuable bridge between practical fieldwork and theoretical research in marine conservation.

Dr. Moore's educational background includes:

• BSc in Marine Sciences from the University of Southampton
• MSc in Ecosystems Analysis & Governance from the University of Warwick
• PhD in Elasmobranchs of the Persian (Arabian) Gulf: diversity, taxonomy & fisheries from Bangor University
• Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2024)

Dr. Moore is a marine ecologist specializing in the sustainable management and conservation of marine biota, with particular focus on sharks and rays. His research spans from local waters of Wales and the Irish Sea to data-poor regions in Arabia and Africa, targeting highly threatened and poorly-known species. Notable achievements include the rediscovery of a 'lost' shark species, discovery of two new stingray species, documentation of regional sawfish extinction, and identification of bull shark nursery grounds. As part of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group, he contributes to Red List Assessments and global conservation initiatives, including the development of Important Shark Areas.

Dr. Moore's research methodology is distinctive for its use of inexpensive, alternative data sources such as fish markets, fishers' ecological knowledge, museums, historical documents, and angling records. He is increasingly involved in marine historical ecology, using documentary sources to understand past baselines and long-term changes to inform modern-day species management. This interdisciplinary approach bridges historical data with contemporary conservation needs.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward historical marine ecology and conservation-focused research. The work demonstrates increasing sophistication in using historical archives to establish baselines for ecosystem restoration and using unconventional data sources for species monitoring. There's particular emphasis on oyster reef ecosystems, shark and ray conservation, and the impacts of historical fisheries on current marine biodiversity.

Dr. Moore has received recognition for his work through several awards:

• Welsh Crucible (2021) - a leadership development program for Welsh researchers
• Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2024)

Dr. Moore serves as an external examiner for PhD theses, having examined at Newcastle University (2024) and the University of Oxford (2023). His research is supported by multiple projects including 'FisHistory: Converting historical knowledge into sustainable ocean management' (2024-2026), 'Wales' Lost Fisheries' (2021-present), and 'History for the future: unlocking archives to solve challenges' (2022). He also led the 'BU-IIA Funded Project: Innovating towards plastic-free fisheries for Wales' Green Recovery' (2022-2023), which received £49,392 in funding.

Dr. Moore teaches several modules at Bangor University including 'Sharks and their relatives,' 'Marine top predator 1,' 'Diversity of marine life (elasmobranchs),' and 'Marine mammal science.' His work contributes to Sustainable Development Goals related to quality education and life below water, reflecting his commitment to both academic excellence and practical marine conservation.