Gordon HastieView profile
Research Fellow
- Interactions with marine renewable energy developments
- Risk balancing by marine predators
- Use of dynamic habitats by marine predators
Dr Gordon Drummond Hastie is a Principal Research Fellow in the School of Biology at the University of St Andrews. His research focuses on marine mammal interactions with renewable energy developments, risk balancing strategies of marine predators, and the use of dynamic marine habitats. He holds affiliations with the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) and the Scottish Oceans Institute. Dr Hastie has a PhD in Marine Biology from the University of Aberdeen (1997) and a BSc in Zoology from the same institution (1994). He has supervised over a dozen PhD students and collaborates internationally on projects addressing marine conservation and energy sustainability. His research combines field studies, acoustic monitoring, and technological innovation to assess the ecological impacts of tidal and wind energy installations. Key projects include the Marine Mammal Scientific Support Programme and the PrePARED project, which investigate behavioral responses to renewable energy infrastructure. Dr Hastie has developed novel tracking systems like the HiCUP platform to monitor marine mammals in high-current environments. His work bridges academic research and industry applications, informing policy for sustainable marine energy development. Current research includes studying seal avoidance behaviors around operational tidal turbines and quantifying physiological impacts of anthropogenic noise on marine mammals. Dr Hastie’s interdisciplinary approach integrates ecology, engineering, and policy to address global challenges in marine conservation and renewable energy integration.





