Eleanor MacLeod

Eleanor MacLeod is a Research Fellow at the National Subsea Centre, part of Robert Gordon University's School of Computing, Engineering & Technology. Her work focuses on the critical intersection between offshore developments and the fishing industry, with expertise spanning marine biology and fisheries science.

Her academic journey began with a Marine Biology degree from the University of St Andrews in 2017. She then spent five years as a fisheries scientist for the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) and Marine Scotland, where she conducted stock assessments and participated in International Council for Exploration of the Seas (ICES) working groups before joining RGU in 2023.

Eleanor's research interests encompass several vital dimensions of contemporary marine science:

• Interactions between offshore renewable energy developments and fishing activities
• Cephalopod ecology and reproductive biology
• Climate change impacts on marine species life histories
• Marine spatial ecology and species distribution
• Fisheries management and stock assessment
• Marine conservation and ecosystem-based management

Her publication record (2021-2025) reveals a research trajectory increasingly focused on the interface between marine renewable energy and traditional fishing activities, while maintaining strong expertise in cephalopod ecology. Her work appears in high-impact journals including ICES Journal of Marine Science, Fisheries Research, and Regional Studies in Marine Science, demonstrating both disciplinary depth and interdisciplinary reach.

Eleanor has received notable recognition for her expertise, including being invited as an independent expert to review the 'UK Science Requirements Framework for Future Marine Research Infrastructure.' She actively contributes to international marine science through her participation in ICES workshops and working groups, helping to shape scientific approaches to marine resource management.

At the National Subsea Centre, Eleanor contributes to research that bridges marine science and engineering, addressing practical challenges in offshore development while considering ecological and socioeconomic implications. Her background in fisheries science provides valuable perspective for understanding the complex interactions between emerging marine industries and traditional fishing communities.