Emma Sheehan

Dr. Emma Sheehan is an Associate Professor of Marine Ecology (Research) at the University of Plymouth's School of Biological and Marine Sciences. Her research focuses on marine conservation, ecosystem restoration, and the impacts of human activities on marine habitats. She leads the Applied Marine Ecosystems Research Unit (aMER), which uses non-destructive techniques like underwater video and acoustic telemetry to assess marine protected areas (MPAs) and offshore aquaculture. Key projects include the decade-long Lyme Bay MPA assessment and investigations into the ecological benefits of offshore mussel farms.

Dr. Sheehan teaches modules such as BIO504 (Aquaculture Health) and MAR526 (Marine Renewable Energy). Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in sustainable oceans (SDG 14). She has collaborated with organizations like Blue Marine Foundation and Defra, leading projects such as the RETURN and ROPE initiatives. Her research highlights the importance of whole-site MPA management, the role of MPAs in biodiversity recovery, and the synergistic benefits of combining conservation with blue economy initiatives like aquaculture.

Notable achievements include co-authoring influential papers on MPA design, ghost fishing impacts, and ecosystem services of marine habitats. Dr. Sheehan's team has secured grants from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund for projects like ROPE (tracking predator interactions with mussel farms) and Angling for Sustainability (studying fish movements via acoustic tagging). She actively engages with stakeholders, including fishermen and policymakers, to ensure research informs practical conservation strategies.

Her future work includes evaluating juvenile sea bass movements using tagging technologies and exploring the ecological implications of emerging marine industries. The aMER unit also disseminates findings through public videos, technical reports, and policy briefs, aiming to bridge science and societal needs for sustainable ocean management.