Professor Gary Carvalho of Bangor University has been appointed Chair of the ICES Working Group on Application of Genetics in Fisheries and Mariculture (WGAGFM).
Professor Carvalho will chair the Working Group for three years.
As Professor of Molecular Ecology, Gary Carvalho, who is based at the University’s School of Biological Sciences, is ideally placed for this new role. He is a leading expert on fisheries genetics and has recently completed large European funded research programmes to adopt genetics technology to safeguard fish and fisheries.
The WGAGFM, considers how principles and applications in genetics can contribute to the management of exploited fisheries resources.
Prof Carvalho explains, “There is an increasing awareness that genetic tools can be used both as ‘tags’ for traceability of fish and fish products and the identification of individuals and populations, as well as in a more fundamental but crucial role in conserving genetic resources.
“Collectively, such information plays an important role in promoting the resilience and recovery of exploited populations. It is only through the judicious identification and monitoring of population diversity, especially those features determined genetically, that it becomes possible to develop strategies to maximise and conserve genetic resources for adaptation to environmental change.”
Gary Carvalho has been a member of the ICES group for over two decades, and is delighted to have the opportunity of contributing to the ICES mission in the coming years.
