Dr Deirdre Brophy

MFRC Leader, Lecturer and Researcher in Marine Ecology and Fisheries
+353 (0)91 742484

I hold an honours degree in Zoology from Trinity College Dublin (1998) and a PhD in marine ecology from University College Dublin (2003). I came to GMIT as a post-doctoral researcher in 2003 and took up a lecturing position on the Applied Freshwater and Marine and Biology programme in 2007. My research interests are in the areas of sustainable fisheries management, fish population biology and ecology; early life history and the elucidation of long-term trends in ecological datasets. In much of my research I use the chronological information stored in the structure and composition of fish hard parts to understand fish population dynamics and stock structure and how they are influenced by environmental and ecosystem change. In my current role as Centre leader I oversee the operation of the MFRC, its research and postgraduate programmes and its strategic development.

Projects

Uncooked fresh common whelks or sea snails isolated on a white studio background. Traditionally pickled and eaten at the seaside, isolated on a white studio background
This collaboration between the MFRC, BIM, Nofima (Norway) and the Irish fishing industry aims to develop alternative sustainable baits for the Irish whelk fishery.
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This collaborative project with the Marine Institute takes a whole life cycle approach to investigate how commercial fish stocks are responding to climate change.
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The goal of this project is set up a set of novel tools for the detection and monitoring of marine invasive species in Irish coastal waters. This project is funded by the European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF).
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Through international collaboration, MFRC researchers are investigating the stock structure of Atlantic bluefin tuna using otolith and genetic markers in combination.
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The METRODIVER project, led by CNRS in France examines how marine protected area design influences trophic diversity and ecosystem health.
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The analysis of trace elemental signatures in shells, using ICP-MS, provides a tool for tracing the origin of shellfish.
Close-up of a trawler fishing net with tassels and floats
FishKOSM aims to increase our operational understanding of sustainable yields in mixed and multi-species fisheries.
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This European collaborative project developed novel methods of estimating fish age using the chemical composition of hard parts.
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This collaboration with the Marine Institute is unlocking the value of fish scale and otolith collections to marine ecosystem and climate change research.