• Research scientist studying human-environment interactions, behavioural ecology and marine fisheries.

I work at Cefas where I coordinate the team providing scientific advice to the Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and to the FCO. This includes advice on managing Southern Ocean fisheries within the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). The team provides expertise on fisheries data analysis including stock assessments and fishery ecology. I have been a member of the UK delegation to CCAMLR since 2014.

I have worked in several, quite different areas during my research career; however, throughout I have always focussed on how ecosystems and biota respond to changes in the environment. My personal research interests centre on environment and ecology, studying how group dynamics change through interaction with the environment and how these changes translate to survival of the population. I aim to understand how environmental factors (such as anthropogenic pressure) and behavioural interactions lead to successful population maintenance. I joined Cefas and UEA in 2013 and in my current position I pursue my research interests through focus on evaluating the use tag and recapture data for stock assessment, mammal – fisheries interactions, ecology of bycatch species and fishery sustainability.  

I work at UEA for one day each week to develop and facilitate research collaborations between UEA and Cefas, as part of the strategic alliance between these institutions and the establishment of the Collaborative Centre for Sustainable Use of the Seas (CCSUS).

Google Scholar - publications co-authored by Cefas & UEA since 2008.  

I have a twitter account @marthasterias – all views are mine, not those of Cefas or the University.    

Additional Contacts: I work at Cefas in the Fisheries and Ecosystems Division.

CEFAS Lowestoft Laboratory
Pakefield Road
Lowestoft
NR33 0HT
Tel. 01502 524377
Email. Marta.Soffker@cefas.co.uk

• Human-ecosystem interactions, behavioural ecology, environmental factors affecting changes in group dynamics (behaviour, reproduction), individual and population adaptation to changes in environment (e.g anthropogenic pressure, fishery), marine mammal behaviour adaptation to changing environment, deep sea ecology, big data

• Understanding the impacts of fishery on ecosystems in a changing climate and communicating these to policy makers.

• Previous research includes studying reproductive success in ground-nesting birds (link to Dartmoor Upland Bird Nest Group), evaluating effects of endocrine disruptors on physiological, behavioural, and population genetics level in fish, investigating interactions of deep-sea fisheries with cold-water coral ecosystems and effectiveness of UK MPAs in their protection (Exploring the world's largest cold-water reef in the Arctic: Part 1, Part 2), or surveying and mapping intertidal seagrass communities in pristine vs polluted areas.

Link to google scholar profile

Prior to coming to UEA I was employed as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) for five years by the University of Exeter, with over 850 hours experience contributing to both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including lectures, practicals, research student supervision and module/course coordination. In my last year at Exeter I have received nominations for Best Postgraduate Teacher at the Exeter University Teaching Awards. I am an Associate at the Higher Education Academy.

Co-supervision of UEA students:

Hamera Aisha (MSc) 2015

Guest Lecturer:

ENV-5014A: Population Ecology and Management