Personal profile
Personal Profile
A marine ecologist and scientific diver with over 23 years experience bridging industry and academic research in Ireland and the UK, with offshore survey work conducted in Canada, the Caribbean, North and Black Seas. I am a Lecturer in aquatic ecology at both undergraduate and masters levels, and chair of the fourth and final year of the Applied Freshwater and Marine Biology Honours Degree.
My research focuses on the biodiversity of marine coastal habitats, and their resilience and sensitivity to anthropogenic impacts. I am especially interested on the biology and importance of keystone species and ecosystem engineers, creators of biogenic habitats and hotspots of biodiversity, such as native oysters, horse and blue mussels, seagrass and kelp, their conservation and potential for ecological restoration. Most of the projects I am involved relate to sustainable management of wild marine resources and nature based solutions to ecological restoration, based on the use of aquaculture of keystone species.
Education/Academic qualification
Natural sciences, PhD, The importance of keystone species in the ecological restoration of marine habitats: A case study using the reef forming mollusc Modiolus modiolus, Queen's University Belfast
1 Apr 2008 → 30 Aug 2012
Award Date: 12 Dec 2012
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Keywords
- QL Zoology
- QH301 Biology
- SH Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling
Name of Affiliated ATU Research Unit
- MFRC - Marine and Freshwater Research Centre
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 14 Life Below Water
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Marine Heatwave Analysis and Prediction Using Deep Learning: A Case Study Around Ireland
Baxla, M. A., Lyashevska, O., Conway, A. & Fariñas-Franco, J. M., 18 Mar 2025Research output: Other contribution › peer-review
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Rethinking marine restoration permitting to urgently advance efforts
Unsworth, R. K. F., Sweet, M., Govers, L. L., von der Heyden, S., Vergés, A., Friess, D. A., Jones, B. L. H., Monfared, M. A. A., Steinfurth, R. C., Fariñas-Franco, J. M., Cullen-Unsworth, L. C., Banke, T. L., Tomas, F., Lusk, B. W., Mendzil, A. F., Debney, A. J., Sanderson, W. G., Thomsen, E., Preston, J. & Lacey, E. A. & 5 others, , Oct 2025, In: Cell Reports Sustainability.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2 Citations (Scopus) -
European Native Oyster Reef Ecosystems Are Universally Collapsed
zu Ermgassen, P. S. E., McCormick, H., Debney, A., Fariñas-Franco, J. M., Gamble, C., Gillies, C., Hancock, B., Laugen, A. T., Pouvreau, S., Preston, J., Sanderson, W. G., Strand, Å. & Thurstan, R. H., 4 Dec 2024, In: Conservation Letters.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access16 Citations (Scopus) -
Are we there yet? Management baselines and biodiversity indicators for the protection and restoration of subtidal bivalve shellfish habitats
Fariñas-Franco, J. M., Cook, R. L., Gell, F. R., Harries, D. B., Hirst, N., Kent, F., MacPherson, R., Moore, C., Mair, J. M., Porter, J. S. & Sanderson, W. G., 10 Mar 2023, In: Science of the Total Environment. 863, 161001.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access16 Citations (Scopus) -
European native oyster reef ecosystems are universally collapsed
zu Ermgassen, P. S. E., McCormick, H., Debney, A., Fariñas-Franco, J. M., Gamble, C., Gillies, C., Hancock, B., T. Laugen, A., Pouvreau, S., Preston, J., Sanderson, W. G., Strand, Å. & Thurstan, R., 23 Dec 2023, (Accepted/In press) EcoEvoRxiv.Research output: Working paper
Open Access
Press/Media
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Native Irish oysters return to Belfast Lough after a 100-year absence
16/08/24
1 Media contribution
Press/Media
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Scotland: Highland Oysters And Whisky Pair To Sustain Their Corner Of The Planet
3/11/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media
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The world's most degraded marine ecosystem could be about to make a comeback
2/05/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
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