Thomas Catchpole
Principal Marine Fisheries Advisor
Tom is a Principal Marine Fisheries Advisor at Cefas and Strategic Policy Advisor to the Defra Secretary of State on marine and fisheries issues. In his current position he is responsible for providing scientific and policy advice to government institutes including the UK Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on commercial fisheries and the marine environment. His role includes participating in international fisheries negotiations.
He has extensive experience in participating and leading national and international research projects to better understand the interactions between commercial fishing activities and the marine environment with the aim to enhance the sustainability of fishing. This work is done in collaboration with many other partners, including science institutes, Universities, NGOs and in particular the fishing industry.
Tom is an active member of the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES), chairing working groups and workshops. Prior to the UK leaving the EU, Tom was a member of the EU Commission's Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries (STECF). Tom has initiated and managed government funding programmes to deliver science and innovation in partnership with industry and is the Principal Investigator and a Steering Group member of the UK Seafood Innovation Fund.
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