Award funds healthy sea study

A law firm's award will help a scientist research healthy seas.

Marine scientist and author Dr Fiona Gell has been named as the recipient of the Corlett Bolton Award, a £5,000 grant aimed at supporting a research project to be undertaken with the intention of enhancing knowledge and understanding of the Isle of Man’s environment, culture, history, or society.

Dr Gell’s project, ‘A natural history of Manx seas: Visualising the past to provide a vision for a sustainable future’, will help support understanding of the vital role that healthy seas and oceans play in helping to curb climate change.

Such insight will help ensure that the Island’s marine environment is protected and restored to support the essential benefits that the Island can derive from the sea, from seafood to recreation and well-being.

Sally Bolton, Director, Corlett Bolton, said: ‘Along with my fellow Director, Nadine Roberts, we would like to thank all those who took the time to submit an application. We both assessed the submissions and the calibre of all of them was highly impressive, which made our job in making a decision a very difficult one.

Sally Bolton, Director, Corlett Bolton

‘We chose Dr Gell’s project as it promises to reinforce the positive outcomes that derive from protecting our environment, something which is particularly important with our Island’s status as an island biosphere nation.

‘After 30 years in practice we continue to seek new ways in which we can give back to the Isle of Man’s community.'

‘We would also like to express our huge gratitude to University College Isle of Man’s (UCM) Research Ethics and Governance Committee, which provided expert governance and oversight on the applications.'

Gail Corrin, UCM’s Higher Education Manager, commented: ‘We are delighted to have worked with Corlett Bolton in the awarding of this research award. UCM is keen to facilitate valuable and well-designed research. Research is incredibly important, not just in educational settings. As it is for individuals, so to for communities and government, curious and informed minds will be the source of a sustainable and thriving future.’

Dr Fiona Gell

Dr Gell said: ‘A healthy marine environment is essential to help tackle climate change, protect biodiversity, support sustainable food production and to build a resilient future. The Corlett Bolton Award will give me a unique opportunity to delve into the past of some of the Isle of Man’s most cherished marine species and habitats to understand how they’ve changed over time and how they can be effectively protected and restored to benefit us all.  

‘I’m very grateful to Corlett Bolton and UCM for this opportunity and I look forward to sharing my findings to support marine conservation, climate action and a wider understanding of our fascinating and life-sustaining world beneath the waves.'

Dr Gell writes for national media on environment issues and is the author of the book Spring Tides.

Photo: Kelp by Dr Lara Howe