People

Jan left the UK on a short expedition almost 15 years ago and still hasn’t found his way back. This may have something to do with the fact that beer tastes better in warm climates. Having completed a BSc in Marine Biology at University College of Swansea, Wales, and then a master’s degree in Applied Marine Science at the University of Plymouth, Jan joined the Royal Geographical Society Shoals of Capricorn programme and went to Seychelles. The allure of tropical seas proved irresistible and he went on to become the manager of the Fisheries Research Unit of the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA). In 10-years working at SFA, Jan developed research interests focusing on a broad spectrum of tropical fish, ranging from rabbitfish to tunas. His research included studies on the effects of fishing on reef fish spawning aggregations, the impacts of climate change on small-island developing state economies, and the effects of coral bleaching on reef fisheries. He also held numerous responsibilities with regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) and is currently vice-chair of the Scientific Committee of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC). Jan joined ARC CoE to study for a PhD in April 2012. Under the wise guidance of Nick Graham, Josh Cinner and Glenn Almany, Jan will be focusing on how the social behaviour of reef fish influences their vulnerability to fishing.