News / NAFC loses its chief scientist
A SECOND senior figure at Shetland’s pioneering NAFC Marine Centre has announced he is leaving the institution in June.
Head of marine science and technology Dr Martin Robinson has been the chief scientist at the college for the past four years.
Next month college director Professor David Gray also leaves for Canada where he will take up a post in Nova Scotia, at Dalhousie University.
On Friday Robinson said he was leaving his post for personal reasons and to pursue new challenges and opportunities.
The Irishman had been considered as a possible replacement for Gray, whose job is expected to be advertised in the summer.
The college is currently being run by interim manager Willie Shannon, who was assistant chief executive of Shetland Islands Council until 2011. He will be tasked with steering the college through the imminent reorganisation of tertiary education in Shetland.
Robinson is considered to have played a major role in building the college’s reputation as a scientific establishment in recent years.
He has built up his department to the point where it now makes a significant contribution to regional and national decision making in fisheries, aquaculture, marine spatial planning and environmental surveying.
He has also boosted the college’s finances by attracting income from industry by focusing on projects of practical economic benefit.
NAFC chairman Ertie Nicolson said that as a result of his work, the NAFC was now a credible source of scientific information for organisations such as ICES, the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas, whose advice forms the basis of European quota management.
He has built up a strong working relationship with Shetland’s fishermen, which had helped build bridges between the scientific community and the industry.
He also played a key role in strengthening the islands’ shellfish management system to the point where it received Marine Conservation Society accreditation.
Nicolson described Robinson as “a talented and effective senior member of staff, always willing to invest additional time and energy to achieve very practical and meaningful outcomes”.
He said: “Although we are sorry that he is moving on, we are sure that his innovative and creative business approach will quickly see him achieving success in his future endeavours.”
One of Robinson’s major contributions was to focus on the importance of using science to boost economic development, an area he intends to pursue in the future.
“I remain very passionate about exploring ways in which to integrate research and industry to stimulate economic development,” he said on Friday.
“We have to find new ways to translate knowledge into income in the most effective possible ways to ensure a growth economy.”
He added: “I will miss working at the centre, which is quite unique in its very practical approach to research and training.
“Within the Department of Marine Science and Technology I have been very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with some talented and dedicated individuals that share my passion for highly applied activities that, whether they are publicly obvious or not, do help sustain Shetland’s maritime industries and communities.”
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