Ben Drakeford

I am a Senior Lecturer in the Economics and Finance Subject Group. I was awarded a PhD in Fisheries Economics and Management by the University of Portsmouth and was a Research Fellow in the University’s Centre for the Economics and Management of Aquatic Resources prior to be appointed Lecturer. My main academic interests lie within the field of Blue economy and governance. I was recently the UK lead on a DG Mare initiative on developing blue growth opportunities in the Atlantic Ocean.

I have been awarded funding for several multidisciplinary EU projects and have also coordinated projects for other funding bodies, such as the Natural Environment Research Council and the FAO. I am currently working with DG MARE on the EU’s Atlantic Strategy and am the UK lead for the EU’s Atlantic Action Plan, as well as other projects including FarFish and Pandora.

I am author and co-author of various journal articles, book chapters, research reports and consultancy reports. I have also disseminated the results of research activities at international conferences and workshops, throughout Europe, Asia and the USA, most recently at the San Diego Food Security Conference in 2017. I have also recently organised and chaired workshops in the UK for DEFRA and the European Commission focussing on developing the potential of the blue economy.