Dr Matthew Gollock has over 20 years’ experience researching and conserving aquatic species.
Matthew has a focus on migratory species - particularly elasmobranchs and anguillid eels – and the science that underpins the management and policy mechanisms required to conserve their unique life histories.
He is an advocate of using these species as flagships for aquatic conservation more broadly and particularly the connectivity of fresh, transitional and marine waters.
Professional Accreditations
- Chair of the IUCN SSC Anguillid Eel Specialist Group
- Member of the IUCN SSC Freshwater Conservation Committee
- Member of the IUCN SSC Marine Conservation Committee
- UK representative on the ICES Working Group on Eel (WGEEL)
Major projects
- Global conservation and management of anguillid eels
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
- Angel Shark Project
- Marine Conservation in UKOTs
Williamson, M.J., Pike, C., Gollock, M., Jacoby, D.M.P. & Piper, A.T. (2023). Anguillid eels. Curr. Biol. 33: R888-R893. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.07.04
Mead, L. R., Alvarado, D. J., Meyers, E., Barker, J., Sealey, M., Caro, M. B., ... & Jacoby, D. M. (2023). Spatiotemporal distribution and sexual segregation in the Critically Endangered angelshark Squatina squatina in Spain’s largest marine reserve. Endangered Species Research, 51, 233-248. https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/esr/v51/p233-248/
Wright, R et al (2022). First direct evidence of adult European eels migrating to their breeding place in the Sargasso Sea. Sci. Rep. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-19248-8
Piper, A, Belen A, Villanueva B and Gollock M (2022). Residence, activity patterns and behaviour of the giant mottled eel Anguilla marmorata in two freshwater protected areas in the Philippines. Aquat. Cons.: Mar. Fresh. Ecosys. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3870
Barker, J et al (2022). The distribution, ecology and predicted habitat use of the Critically Endangered angelshark (Squatina squatina) in coastal waters of Wales and the central Irish Sea. J. Fish Biol. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.15133
Andrzejaczek, S et al (2022). Diving into the vertical dimension of elasmobranch movement ecology. Sci. Adv. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abo1754
Maasri, A et al (2022). A global agenda for advancing freshwater biodiversity research. Ecol. Lett. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13931
Grace, M et al. (2021). Testing a global standard for quantifying species recovery and assessing conservation impact. Cons. Biol.
Righton, D et al… Gollock, M (2021). Important questions to progress science and sustainable management of anguillid eels. Fish and Fisheries. https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12549
Itakura H, Wakiya, R, Gollock, M and Kaifu K (2020). Anguillid eels as a surrogate species for conservation of freshwater biodiversity in Japan. Sci. Rep. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-65883-4