Estelle LE BIHAN

Study of the impact of the environment on marine species of economic interest in relation to the downstream activities to exploit these species. 

My research focuses on the study of the environment impact on marine species of economic interest. This work concentrates in particular on the downstream activities of valorization of these species.

I intervene in particular on a species of interest for Normandy fishing: the whelk. As part of my work, I study the impact of climate change on the spatial distribution of the whelk Buccinum undatum in the English Channel through physiological approaches. Previous studies have already highlighted its great sensitivity to thermal changes, with clear impacts on sexual maturation, a decrease in the number of juveniles at hatching, as well as an increase in their size. In addition, an effect of temperature on the seasonality of landings has been proven, a drop in abundance having been observed in recent years. In this context, my work focuses on the impact of these developments on the downstream side of the sector.