My doctoral research focuses on the impact of climate change on the biology and sustainability of whelk stocks (Buccinum undatum) in the English Channel, through the CCLIM Bul project (CLImate Change in the English Channel: impact on Whelk biology).

The whelk is a key species for artisanal fishing in the English Channel, currently facing a notable decline in catches, particularly in the Western English Channel. This decrease appears to be linked to thermal modifications of its environment, as the species is at the southern limit of its distribution.

The thesis aims to understand how temperature variations and marine heatwaves influence the whelk’s life cycle, notably its growth, reproduction, and population dynamics.

To address these questions, I am using a multidisciplinary approach structured around four complementary axes:

1.  Characterization of the thermal conditions of whelk habitats in the English Channel, by combining satellite, in situ, and fishing campaign data.
2. Study of thermal effects on growth through sclerochronological and morphometric analyses of statoliths to reconstruct individual growth trajectories.
3. Analysis of temperature effects on reproduction, via in situ monitoring and controlled experiments simulating marine heatwaves. Histo-imaging and transcriptomics (RNAseq) approaches will allow for the identification of affected biological processes.
4. Stock dynamics modeling to assess its status and propose sustainable management strategies in the face of environmental changes.

This work will contribute to a better understanding of the vulnerability of coastal fishery resources to climate change, and will provide concrete elements to adapt sustainable fisheries management practices in the English Channel.