Dr Ben Drakeford

Associate Professor in Marine Resource Economics

Ben.Drakeford@port.ac.uk

PhD Supervisor

View my research outputs

Biography

I am an Associate Professor in Marine Resource Economics.

I was awarded a PhD in Fisheries Economics and Management by the University of Portsmouth.  I was a Research Fellow at the University’s Centre for the Economics and Management of Aquatic Resources (CEMARE) prior to be appointed Lecturer. My main academic interests lie within the broad field of blue economy development with a specialised focus on fisheries and aquaculture economics and management.  I have been awarded funding for several multidisciplinary EU projects and other funding bodies e.g. NERC and the FAO, most recently (in September 2019) an Interreg project, which will focus on tackling marine litter.

Research interests

My main areas of research relate to the blue economy and governance. Most recently, I started to work on a project that tackles the marine litter problem, by developing new fishing gear that is biodegradable in the marine environment. I am also currently working with DG MARE on the EU’s Atlantic Strategy and am the UK lead for the EU’s Atlantic Action Plan. I also currently contribute to other projects at the University that relate to blue economy development, such as improving fisheries management (EU projects Pandora and Farfish) and valuing natural capital in the Marine Environment (Interreg RANTRANS project) and am an active member of the recently formed Centre for Blue Governance at the University.

I am author and co-author of various journal articles, book chapters, research reports and consultancy reports. My most recent publication is co-authored by one of my PhD students on managing UK fisheries post-Brexit, which also led to publications in The Conversation and the World Politics Review. I have also disseminated the results of research activities at international conferences and workshops, throughout Europe, Asia and the USA, most recently at the Vancouver Fisheries Management Conference in 2018. 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.

Teaching responsibilities

I am currently the coordinator for Postgraduate Dissertations. I also teach on units in other faculties such as the Coastal and Marine Resource Management course in the Geography Department and contribute to Blue Economy Classes for the Centre for Blue Governance.

Research outputs

2025

The case for biodegradable fishing gear fish premiums in the Newlyn wholesale market

Forse, A. P., Drakeford, B., Failler, P.

16 Nov 2025, In: Discover Sustainability

Research output: Article

Boating tourism and fishing interactions: a social network analysis using AIS data

Ramos, J., Drakeford, B., Costa, J., Leito, F.

1 Jun 2025, In: Sustainability. 17, 11, 14p., 4837

Research output: Article

Tracking tourism waves: insights from Automatic Identification System (AIS) data on maritime–coastal activities

Ramos, J., Drakeford, B., costa, j., Madiedo, A., Leito, F.

1 Jun 2025, In: Tourism and Hospitality. 6, 2, 20p., 99

Research output: Article

2024

A review on participatory multi-criteria decision-making methods for the sustainable management of fisheries

Akbari, N., Failler, P., Forse, A. P., Drakeford, B.

24 Sep 2024, In: Journal of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Research output: Article

Scientific Innovations for Coastal Resource Management

Ramos, J., Drakeford, B., Leitao, F.

29 Aug 2024,

Research output: Book

A classification of poachers from the sea: four types to rule them all

Martinez Ballesteros, V. H., Failler, P., Drakeford, B., Forse, A., Rodriguez Rodriguez, G.

1 Jun 2024, In: Society and Natural Resources. 37, 4, p. 495-520, 26p.

Research output: Article

Tuna: Investigations of value addition and potential EU investments in tuna fisheries in Africa

Failler, P., Touron-Gardic, G., Arias-Hansen, J., Rodriguez, A., Doblado, S., Hermansen, Ø., Viðarsson, J. R., Forse, A., Drakeford, B.

21 May 2024, In: Sustainable Economies. 2, 2, 21p., 107

Research output: Article

Time-varying effects of crude oil price fluctuations on tuna fish prices

Failler, P., Zheng, Y., Liu, Y., Akbari, N., Josupeit, H., Drakeford, B., Forse, A. P.

18 Apr 2024, In: Sustainable Economies. 2, 3, 9p., 103

Research output: Article

A Bayesian approach to infer the sustainable use of artificial reefs in fisheries and recreation

Ramos, J., Drakeford, B., Madiedo, A., costa, j., Leitao, F.

17 Jan 2024, In: Sustainability. 16, 2, 16p., 810

Research output: Article

2023

The development of seawater agriculture: policy options for a changing climate

Lu, K., Failler, P., Drakeford, B., Forse, A.

13 Nov 2023, In: Environmental Development, 27p., 100938

Research output: Article

View all my research outputs