Professor Jan Geert Hiddink

Professor in Marine Biology

Contact info

Room: 406 Westbury Mount     Phone: 01248 382864
E-mail: j.hiddink@bangor.ac.uk
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Jan is a professor in the School of Ocean Sciences and specialise in the field of marine benthic ecology. For his PhD he studied the adaptive value of migrations and nursery use for the intertidal bivalve Macoma balthica at the Department of Marine Biology at Groningen University, and he received the Annual VLIZ North Sea Award 2002 from the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) for his PhD thesis. After completing his PhD in 2002, he started a postdoc at Bangor University, where he studied the impact of bottom trawling on the functioning of benthic invertebrate communities. He joined the lecturing staff in SOS in 2006 and was promoted to Reader in 2013. He was awarded a Personal Chair in 2017.  JGH has published >95 peer reviewed papers since 2001. His grant capture since 2006 totals over £7M.

His research broadly examines the effect of human disturbance on benthic ecosystems, including fishing and climate change. He has a broad interest in other topics and has been working on research ranging from cattle trampling wader nests on saltmarshes to acoustic monitoring of cetaceans. His research is focussed on gaining a quantitative understanding of the effect of disturbance (such as exploitation and climate change) on the biodiversity and functioning of marine benthic communities, and on how such effects can be mitigated. JGH aims to increase understanding of ecosystem functioning and distribution patterns by comparing empirical data with predictions of ecological models. Much of this research has focused ont the effect of bottom trawling on benthic ecosystems.

Research Areas

  1. Published

    Is sustainable seabed trawling possible? A look at the evidence

    Hiddink, J. G., 28 Feb 2022, The Conversation.

    Research output: Contribution to specialist publicationArticle

  2. Published

    Investigating the effects of mobile bottom fishing on benthic biota: a systematic review protocol

    Hughes, K. M., Kaiser, M. J., Jennings, S., McConnaughey, R. A., Pitcher, R., Hilborn, R., Amoroso, R. O., Collie, J. S., Hiddink, J. G., Parma, A. M. & Rijnsdorp, A. D., 25 Nov 2014, In: Environmental Evidence. 3, 23

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  3. Published

    Indirect Effects of Bottom Fishing on the Productivity of Marine Fish

    Collie, J., Hiddink, J., van Kooten, T., Rijnsdorp, A. D., Kaiser, M., Jennings, S. & Hilborn, R., Jul 2017, In: Fish and Fisheries. 18, 4, p. 619-637

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  4. Published

    Indicators of the Ecological Impact of Bottom-Trawl Disturbance on Seabed Communities

    Hiddink, J., Jennings, S. & Kaiser, M. J., 1 Nov 2006, In: Ecosystems. 9, 7, p. 1190-1199

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  5. Published

    Indicators for Sea-floor Integrity under the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive

    Rice, J., Arvanitidis, C., Borja, A., Frid, C., Hiddink, J. G., Krause, J., Lorance, P., Ragnarsson, S. A., Skold, M., Trabucco, B., Enserink, L. & Norkko, A., Jan 2012, In: Ecological Indicators. 12, 1, p. 174-184

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  6. Published

    Importance of fish biodiversity for the management of fisheries and ecosystems.

    Hiddink, J. G., MacKenzie, B. R., Rijnsdorp, A., Dulvy, N. K., Nielsen, E. E., Bekkevold, D., Heino, M., Lorance, P. & Ojaveer, H., 1 Apr 2008, In: Fisheries Research. 90, 1-3, p. 6-8

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  7. Published

    Implications of using alternative methods of vessel monitoring system (VMS) data analysis to describe fishing activities and impacts

    Lambert, G. I., Jennings, S., Hiddink, J. G., Hintzen, N. T., Hinz, H., Kaiser, M. J. & Murray, L. G., May 2012, In: ICES Journal of Marine Science. 69, 4, p. 682-693

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  8. Published

    Implications of Liebig's law of the minimum for the use of ecological indicators based on abundance.

    Hiddink, J. G. & Kaiser, M. J., 1 Apr 2005, In: Ecography. 28, 2, p. 264-271

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  9. Published

    Impacts of Bottom Fishing on Sediment Biogeochemical and Biological Parameters in Cohesive and Non-cohesive Sediments

    Sciberras, M., Parker, R., Powell, C., Robertson, C., Kroger, S., Bolam, S. & Hiddink, J., Nov 2016, In: Limnology and Oceanography. 61, 6, p. 2076-2089

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  10. Published

    Impact of mangrove forest structure and landscape on macroplastics capture

    Cappa, P., Walton, M., Paler, M. K. O., Taboada, E. B., Hiddink, J. G. & Skov, M., Sept 2023, In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. 194, Part A, 115434.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  11. Published
  12. Published

    Identifying Foraging Behaviour of Wild Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and Harbour Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) with Static Acoustic Dataloggers

    Nuuttila, H. K., Meier, R., Evans, P. G. H., Turner, J. R., Bennell, J. D. & Hiddink, J. G., 2013, In: Aquatic Mammals. 39, 2, p. 147-161

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  13. Published

    Habitat use of shrimps in the intertidal and shallow subtidal seagrass beds of the tropical Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania.

    Schaffmeister, B. E., Hiddink, J. G. & Wolf, W. J., 1 Apr 2006, In: Journal of Sea Research. 55, 3, p. 230-243

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  14. Published

    Global analysis of depletion and recovery of seabed biota following bottom trawling disturbance

    Hiddink, J., Jennings, S., Sciberras, M., Szostek, C., Hughes, K., Ellis, N., Rijnsdorp, A. D., McConnaughey, R. A., Mazor, T., Hilborn, R., Collie, J. S., Pitcher, R., Amoroso, R. O., Parma, A. M., Suuronen, P. & Kaiser, M., 1 Aug 2017, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 114, 31, p. 8301-8306

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  15. Published

    Food subsidies from fisheries to continental shelf benthic scavengers.

    Kaiser, M. J. & Hiddink, J. G., 22 Nov 2007, In: Marine Ecology Progress Series. 350, p. 267-276

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  16. Published

    Fishing effects on energy use by North Sea fishes.

    Jennings, S., Van Hal, R., Hiddink, J. G. & Maxwell, T. A., 1 Mar 2008, In: Journal of Sea Research. 60, 1-2, p. 74-88

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  17. Published

    Extirpation-resistant species do not always compensate for the decline in ecosystem processes associated with biodiversity loss

    Davies, T. W., Jenkins, S. R., Kingham, R., Hawkins, S. J. & Hiddink, J. G., 31 Aug 2012, In: Journal of Ecology. 100, 6, p. 1475-1481

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  18. Published

    Evaluating methods for setting thresholds for good status in marine ecosystems.

    McKellar, L., Hiddink, J. G., McQuatters-Gollop, A., Vina-Herbon, C., Valanko, S. & Chaigneau, T., 3 Mar 2025, In: ICES Journal of Marine Science. 82, 3, fsaf019.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  19. Published

    Evaluating impacts of bottom trawling and hypoxia on benthic communities at the local, habitat, and regional scale using a modelling approach

    van Denderen, P. D., Bolam, S. G., Friedland, R., Hiddink, J. G., Noren, K., Rijnsdrop, A. D., Skold, M., Tornroos, A., Virtanen, E. A. & Valanko, S., Feb 2020, In: ICES Journal of Marine Science. 77, 1, p. 278-289

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  20. Published

    Estimating the trapping area and density of common whelk (Buccinum undatum) using experimental fishing

    Garratt, M., Bloor, I., Coleman, M., Colvin, C., Hiddink, J. G., Hold, N. & Jenkins, S., 1 Apr 2025, In: Fisheries Research. 284, 8 p., 107320.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  21. Published

    Estimating the sustainability of towed fishing-gear impacts on seabed habitats: a simple quantitative risk assessment method applicable to data-limited fisheries.

    Pitcher, R., Ellis, N., Jennings, S., Hiddink, J., Kaiser, M., Kangas, M., McConnaughey, R., Parma, A., Rijnsdorp, A., Suuronen, P., Collie, J., Amoroso, R., Hughes, K. & Hilborn, R., Apr 2017, In: Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 8, 4, p. 472-780

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  22. Published

    Estimating the abundance of benthic invertebrates from trap-catch data

    Hiddink, J. G., Coleman, M., Brouwer, S., Bloor, I. & Jenkins, S., Jan 2024, In: ICES Journal of Marine Science. 81, 1, p. 86-96 11 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  23. Published

    Estimating effective detection area of passive, static acoustic data loggers from playback experiments with cetacean vocalisations

    Nuuttila, H. K., Brundiers, K., Dahne, M., Koblitz, J. C., Thomas, L., Courtene-Jones, W., Evans, P. G. H., Turner, J. R., Bennell, J. & Hiddink, J. G., Dec 2018, In: Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 9, 12, p. 2362-2371

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  24. E-pub ahead of print

    Estimating common whelk (Buccinum undatum) abundance using baited remote underwater video (BRUV)

    Garratt, M., Bloor, I., Coleman, M., Colvin, C., Hiddink, J. G., Hold, N., Phillips, E., Ward, S. & Jenkins, S., 11 Sept 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: ICES Journal of Marine Science.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  25. Published

    Environmental metabarcoding reveals heterogeneous drivers of microbial eukaryote diversity in contrasting estuarine ecosystems

    Lallias, D. S., Lallias, D., Hiddink, J. G., Fonseca, V. G., Gaspar, J. M., Sung, W., Neill, S. P., Barnes, N., Ferrero, T., Hall, N., Lambshead, P. J., Packer, M., Thomas, W. K. & Creer, S., 25 Nov 2014, In: The ISME Journal. 9, p. 1208-1221

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  26. Published

    Elucidating the surface macroplastic load, types and distribution in mangrove areas around Cebu Island, Philippines and its policy implications

    Paler, M. K. O., Tabanag, I. D. F., Siacor, F. D. C., Geraldino, P. J. L., Walton, M., Dunn, C., Skov, M., Hiddink, J. G. & Taboada, E. B., 10 Sept 2022, In: Science of the Total Environment. 838, 3, 156408.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  27. Published

    Effects of suction-dredging for cockles on non-target fauna in the Wadden Sea.

    Hiddink, J. G., 1 Dec 2003, In: Journal of Sea Research. 50, 4, p. 315-323

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  28. Published

    Effects of scallop dredging on temperate reef fauna

    Hinz, H., Tarrant, D., Ridgeway, A., Kaiser, M. J. & Hiddink, J. G., 27 Jun 2011, In: Marine Ecology Progress Series. 432, p. 91-102

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  29. Published

    Effects of chronic bottom trawling on soft seafloor macrofauna in the Kattegat

    Skold, M., Göransson, P., Jonsson, P., Bastardie, F., Blomqvist, M., Agrenius, S., Hiddink, J., Nilsson, H. C. & Bartolino, V., Jan 2018, In: Marine Ecology Progress Series. 586, p. 41-55

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  30. Published

    Effects of chronic bottom trawling disturbance on benthic biomass, production and size spectra in different habitats.

    Queiros, A. M., Hiddink, J. G., Kaiser, M. J. & Hinz, H., 25 Jul 2006, In: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 335, 1, p. 91-103

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  31. Published

    Effects of bottom trawling on fish foraging and feeding

    Johnson, A. F., Gorelli, G., Jenkins, S. R., Hiddink, J. G. & Hinz, H., 10 Dec 2014, In: Proceedings of the royal Society B. 282, 1799

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  32. Published

    Effects of bottom trawling and hypoxia on benthic invertebrate communities

    van Denderen, P. D., Tornroos, A., Sciberras, M., Hinz, H., Friedland, R., Lasota, R., Mangano, M. C., Robertson, C., Valanko, S. & Hiddink, J. G., 11 Aug 2022, In: Marine Ecology Progress Series. 694, p. 13-27 15 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  33. Published

    Effect of prey abundance and size on the distribution of demersal fishes

    Johnson, A. F., Valls, M., Moranta, J., Jenkins, S. R., Hiddink, J. G. & Hinz, H., 5 Jan 2012, In: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 69, 1, p. 191-200

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  34. Published

    Dominance, Biomass and Extinction Resistance Determine the Consequences of Biodiversity Loss for Multiple Coastal Ecosystem Processes

    Davies, T. W., Jenkins, S. R., Kingham, R., Kenworthy, J., Hawkins, S. J. & Hiddink, J. G., 7 Dec 2011, In: PLoS ONE. 6, 12, p. e28362

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  35. Published

    Do haddock select habitats to maximize condition?

    Hiddink, J. G., Jennings, S. & Kaiser, M. J., 1 Dec 2005, In: Journal of Fish Biology. 67, Supplement B, p. 111-124

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  36. Published

    Diversity of fishing métier use can affect incomes and costs in small-scale fisheries

    Cambie, G., Pantin, J., Lincoln, H., Hiddink, J., Lambert, G. & Kaiser, M., 2017, In: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 74, 12, p. 2144-2152

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  37. Published

    Distribution maps of cetacean and seabird populations in the North-East Atlantic

    Waggitt, J., Evans, P., Hiddink, J. G., Andrade, J., Banks, A., Boisseau, O., Bolton, M., Bradbury, G., Brereton, T., Camphuysen, K., Durinck, J., Felce, T., Fijn, R., Garcia-Baron, I., Garthe, S., Geelhoed, S., Gilles, A., Goodall, M., Haelters, J., Hamilton, S., Hartny-Mills, L., Hodgins, N., James, K., Jessopp, M., Kavanagh, A., Leopold, M., Lohrengel, K., Louzao, M., Markones, N., Martinez-Cediera, J., O’Cadhla, O., Perry, S., Pierce, G., Ridoux, V., Robinson, K., Santos, B., Saavedra, C., Skov, H., Steinen, E., Sveegaard, S., Thompson, P., Vanermen, N., Wall, D., Webb, A., Wilson, J. & Wanless, S., Feb 2020, In: Journal of Applied Ecology. 57, 2, p. 253-269 17 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  38. Published

    Different bottom trawl fisheries have a differential impact on the status of the North Sea seafloor habitats

    Rijnsdorp, A. D., Hiddink, J. G., van Dendren, P. D., Hintzen, N. T., Eigaard, O. R., Valanko, S., Bastardie, F., Bolam, S. G., Boulcott, P., Egekvist, J., Garcia, C., van Hoey, G., Jonsson, P., Laffargue, P., Nielsen, J. R., Piet, G. J., Skold, M. & van Kooten, T., Sept 2020, In: ICES Journal of Marine Science. 77, 5, p. 1772-1786

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  39. Published

    Differences in demersal community structure and biomass size spectra within and outside the Maltese Fishery Management Zone (FMZ).

    Dimech, M., Camilleri, M., Hiddink, J. G., Kaiser, M. J., Ragonese, S. & Schembri, P. J., 1 Dec 2008, In: Scientia Marina. 72, 4, p. 669-682

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  40. Published

    Differences in biological traits composition of benthic assemblages between unimpacted habitats

    Bolam, S., Garcia, C., Eggleton, J., Kenny, A. J., Buhl-Mortensen, L., Gonzalez-Mirelis, G., van Kooten, T., Dinesen, G., Hansen, J., Hiddink, J., Sciberras, M., Smith, C., Papadopoulou, N., Gumus, A., Van Hoey, G., Eigaard, O. R., Bastardie, F. & Rijnsdorp, A., May 2017, In: Marine Environmental Research. 126, May 2017, p. 1-13 13 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  41. Unpublished

    Determining the impact of fishing on seabed habitats for Nephrops with trawls and creels around the United Kingdom: Project UK report

    Whitton, T. & Hiddink, J. G., 1 Nov 2023, (Unpublished) Bangor University. 35 p.

    Research output: Book/ReportCommissioned report

  42. Published

    Detection and quantification of differences in catch rates among research vessel gears and commercial vessels

    Delargy, A., Hold, N., Heney, C., Cann, R., Bhandari, K., Colvin, C., Moore, A., Lincoln, H., Hiddink, J. G. & McCarthy, I., 1 Oct 2022, In: Fisheries Research. 254, 106371, 106371.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  43. Published

    Destructive Fishing: an expert-driven definition and exploration of this quasi-concept

    McCarthy, A. H., Steadman, D., Richardson, H., Murphy, J., Benbow, S., Brian, J. I., Brooks, H., Costa-Domingo, G., Hazin, C., McOwen, C., Walker, J., Willer, D., Abdi, M., Auster, P. J., Bealey, R., Bensted-Smith, R., Broadburn, K., Carvalho, G., Collinson, T., Erinosho, B., Fabinyi, M., Febrica, S., Forbi, W. N., Garcia, S. M., Goad, D., Goldsworthy, L., Govan, H., Heaphy, C., Hiddink, J. G., Hosch, G., Kachelriess, D., Kinch, J., Lancaster, A. M. S. N., Le Manach, F., Matthews, T., Medellin-Ortiz, A., Morgan, A., Motta, H., Marua, H., Namboothri, N., Ndiritu, E., Passfield, K., Pilcher, N. J., Portus, J. O., Rguez-Baron, J. M., Robertson, M., Sharma, A., Suazo, C. G., Tamini, L. L., Vilata-Simon, J. & Mukherjee, N., 28 Mar 2024, In: Conservation Letters. 17, 3

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  44. Published

    Defining thresholds of sustainable impact on benthic communities in relation to fishing disturbance

    Lambert, G., Murray, L., Hiddink, J., Hinz, H., Lincoln, H., Hold, N., Cambie, G. & Kaiser, M., 2017, In: Scientific Reports. 7, 5440.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  45. Published

    Cumulative impacts of seabed trawl disturbance on benthic biomass, production, and species richness in different habitats

    Hiddink, J. G., Jennings, S., Kaiser, M. J., Queiros, A. M., Duplisea, D. E. & Piet, G. J., Apr 2006, In: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 63, 4, p. 721-736

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  46. Published

    Could our fisheries be more productive? Indirect negative effects of bottom trawl fisheries on fish condition

    Hiddink, J. G., Johnson, A. F., Kingham, R. & Hinz, H., 1 Dec 2011, In: Journal of Applied Ecology. 48, 6, p. 1441-1449

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  47. Published

    Context dependency of relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is different for multiple ecosystem functions.

    Hiddink, J. G., Davies, T. W., Perkins, M., Machairopoulou, M. & Neill, S. P., 1 Dec 2009, In: Oikos. 118, 12, p. 1892-1900

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  48. Published

    Context dependence of marine ecosystem engineer invasion impacts on benthic ecosystem functioning.

    Queiros, A. D., Hiddink, J. G., Johnson, G., Cabral, H. N. & Kaiser, M. J., 1 May 2011, In: Biological Invasions. 13, 5, p. 1059-1075

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  49. Published

    Conservation benefits of temperate marine protected areas: variation among fish species.

    Blyth-Skyrme, R. E., Kaiser, M. J., Hiddink, J. G., Edwards-Jones, G. & Hart, P. J., 1 Jun 2006, In: Conservation Biology. 20, 3, p. 811-820

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  50. Published

    Confidentiality over fishing effort data threatens science and management progress

    Hinz, H., Murray, L. G., Lambert, G. I., Hiddink, J. G. & Kaiser, M. J., Mar 2013, In: Fish and Fisheries. 14, 1, p. 110-117

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review