A NORTH Wales scientist was yesterday handed a top marine award. The Fisheries Society of the British Isles gave its top medal to Dr Michel Kaiser, a reader in marine ecology at Bangor university's school of ocean sciences. Former Bangor student Professor John Sumpter was also presented with the Beverton Medal by the society. It marked his life-time contribution to fish biology research. The awards came as their colleagues gathered in Bangor for the society's conference. Dr Kaiser said it was an important event for fish conservation. He said: "With many of the world's fish stocks in severe decline, understanding the ecology and conservation of critical fish habitat is an essential element to arrest this trend. "Freshwater fisheries ecologists have been more conscious of the key role of habitat in management and conservation of fish populations but are still faced with many fundamental ecological challenges in terms of scale issues, and the ever increasing threat of introduced species." | 
