Pacific Island Fisheries Professional (Coastal Fisheries Science)

The Pacific Island Fisheries Professional (Coastal Fisheries Science) will support the Coastal Fisheries Science Team with providing advice to governments, stakeholders and the private sector in planning and implementing coastal fisheries science activities, focusing on coastal finfish and/or invertebrate resources and their supporting habitats.

Key Responsibilities

Assist the CFAP Science team in providing support and training to PICT members to enhance science capacity and capability in coastal living resources data collection, entry, quality control, analysis, interpretation and reporting in support of sustainable management.    

• Assists in the development of coastal fisheries survey (independent and dependent) training materials for countries through needs-based stakeholder consultations, taking into account gender, culture and human rights in the country or territory.

• Assists in the training of local staff in-country and/or online in all areas of data collection, data management, analysis and reporting for coastal fisheries and associated habitats.

• Ensure there are no gender or social inclusion barriers to training activities.

Contribute to the design and implementation of assessments of coastal living resources, the development and application of innovative tools and approaches for data collection, data management and reporting to inform coastal fisheries management.

• Participates in the design of surveys based on standardised methodologies and lessons learned.

• Assists in the promotion of the standardisation of data collection and assists with the expansion of standardised data collection and/or monitoring systems for coastal fisheries (finfish, invertebrates, habitat and catch and effort) and programmes at the national level

• Assists in the development and implementation of data systems, tools and approaches that will improve data collection and monitoring of coastal fisheries at the national and regional levels.

• Assists in the collection of biological samples to help inform coastal fisheries assessments.

• Support PICTs to analyse available scientific data on coastal finfish and invertebrate fisheries and associated habitats to provide updates on the status of coastal fishery resources.

Promote inter-agency networking and cross-sectoral collaboration with partners in coastal fisheries and aquaculture science in support of evidence-based management

• Liaises, encourages collaboration and works with national, regional and international organisations, research institutes and NGOs on coastal finfish and invertebrate fishery issues.

• Assists in collaboration with other sections/programmes/Divisions within SPC on issues such as food security, small-scale livelihoods, climate change adaptation, etc.

Contribute to Section administration and communication

• Maintains up to date corporate and administrative procedures including training data for all activities undertaken.

• Contributes where applicable to Programme, Divisional and Corporate publications, such as Fisheries Newsletters, annual reports, Programme reports to RTMCFA and HoF.

• Contributes to peer-reviewed scientific publications that highlight results and/or developments of international interest.

Key Selection Criteria

Pacific Islands

• Only applicants from Pacific Island countries are eligible to apply.

• Applicants must be employed in a Pacific Island fisheries or conservation / environment department or a recognised NGO working in the field of fisheries science, management or monitoring in a Pacific Island country.

Qualifications

• A recognised degree in a discipline relevant to coastal fisheries science (finfish and/or invertebrates), or related field or equivalent body of knowledge and experience.

Technical expertise

• At least two years’ direct relevant experience in PICT coastal fisheries, particularly applied field research for coastal finfish and/or invertebrates

• Demonstrated experience in undertaking surveys for coastal finfish and/or invertebrates using a range of methodologies

• Understanding of current Pacific Island regional coastal fisheries management and science issues, and experience of working with gender issues relating to fisheries

• Strong PC based computer skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) with knowledge of software programmes for data entry and analysis

Language skills

• Excellent communication skills (oral and written) in English

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work in a team as well as undertake unsupervised work, and communicate with people from various ethnic, cultural and educational backgrounds

• Willingness to travel and undertake overseas assignments in SPC member countries, sometimes under difficult physical conditions.