PhD Position

FishPeoplePlace Lab is recruiting a fully funded interdisciplinary PhD student to study barriers to new/young entrants to Great Lakes commercial fisheries.

Need | The FishPeoplePlace lab is seeking to recruit a highly qualified and collegial PhD student interested in working on a multi and transdisciplinary project that will investigate barriers to entry for new/young entrants to Great Lakes commercial fisheries. The successful applicant will join the Marine Affairs Program community in the Faculty of Science at Dalhousie University via its Interdisciplinary PhD (IDPhD) program, and work in partnership with commercial fishery stakeholders in the Great Lakes region. This position is being hired by Dr. Hannah Harrison and Dr. Wilf Swartz.

Rationale | In 2021, the Ontario Commercial Fisheries’ Association conducted a survey of their membership that identified a lack of new/young entrants into Great Lake commercial fisheries (GLCF). Similar concerns have been identified on the prohibitive cost of GLCF quota and aging of current harvester demographics. These findings reflect similar trends in commercial fisheries elsewhere in North America, where barriers to entry are contributing to lack of generational succession. These barriers include costs, as well as lack of training, licensure opportunities, etc. In response, some fleets are experimenting with innovative initiatives to assist new/young entrants, such as captain training programs or young fisherman’s initiatives. These lessons of barriers and pathways to entry are yet unexplored in the Canadian Great Lakes context, leaving GLCF vulnerable to their impacts. This is problematic to the future of these fisheries, which require the maintenance of current participation to sustain regional fisheries food systems, economic efficiency, resilience to shocks through maintaining fleet size, diversity, and geography, and fishing community benefit through participation. This fully funded project will evaluate barriers to entry for new/young entrants, determine the nature and extent of Great Lakes quota consolidation, and identify potential innovative pathways that fit existing fisheries policy for Canadian Great Lakes fisheries.

Qualifications | The ideal PhD candidate will have a master’s degree and professional experience in biology, ecology, fisheries management, fisheries science, environmental science, or related disciplines. Interdisciplinary and non-traditional backgrounds are welcome and will be evaluated for their fit to this position on a case-by-case basis. Candidates should have (i) the ability to work in a multidisciplinary environment that values multiple ways of knowing (ii) strong written and oral communication skills, (iii) experience in natural resource management, fisheries or labour economics, human geography or ecology, or related disciplines, and (iv) an attitude of respect and collegiality toward fellow lab members and community partners. Desired skills include experience conducting applied econometrics or similar statistical methods. A strong candidate will also have a demonstrated ability to work as a constructive and positive member of a team and independently. We are particularly interested in the recruitment of underrepresented groups and will work with candidates to ensure their program of study and supervisory committee is supportive of their personal and professional backgrounds and current needs. We encourage you to apply even if you do not meet 100% of the requirements listed here, especially if your experience is similar or related to these qualities.

Compensation | This project is fully funded by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. A PhD stipend of $40k per annum, with a 4% raise per year, will be guaranteed for four years. All costs associated with fieldwork, working materials (i.e., laptop, etc.), and funding to present research at one conference is provided.

Working environment | The successful candidate will sit within the Marine Affairs Program (MAP) at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and be part of the FishPeoplePlace (FPP) lab working with Dr. Hannah Harrison, Dr. Wilf Swartz, and partners. The FPP lab and MAP value collegiality, respect, and contributing to a supportive community of scholarly practice. Marine Affairs has strengths in social science, economics, community-engaged research, and qualitative methods, and supports student’s professional development through training, community-based learning, teaching, and peer-to-peer support. Students with non-traditional backgrounds to academia (e.g., first generational scholars, Indigenous and People of Color, queer, etc.) are especially welcomed.