Core Faculty
Marie Auger-Méthé
Associate Professor
Canada Research Chair (Tier II, Statistical Ecology)
Email: m.auger-methe@oceans.ubc.ca
Office phone: 604-822-1658
Dr. Auger-Méthé’s work is interdisciplinary in nature and at the intersection between ecology, statistics, and marine sciences. Her recent focus has been on developing and applying statistical models to understand the movement and space use of marine species. Read More
Research Area
Ecology, movement, statistics, Arctic, marine mammals, seabirds
William Cheung
Director and Professor
Canada Research Chair (Tier II, Ocean Sustainability and Global Change)
Email: w.cheung@oceans.ubc.ca
Office phone: 604-827-3756
Dr. William Cheung is Professor and Director of UBC's Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries. His work addresses policy-relevant research questions, cut across multiple disciplines, from oceanography to ecology, economics and social sciences, and range from local to global scales Read More
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Nexus of food-climate-biodiversity in the ocean, pathways to sustainable ocean futuresDr Christensen is a professor specialising in ecosystem modelling - in particular data-driven ecosystem model construction. He is known for his work as a leader and developer of Ecopath, an open source ecosystem modelling software system widely used for ecosystem based management and increasingly for environmental impact assessment Read More
Dr. Donner is a climate scientist whose work lies at the intersection of climate science, marine science, and policy. He was a lead author on the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessment and serves as a member of Canada’s Net-Zero Advisory Body, which advises the federal government on pathways to net-zero emissions. Read More
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climate science; marine heat waves; coral reefs; sea-level rise; El Nino; equatorial Pacific; Small Island Developing States; climate change adaptation; kelp systems; numerical modelling
Dr. Harley studies patterns and processes in intertidal and nearshore ecosystems. He and his students are interested in how the environment (temperature, salinity, ocean acidification) and interactions among species (predation, competition, facilitation) interact to determine community structure. Ongoing work incorporates tipping points associated with environmental extremes, such as heatwaves, and changes in community composition, including species introductions and biodiversity loss... Read More
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community ecology, marine invertebrates, algae, species interactions, climate change, global warming, ocean acidification, multiple stressors, environmental variability
Dr Hunt is an ecosystem oceanographer who researches the structure and function of pelagic marine ecosystems and their response to climate forcing and anthropogenic impacts. Read More
Murdoch McAllister
Associate Professor
Email: m.mcallister@oceans.ubc.ca
Office phone: 604-822-3693
On leave: September 2024-2025Dr. McAllister's research focuses on developing decision support tools for fisheries management including the development of data-intensive modeling approaches for fisheries stock assessment and management strategy evaluation. Teaching focuses on providing instruction and training in interdisciplinary and quantitative approaches to fisheries policy analysis... Read More
Evgeny Pakhomov
Professor
Email: e.pakhomov@oceans.ubc.ca
Office phone: 604-827-5564
On leave: January 2024-2025
Dr. Pakhomov is a biological oceanographer focusing on species ecology ranging from zooplankton to fish, incorporating ecosystem structure, physical-biological and biochemical coupling. More recently he has dabbled in stable isotope ecology as well as the variability and responses of marine ecosystems to climate change.
Dr. Daniel Pauly is an exceptional scholar whose work has fundamentally impacted the fields of fisheries science, and biodiversity research. His creation of extensive approaches, knowledge infrastructures, and tools, are used extensively by scientists and experts in fisheries and aquatic biodiversity around the world. Read More
Andrea Reid
Assistant Professor
Canada Research Chair (Tier II, Indigenous Fisheries Science)
Email: cif@oceans.ubc.caDr. Reid is a proud citizen and member of the sovereign Nisg̱a’a Nation, and she is the Principal Investigator of the Centre for Indigenous Fisheries. Her collaborative and collective research and teaching program focuses on culturally-significant fish and fisheries, such as Pacific salmon (‘hoon’ in Nisg̱a’a; Oncorhynchus spp.), centring Indigenous ways of knowing, being, doing, and connecting... Read More
Research Area
Indigenous fisheries; fisheries science; Indigenous rights; community-based research; Indigenous knowledge systems; fish ecology; freshwater systems; Indigenous research methodologies; land-based learningDavid Rosen
Assistant Professor
IOF Graduate Advisor
Email: d.rosen@oceans.ubc.ca
Office phone: 604-822-8184
Dr. Rosen's current research primarily investigates the bioenergetics (energy requirements and expenditures) of marine mammals. Its focus is to understand the root causes of population changes by investigating the interactions between the physiology of individual animals and biotic and abiotic environmental changes. Read More
Rashid Sumaila
University Killam Professor
Canada Research Chair (Tier I, Interdisciplinary Ocean and Fisheries Economics)
Email: r.sumaila@oceans.ubc.ca
Office phone: 604-822-0224
Rashid Sumaila's research focuses on bioeconomics, marine ecosystem valuation and the analysis of global issues such as fisheries subsidies, marine protected areas, illegal fishing, climate change, marine plastic pollution, and oil spills. Read More
Research Area
ocean, fisheries, economics, bioeconomic modeling, subsidies, high seas, valuation, infinity fish, climate change, discounting
Curtis Suttle
Distinguished University Professor
Email: suttle@science.ubc.ca
Office phone: 604-822-8610
Dr Suttle is primarily focussed on viruses and their role in the environment. His current work examines viruses and their roles in the oceans, high Arctic, deep mines, aeolian dust, lakes, and migratory-bird ponds. Read More
Research Area
microbial diversity, marine microbiology, biological oceanography, marine viruses, virus diversity, zooplankton, phytoplankton, bacterioplankton, virioplankton
Dr Trites oversees the Marine Mammal Research Unit and a research program that involves captive and field studies of seals, sea lions, whales and dolphins. Read More
Dr. Amanda Vincent is driven by a determination to protect our oceans. As well as tackling research on pressing problems, Dr. Vincent also mobilizes conservation action to improve the status of marine species and habitats. Read More
Emeritus
Dr. Newell is a historian of technology and society who has spent her career examining the diffusion of knowledge in disciplines across the social sciences and humanities. Appointed Professor Emerita in 2014. She is the Interim Director of the IOF’s Centre for Indigenous Fisheries. Read More
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Indigenous fisheries of BC, fishing and fish processing history, interdisciplinary research; small-scale fisheries, marine coastal fisheries; women & fisheries, industrial archaeology; Canadian Northwest Coast Indigenous fisheries case law; Pacific salmon canning industry. white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) fisheriesTony Pitcher
Professor Emeritus
Dr. Pitcher’s research addressedthe impacts of fishing on aquatic ecosystems, the development of quantitative, multi-criteria evaluation frameworks and rapid appraisal techniques for evidence-based assessment of fisheries, management instruments and management goals, and a predictive understanding of how fish shoaling behaviour impacts fisheries.
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Dr Walters’ areas of research include the development of rapid techniques for teaching systems analysis and mathematical modeling to biologists and resource managers. His primary foci are fish population dynamics, fisheries assessment and sustainable management.
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Honorary
Dr. Rose's research focuses on the history, ecology and management of fisheries. Being a Newfoundlander, his main area of study has been the Northwest Atlantic cod stocks, their spatial ecology and historic productivity. He has a particular interest in survey methods, especially those involving acoustic technology.
Jordan Rosenfeld
Aquatic Scientist, Applied Freshwater Research Unit, BC Ministry of Environment
Email: j.rosenfeld@oceans.ubc.ca
Office phone: 604-827-5137
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Associate
Kai Chan
Professor, Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability
Kai Chan is a professor at the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia, and Canada Research Chair Tier 1 in Re-Wilding and Social-Ecological Transformation. Kai is an interdisciplinary, problem-oriented sustainability scientist, trained in ecology, policy, and ethics. He strives to understand how social-ecological systems can be transformed to be both better and wilder.
Philippe Le Billon
Professor, Department of Geography and School of Public Policy and Global Affairs
Philippe Le Billon is a Professor at the Department of Geography and the School for Public Policy and Global Affairs at UBC, who works at the nexus of environment, development, and security. Most of his work engage with resource governance and conflicts around natural resources. His current projects are on the blue economy, green transition, and environmental defenders.
Charles Menzies
Professor, Department of Anthropology
Professor hagwil hayetsk’s (Charles Menzies) primary research interests are the production of anthropological films, natural resource management (primarily fisheries related), political economy, contemporary First Nations’ issues, maritime anthropology and the archaeology of north coast BC. He has conducted field research in, and has produced films concerning, north coastal BC, Canada (including archaeological research); Brittany, France; and Donegal, Ireland. Hagwil hayetsk is a member of Gitxaała Nation on BC’s north coast and an enrolled member of the Tlingit and Haida Tribes of Alaska.
Camilla Speller
Associate Professor
Dr. Speller's major research focus is ‘Molecular Environmental Archaeology’ – the application of biomolecular techniques to a broad range of environmental issues and human-environment interactions in the past and in the present. Currently, she is working on three areas: Marine Ecosystems; Human-Animal Interactions; and Ancient Microbiomes.
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Andrés Cisneros-Montemayor
Assistant Professor, Simon Fraser University
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Claudia J. Hernández-Camacho
Affiliate Professor, Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas-IPN: La Paz, Baja California Sur, MX
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Jessica Meeuwig
Professor, Marine Futures Lab, University of Western Australia
Email: jessica.meeuwig@uwa.edu.au
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Dirk Zeller
Affiliate Professor; Sea Around Us, University of Western Australia
Email: d.zeller@oceans.ubc.ca
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Adjunct
Jacquline Alder
Adjunct Professor, FAO
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Nathan Bennett
Adjunct Professor
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Tom Carruthers
Adjunct Professor, Blue Matter Science Ltd.
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Robyn Forrest
Adjunct Professor; Fisheries & Oceans Canada
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Alyssa Gehman
Adjunct Professor, Hakai Institute
I am a marine disease ecologist at the Hakai Institute, an adjunct professor in the UBC Institute of Oceans and Fisheries and a member of the Biodiversity Research Centre. I am particularly interested in the interactions between infected hosts and their communities, as well as the impact of temperature on host-parasite interactions.
Martin Haulena
Adjunct Professor, Vancouver Aquarium
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Marine mammals, necroscopyDouglas E. Hay
Adjunct Professor, Pacific Biological Station (Scientist Emeritus)
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Margot Hessing-Lewis
Adjunct Professor, Hakai Institute
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ecological dynamics, changing coastal environments, seagrass, kelpColleen Kellogg
Adjunct Professor, Hakai Institute
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Josh Korman
Adjunct Professor; Ecometric Research
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Steve McAdam
Adjunct Professor; BC Ministry of Environment
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Fraser McDonald
Adjunct Professor
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Archeology, lithic analysis, Coast Salish peoples, stone toolsEric Parkinson
Adjunct Professor; BC Ministry of Environment
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Isobel Pearsall
Adjunct Professor; Strait of Georgia Data Centre
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R. Ian Perry
Adjunct Professor; Fisheries & Oceans Canada
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Stephen Raverty
Adjunct Professor, BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Animal Health Centre
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Laura Richards
Adjunct Professor; Fisheries & Oceans Canada (Scientist Emerita)
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fishingKii’iljuus Barbara Wilson
Adjunct Professor, Centre for Indigenous Fisheries
Haida Matriarch
Email: cif@oceans.ubc.ca
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Indigenous fisheriesResearch Associates
Dr. Lubna Alam is a dedicated interdisciplinary ocean and fisheries scientist, deeply committed to the health of our oceans and the sustainability of global fisheries. Her academic journey and research contributions reflect her passion for protecting marine resources while addressing critical challenges such as deep-sea mining, pollution, seafood safety, climate change, and vulnerability.
Dr. Correia has studied several aspects of European seahorse biology, ecology and conservation. He has worked closely with stakeholders to implement mitigation tools for seahorse conservation and was actively involved in the creation of new marine protected areas (MPAs). He also acts as Focal Point for Europe in the IUCN Seahorse, Pipefish and Seadragon Specialist Group. Read More
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Dr. Foster is a conservation scientist dedicated to finding pragmatic solutions for the many problems facing the oceans and the animals that call them home – solutions that work for both fish and the people that depend on them. She is the Program Lead for Project Seahorse. Read More
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Dr. McLaskey is a zooplankton ecologist and biological oceanographer who researches the lower trophic levels of marine food webs — from phytoplankton, through zooplankton, to fish. Much of their work focuses on how nutritional quality intersects with food web structure, and how that can impact higher trophic levels.
Dr. Meirelles is a conservation biologist focusing on manatee and dolphin spatial ecology, behaviour, extinction risk assessment, and conservation planning. She was actively involved in the elaboration and monitoring of conservation plans in Brazil and is a member of the IUCN Sirenia Specialist Group. Read More
Dr. Mordecai’s research explores the diversity of viruses which infect Pacific salmon, and applies genetic sequencing to study their transmission dynamics. He is part of a collaboration with Dr Kristi Miller (Fisheries & Oceans Canada) and the Pacific Salmon Foundation’s Salmon Health Program, which researches the combined impacts of disease and environmental stress. Read More
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Pacific salmon, viruses, viral ecology, conservation biology, genomics, molecular epidemiologyMaria Lourdes 'Deng' Palomares
Senior Scientist and Project Manager
Email: m.palomares@oceans.ubc.ca
Office phone: 604-822-0218
Dr. Palomares has been the Sea Around Us' Project Manager since June 2017. Her research focus has been on the application of well-known theories in fish and fisheries biology as tools to test hypotheses and/or generate knowledge from ‘big data’ repositories. Read More
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Dr. Louise Teh's research focuses on how interactions between humans and marine ecosystems impact fisheries sustainability. She has a particular interest is in small-scale fisheries of developing countries, and has been involved in marine conservation projects on valuing marine turtle conservation, marine protected area management, and climate change adaptation. Read More
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Dr Lydia Teh’s research examines the social, economic, and ecological dynamics of marine fisheries, with a special focus on small-scale fisheries. Her inter-disciplinary research cuts across fields from human ecology to biodiversity conservation, and has taken her to work with fishing communities in Sabah, Malaysia and Fiji.... Read More
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Dr. Wabnitz is a marine scientist interested in understanding the functioning of ecosystems, how these may respond to human pressures and natural forcing, and the design - together with government, industry, NGOs and local communities - of appropriate measures for the sustainable use of their resources and the long term conservation of their services. Read More
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Honorary Research Associates
Juan José Alava
Honorary Research Associate and Principal Investigator, Ocean Pollution Research Unit (OPRU)
Email: j.alava@oceans.ubc.ca
Office phone: 604-291-0019
Dr. Juan José Alava is a marine ecotoxicologist, and expert on ocean pollution, marine mammal and seabird ecotoxicology, global environmental changes, marine biodiversity, and ecology. He is part of the scientists representing Latin American (Ecuadorian)-Canadian minorities in academia and research in Canada. He is an avid soccer goalkeeper and baseball catcher and likes going hiking, whale watching, and birdwatching.
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Russ Jones
Honorary Research Associate
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Michael Melnychuk
Honorary Research Associate; Quantitative Modeling Group [University of Washington]
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Postdoctoral Fellows
Sara Cannon
Postdoctoral Research Fellow; Centre for Indigenous Fisheries
Email: s.cannon@oceans.ubc.ca
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Dr. Mairin Deith is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of British Columbia, Canada, working with the US Army Corps of Engineers to assess the impacts of dam operations and hatchery practices on wild salmon in the Pacific Northwest. She specializes in simulation modelling, decision analysis, data-limited statistical techniques, and creating software that connects decision makers with scientific tools.
Lauren Eckert
Postdoctoral Research Fellow; Centre for Indigenous Fisheries
Email: l.eckert@oceans.ubc.ca
Dr. Lauren Eckert is a Conservation Scientist, storyteller, and postdoctoral fellow in the Centre for Indigenous Fisheries. Her work centers equitable approaches to conservation and research, and bridges social and ecological systems, marine and terrestrial systems, and Indigenous knowledge and Western science.
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Ibrahim Issifu
Postdoctoral Research Fellow; Fisheries Economics Research Unit
Email: i.issifu@oceans.ubc.ca
Office phone: 604-649-6335
Dr. Ibrahim Issifu is an accomplished interdisciplinary fisheries economist, specializing in the complex nexus of marine resource management, food systems, sustainable blue economy, and marine plastic pollution. With a deep understanding of the economic drivers and ecological implications of fisheries, Ibrahim employs a holistic approach to inform policy decisions and promote the long-term viability of frontline coastal communities and marine ecosystems. Read More
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Economic valuation of marine resources, Fisheries governance and policy, Climate change impacts on fisheries, Seafood trade flow, Bioeconomic modelingLoic Jacquemot
Postdoctoral Research Fellow; Pelagic Ecosystems Lab
Email: l.jacquemot@oceans.ubc.ca
Dr. Jacquemot is an oceanographer and marine ecologist who specializes in the use of molecular techniques (such as DNA/RNA metabarcoding and omics) to investigate the diversity and distribution of marine communities and their interactions within marine ecosystems. Read More
Dr. Lerner is a biological oceanographer interested in the trophic ecology of pelagic food webs. Specifically, his research centres on the marine life history of Pacific salmon, carry-over effects of marine foraging on their reproductive success, and the relationship between this and the structure of pelagic ecosystems.
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Muhammed Oyinlola
Postdoctoral Research Fellow; Changing Oceans Research Unit
Email: m.oyinlola@oceans.ubc.ca
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Juliano Palacios Abrantes
Postdoctoral Fellow; Changing Oceans Research Unit
Email: j.palacios@oceans.ubc.ca
Juliano Palacios Abrantes' work looks at how climate change is shifting the distribution of marine species generating uncertain feedbacks on marine ecosystems and dependent fishing communities. Specifically, he looks at how such shifts affect shared stocks (e.g., stocks that are... Read More
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Anna Schuhbauer
Postdoctoral Fellow; Fisheries Economics Research Unit
Email: a.schuhbauer@oceans.ubc.ca
Dr. Schuhbauer has been part of the Fisheries Economic Research Unit since 2012. Her expertise in the field of fisheries spans from transdisciplinary research approaches, such as working with small-scale fisheries at a local scale, to developing high-level theoretical research frameworks at the global scale. Her work predominantly focuses on socio-economics and social-ecology, addressing both practical and theoretical aspects of fisheries.
Dr. Troina investigates the trophic and spatial ecology of marine top predators. She has been applying natural chemical tracers to learn about the foraging ecology and habitat use by marine mammals, how sympatric cetacean species compete for available resources, and how human-induced changes can affect the structure and dynamics of marine pelagic ecosystems. Read More
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A marine ecologist focusing on the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems and fisheries, with expertise in ecological modeling.
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Administrative Staff
Neil Maclean
Manager, HR & Operations, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
Email: n.maclean@oceans.ubc.ca
Human Resources; IT; and General Operations
Scott Finestone
Manager, Finance & Facilities, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
Email: s.finestone@oceans.ubc.ca
Currently on leave
Facilities (Space and equipment); Finance; Grant Support; and AERL Health and Safety
Caroline Wong
Acting Manager, Finance and Facilities, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
Email: caroline.wong@ubc.ca
Currently acting for Scott Finestone
Finance; Grant Support; Facilities
Katherine Came
Communications Manager, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
Email: k.came@oceans.ubc.ca
Vicente Regis
Program Specialist, Extracurricular and Extended Learning
Email: v.regis@oceans.ubc.ca
Eden Raines
Graduate Program Officer, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
Email: e.raines@oceans.ubc.ca
Rebecca Smith
Senior Finance Specialist, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
Email: finance@oceans.ubc.ca
Madeline Doig
HR & Operations Support Assistant, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
Email: m.doig@oceans.ubc.ca
Megan Duchesne
Communications Assistant (Work Learn), Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
Email: m.duchesne@oceans.ubc.ca
Research Staff
Md Azizul Bari is a Research Assistant at the Fisheries Economics Research Unit, University of British Columbia. He specializes in fisheries subsidies, ocean sustainability, and climate vulnerability, with a strong background in Environment and development.
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Gina coordinates operations, communications and outreach for Project Seahorse, while also providing research, ethics, education, and administrative support to all lab members. Gina joined Project Seahorse in 2007, after years of working on watershed management issues with a neighbouring research group: UBC's Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability. Gina holds a BSc in Botany and Zoology and a MSc degree in Conservation and Environmental Biology, both from the University of Witwatersrand (Johannesburg, South Africa).
Duncan Burnside
Web/Data Manager, Fisheries Economics Research Unit (FERU), Changing Oceans Research Unit (CORU), The OceanCanada Partnership & Solving-FCB Partnership
Email: d.burnside@oceans.ubc.ca
Ki is a research assistant providing support to Project Seahorse’s research projects, mainly focusing on the impacts of bottom trawl fisheries. He mainly works with Dr. Sarah Foster and is now collecting data on bottom trawlers and mapping the trawl effort across South Asia, South East Asia and China.
At the Sea Around Us, Elaine is in charge of updating catch reconstructions, with a particular focus on automation and optimizing the ex-vessel fish price database, in close collaboration with the Fisheries Economics Research Unit. She is also a proficient coder and the go-to person when it comes to designing scientific graphs and figures.
Allison Cutting
Research Analyst, Women in Fisheries (Colette Wabnitz)
Email: a.cutting@oceans.ubc.caKahsennaroroks Maddy Deom
Program Assistant, Centre for Indigenous Fisheries
At the Sea Around Us, Brittany leads the catch reconstruction team. She is in charge of executing and verifying the annual updates to the catch reconstruction data of all sectors in all Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) or EEZ-equivalent waters of the world (247), plus the catch of tuna and other large pelagic fishes in the High Seas. She also authors or co-authors papers documenting these reconstructions.
Peggy Homan
Administrative Coordinator, Centre for Indigenous Fisheries
Email: p.homan@oceans.ubc.ca
Leah is a research assistant supporting the unit's work on global marine catch reconstruction updates.
Vicky is a Research Assistant with the Sea Around Us lab. She is in charge of the reconstruction of freshwater fishery catches.
I just completed my MSc in the Institute for Oceans and Fisheries. I I was born in Mauritius and grew up in both India and Mauritius. I have carried out research in multiple locations such as Mauritius, Seychelles, Florida, California, New Zealand, and Maine. My previous work has focused on the conservation of marine mammals, coral... Read More
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Elsa is a Research Assistant with Project Seahorse working with Miguel Correia. She is conducting Red List assessments for syngnathid species and providing valuable support to the community science iSeahorse project. She is also part of the IUCN Seahorse, Pipefish & Seadragon Specialist Group.
Jana McPherson
Project Manager - National Wildlife Trade, Project Seahorse
Email: j.mcpherson@oceans.ubc.ca
Martin Paulo Nevado
Database Software Engineer, Sea Around Us
Manages the Sea Around Us database, which means updating the Sea Around Us website. Also responsible for extracting catch data for CMSY assessments.
Miel Ortiz
Website Manager, Sea Around Us
Miel is a Software Engineer from the Philippines who handles the development and maintenance of the Sea Around Us, FishBase, SeaLifeBase and Quantitative Aquatics websites.
Valentina Ruiz Leotaud
Communications Officer, Sea Around Us Program
Email: v.ruizleotaud@oceans.ubc.ca
Chloe supports the marine catch reconstruction work for Spanish speaking countries.
Taryn is a Research Assistant in the Marine Mammal Research Unit. Her research focuses on analyzing seasonal and decadal trends in killer whale populations in BC.
At the Sea Around Us, Patricia is in charge of conducting freshwater fisheries catch reconstructions, with an initial emphasis on Canada and the United States of America.
Vania is a research assistant supporting the unit's work on global marine catch reconstruction updates.
Students
Masters student in the UBC Marine Mammal Research Unit
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I am interested in land-sea connections. My research focuses on the impacts of wildfires on coastal ocean biogeochemistry. Using the Fraser River and the Strait of Georgia as a model system, I work to identify impacts of runoff from burned forest areas on our coastal oceans. Read More
Natasha Buckiewicz
Student
Program: PhD, OCF
Supervisor: Brian Hunt
Email: n.buckiewicz@oceans.ubc.ca
As part of the Urban Oceans project, Natasha's PhD research focuses on the impacts of urbanization on phytoplankton dynamics in the Salish Sea. The aim is to understand how freshwater and material flows from the urban environment impact primary producers and their fatty acid profiles, with implications on essential nutrients available to higher trophic levels including culturally and economically important fish. Read More
Salome Buglass
Student
Program: PhD, Geography
Supervisor: Simon Donner
Email: s.buglass@oceans.ubc.ca
Salome Buglass is a marine scientist with a strong interest in deep-water ecosystems, marine conservation, marine management, and the intersection between people and the ocean. Her PhD research explores novel mesophotic kelp forests in the Galápagos Marine Reserve.
Yixuan is investigating the bottom trawl fishery and its management in China, hoping to use her interdisciplinary research to advance marine conservation and fishery management. She holds a BSc in marine biology from Xiamen University (China) and an MSc in environmental policy from Imperial College London (UK). She has experience working at research institutions and NGOs, as well as interacting with diverse stakeholders such as businesses and frontline conservation practitioners. Additionally, she has been actively involved in science communication and environmental education through teaching activities, writing, and general outreach.
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Outcomes of Indigenous fishing methods for fish health and fisheries sustainability in a changing world
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Centre for Indigenous FisheriesSantiago De la Puente Jeri
Student
Program: PhD, OCF
Supervisors: Villy Christensen
Email: s.delapuente@oceans.ubc.ca
I am a Peruvian researcher that has been studying the ecological and human dimensions of the Humboldt Current, with emphasis on fisheries economics and governance. Before joining the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at the University of British Columbia as a graduate student, I worked as associate researcher at Centre for Environmental Sustainability of the Cayetano Heredia University in Peru (2010-2015), and at Inteligencia Financiera SAC (2014-2015); as consultant for OCEANA-Peru (2016), the GEF-UNDP Project: “Towards the ecosystem based management of... Read More
Thesis Topic
Can integrated ecological-economic models help operationalize ecosystem-based fisheries management?Research Area
Alexander Duncan
Student
Program: PhD, OCF
Supervisors: Dr. Andrea Reid
Email: a.duncan@oceans.ubc.ca
Aanii, Alexander Duncan ndizhnikaaz, Niigaanweywidan nindigoo ojibwemong, Waabizheshii ndoodem, Neyaashiinigmiing ndoonjbaa. Alexander Duncan (Niigaanweywidan - spirit name), a member of the Marten clan, is from the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation and the larger Saugeen Ojibway Nation, Ontario. Coming from a fishing nation where water and fish remain a vital component of culture and life, Alexander has committed his academic career to meaningfully contribute and support Indigenous fisheries across Turtle Island, especially given... Read More
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Sea lamprey research and management – Indigenous input and inclusion (3I project)Research Area
Meaghan Efford
Student
Program: Ph.D., OCF
Supervisor: Dr. Villy Christensen
Email: m.efford@oceans.ubc.ca
I am a PhD student at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC, Canada. My interest in coastal ecology and archaeology started when I lived at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre while working at the local community school. My background is in zooarchaeology, invertebrate archaeology, historical ecology, community engagement, and science communication. Read More
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From Ecosystem Abundance to the City of Vancouver: A Story of Stewardship and Colonization on Canada’s West CoastResearch Area
Ema Fatima
Student
Program: PhD, IOF
Supervisors: Dr. Rashid Sumaila and Dr. Tara Martin
Email:e.fatima@oceans.ubc.ca
I am a PhD student at the Institute of Ocean and Fisheries of University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC. I come from India, a nation with over 7500 Km coastline that inhabits around 170 million people threatened with an increasing risk to shifting climate, sea-level rise, and natural disasters. Of these, approximately 4 million constitute of marine fisher population, dependent on ocean resources while 60% of them are subsistence fishers. I was born in a landlocked state and spent most of my schooldays along the eastern Himalayan range... Read More
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My research work broadly focuses on understanding the economics of fishing industry in India. I use trawl fisheries as case study: a sector reported most profitable by the nation’s government. I will be investigating the economic impact based on empirical analysis of what is perceived as profitable and what are the other unaccounted hidden cost. The second part of my thesis aims at identifying who bears the financial burden. The outcome of my study envisages to have a better understanding of government resource use and distribution for improving fisheries management effectiveness.Research Area
Kathleen is analyzing datasets from pinniped telemetry studies to investigate factors such as environmental cues, anatomical mechanisms, and innate versus learned abilities that pinnipeds use to navigate during long-distance migrations. She hopes to contribute new knowledge to a relatively unexplored field and understand how these findings impact the level of behavioral adaptability pinnipeds have when facing environmental changes.
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Exploring pinniped navigation methods for long-distance migrationsResearch Area
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Vania Henriquez-Tribinos
Student
Program: PhD, OCF
Supervisors: Dr. Murdoch McAllister
Email: v.henriquez@oceans.ubc.ca
Vania is a marine biologist interested in stock assessment, harvest control rules, and mixed fisheries. Currently, I am working on designing multi-species harvest control rules under non-stationary natural mortality of harvested species in mixed-stock fisheries. Read More
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Stock assessment, harvest control, fish stocksResearch Area
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MSc. Student in Biological Oceanography. Interested the urban ocean, land-sea connections, and novel anthropogenic inputs.
Julia has a strong interest in climate science and coastal ecosystems. Her research focuses on assessing the vulnerability of British Columbia’s kelp habitat to climatic hazards, thereby enhancing the public understanding of how restoring kelp can address critical issues such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, and food security.
Tess grew up in Vancouver, BC where she became fascinated by marine life, especially marine mammals. Tess attended UBC to complete her undergraduate degree and specialized in biology where she became passionate about marine ecology and conservation science. She volunteered and worked for various IOF research units such as the Sea Around Us and the Marine Mammal Research Unit during her undergraduate degree and looks forward to completing her Master's... Read More
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I am a Master's student in the Pelagic Ecosystems Laboratory at the University of British Columbia, based in Vancouver, BC. I was born in England, raised in Ontario, and lured out to British Columbia for the mountains and a Bachelor's degree in Natural Resources Conservation from the Faculty of Forestry at UBC. The vibrant people I have met and ocean ecosystems I have had the privilege to connect with convinced me to stay on the West Coast and pursue graduate studies in The Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries. My research, in partnership with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, focuses on employing emerging, non-invasive methods (environmental DNA, or eDNA) to study marine biodiversity and community interactions in urban and non-urban nearshore ecosystems, with a focus on Pacific salmon.
Antoine Mesple
Visiting International Student
Program: MSc, OCF
Supervisor: Dr. William Cheung
Email: m.miner@oceans.ubc.ca
Max Miner
Student
Program: MSc, OCF
Supervisors: Dr. Brian Hunt and Dr. Camilla Speller
Email: m.miner@oceans.ubc.ca
I am an M.Sc. student interested in the impacts of anthropogenic change on coastal marine ecosystems. My work at IOF uses environmental DNA (eDNA) and ancient DNA (aDNA) methodologies to examine harmful algal bloom dynamics along the Pacific Northwest coast. For my thesis, I will be using DNA extracted from nearshore marine sediment core samples to reconstruct past HAB events at a clam garden site in the traditional territory of the Gitga’at Nation... Read More
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Thesis Topic
Humpback whale prey consumption in British Columbia and the effects of a growing population on the food web in the Strait of GeorgiaResearch Area
I am interested in the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence the movement patterns and foraging behaviours of large marine predators.
Greig is an environmental scientist and ecosystem modeler. Greig has skillsets in ecosystem science, data science, geographic information systems, and computer programming. At UBC he was a teaching assistant for the Master of Data Science program ‘Supervised Machine Learning’ and ‘Data Visualization’ courses. Read More
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ecosystems, models, fisheries, Salish Sea, end-to-end, Ecopath, NEMOHaley Oleynik
Student
Program: MSc, OCF
Supervisor: Murdoch McAllister
Email:h.oleynik@oceans.ubc.ca
My interest in fisheries science began in my undergraduate degree where my thesis research focused on how environmental change and management have influenced the social structure and dynamics of the Lobster fishing industry in Maine. Through this research, I became fascinated by how fishing industries support coastal communities and I was eager to learn more about how fisheries are monitored and managed. I crossed North America to work in some... Read More
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Gender and Fisheries, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Climate Change Adaptations, and Fisheries sustainability.Research Area
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I am an MSc student at the IOF under the supervision of Dr. Daniel Pauly. My current project focuses on catch reconstruction and ecosystem modelling in the islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon (Eastern Canada). I am interested in the impacts of fisheries on the different trophic levels and structures, and how to implement sustainable fisheries. Read More
My interest in marine issues began when I started scuba diving in high school in Cairo, Egypt, which led me to major in Oceanography and biology at UBC. My passion for oceans and fisheries science only grew over the years throughout my undergraduate degree. Read More
I am an oceanographer with a special interest in jellyfish ecology. I am also passionate about Indigenous representation in science and related outreach.
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I'm studying the glaucous-winged gulls to determine if human activities are influencing their behaviour and their health status. I'm using GPS and acceleration data to monitor them. My goal is to gain a deeper understanding of these birds and to ensure we coexist harmoniously on this planet.Alex (Alejandro) Schmill
Student
Program: MSc, OCF
Supervisors: William Cheung & Margot Hessing-Lewis
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Kristen's (she/her) PhD research topic encompasses multi-stressor impacts on the Canadian Beaufort Sea marine ecosystem at various biological scales. Specifically, she will develop and apply food web models and associated indices using the platform Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) to understand system dynamics. The food web models will investigate possible changes in the Beaufort Sea ecosystem structure and function under changing environmental and human... Read More
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Ambre Soszynski
Student
Program: PhD, OCF
Supervisor: Dr. William Cheung
Email: a.soszynski@oceans.ubc.ca
Her research aims at understanding the functioning of ecosystems and their response to anthropogenic pressures in a changing world. The use of marine ecosystem models (Ecopath with Ecosim, OSMOSE) allows to study the marine environments from the individual to ecosystem levels and to forecast the future of biodiversity under fishing and climate change scenarios. Read More
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ecological modelling; impact assessment; biodiversity; fisheries; climate change; marine ecosystem; marine governance; Ecopath with Ecosim and Ecospace; OSMOSEKasey Stirling
Student
Program: PhD, OCF
Supervisor: Dr. Andrea Reid
Email: k.stirling@oceans.ubc.ca
ʔéx kʷ n̓ & pusu’l (hello), my name is Kasey Stirling and I am Nlaka’pamux, Mi’kmaq, and Acadienne. I am a status member of the Lower Nicola Indian Band in Merritt, BC. I am from Williams Lake, the traditional territory of the T’exelcemc Nation (Williams Lake First Nation, Secwepemc Peoples). Throughout my life, I have walked between both worlds: Western and academic science, and Indigenous traditional knowledge. Balancing these pedagogies and developing... Read More
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Rhea Storlund
Student
Program: PhD, Zoology
Supervisors: Dr. David Rosen and Dr. Andrew Trites
Email: r.storlund@oceans.ubc.ca
Rhea's Ph.D. explores cardiovascular adaptations in diving mammals. She looks at this from two perspectives, anatomy and physiology. Anatomically, the aorta of marine mammals is intriguing as it has been reported to be enlarged in some species, but not others, and it is suspected to contribute to the ability to breathhold dive for long durations. Physiologically, marine mammals are known for their extreme cardiovascular adjustments to diving... Read More
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