Consultant (Illegal, Unreported & Unregulated (IUU) Fishing)

Job Description

Title: Consultant (Illegal, Unreported & Unregulated (IUU) Fishing)

Company Name: WorldFish

Vacancy: Not specific

Job Location: Dhaka

Employment Status: Contractual

Educational Requirements:
∎ Master in Marine Resource Management, Marine Science or Fisheries from an accredited university. A PhD in a relevant field will be given preference.

Job Context:
∎ Location and Duration:
∎ The successful consultant will be based in Dhaka, Bangladesh with extensive field visit if requires. The selection of consultant will be based on the relevant qualification and experience and the most competitive proposal. The interviews are expected to be held in November 2020 and only shortlisted consultant will be notified and expected to attend the interview. The successful consultant should be available to commence the consultancy contract for a maximum of twenty one (21) working days in between 25 November 2020 and 25 December 2020.

Job Responsibilities:
∎ Objectives:
∎ The overarching goal of ECOFISH II is improved social and ecological resilience of coastal fisheries to secure equitable food, nutrition and income benefits for fisheries communities. In line with the results framework of USAID, the specific objectives or Intermediate Results (IRs) and Sub-IRs of the activity are:
∎ IR1: Improved management and governance of natural resources that form the foundation of fisheries
∎ Sub-IR1.1: Improved science outputs for decision-making (ecosystem health assessed; biodiversity assessed and conserved; fisheries dynamics monitored).
∎ Sub IR1.2: Improved adaptive co-management and fisheries governance (co-management institutions strengthened; EAFM mainstreamed and strengthened; fisheries governance improved).
∎ Sub IR1.3: Improved policy support (HFMAP implementation ensured; MPA legal framework formulated; Hilsa Conservation Fund and Payment for Ecosystem Services introduced in two landing stations based on the consensus of stakeholders. Try-nation (Bangladesh, India & Myanmar) hilsa workshop will be organized to formulate trans boundary legal framework.
∎ IR2: Improve equity and resilience of food, nutrition and livelihood benefits
∎ Sub-IR 2.1 Improved livelihood resilience of coastal fishing communities (Livelihood capacity and options diversified; women's access to finance improved; access to improved technologies and market linkages strengthened).
∎ The ECOFISH II project wants to offer an exciting opportunity to the qualified candidate(s) to work on IUU fishing in the marine water of the BOB. Henceforth, WorldFish is going to hire a consultant for 21 working days under ECOFISH II to carry out a comprehensive assessment of IUU fishing and formulate potential mechanisms to reduce this emergent global problem focusing on the BOB regions.
∎ Purpose of the Assignment:
∎ The main objective of this assignment is to assess the status of IUU fishing in the BOB region focusing on Bangladesh waters and generate a comprehensive report on the historical patterns and current status of IUU fishing in the coastal and marine water of Bangladesh. This will include distinct works on IUU relevant to artisanal, commercial and trans boundary issues. The detailed topic should cover many aspects including but not limited to factors that drive IUU fishing, information on relevant legislation and governance, IUU fishing influencing factors, Monitoring, Control and Surveillance protocols and capacity, risk identification, quantification of IUU fishing by gear and fleets, and guidelines to reduce IUU fishing.
∎ Rationale for Conducting the Training:
∎ The coastal and marine resources of the Bay of Bengal (BOB) are under significant anthropogenic pressure, predominantly due to the indiscriminate fishing practice and pollution. The excessive fishing pressure is also known to affect the biodiversity of fish and megafauna including other species in the water of the BOB. All these stressors are together likely to exert significant pressure on the coastal and marine resource base and thus to the livelihoods of millions of fishers living around the coast. ECOFISH II has identified this as a crucial issue and decided to take steps to manage these resources sustainably and recommend strategies to Department of Fisheries for long-term management of IUU fishing. Among the several additional stressors, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing causing a significant under reporting of marine catch and negative impact on the sustainability of future marine resources of BOB and consequently fishers will be in disastrous. IUU fishing occurs in different forms both in artisanal and industrial fisheries as well as causing conflicts among the fishermen and organizational bodies of the neighboring countries. To address this additional stressor, we need to prioritize efforts to capturing more robust information on the nature of fishing fleets engaged to IUU fishing, their operational procedure, increasing visibility on fishing vessel activity, the extent and impact of IUU fishing, and mechanisms to endorsing regional and international partnerships to fill the loopholes exploited by fishing vessels and the company's that support them.
∎ Scope of Work:
∎ Providing a comprehensive overview of IUU fishing in Bangladesh's marine water.
∎ Developing a comprehensive methodology to assess and quantify IUU fishing.
∎ Developing IUU Fishing Index for Bangladesh marine water and compare the values with of the index calculated by the global bodies and other source to validate the estimates and procedures.
∎ Developing a protocol to follow up activities related to IUU fishing in the subsequent years.
∎ This work will also specifically explore IUU activities relevant to artisanal, commercial and trans boundary issues.
∎ Deliverables:
∎ A comprehensive report that includes a detailed assessment of IUU fishing from the past and present days
∎ Validated IUU Fishing Index for Bangladesh marine water
∎ A detailed proposal with specific guidelines to improve current management practices, legislation and compliance issues in response to IUU fishing.

Additional Requirements:
∎ This consultancy opportunity is open for National and International Consultant with the following skills and qualifications:
∎ Professional experience and knowledge about marine fisheries of the large marine ecosystem of the BOB preferably with a focus on South Asia and relevant international marine policy. Any working experience on IUU fishing in the national, regional and global levels will be considered with due importance.
∎ Prior working experience on Bangladesh marine fisheries would be an added advantage.
∎ Ability to analyze and synthesize technical fisheries information or data both in writing and in communications.
∎ Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Ability to communicate complicated messages authoritatively and succinctly to different audiences and through different fora (e.g. policy briefs).
∎ Proven ability to act as an organizational spokesperson and engage effectively with different stakeholder representatives.
∎ Excellent time management skills, ability to effectively manage multiple task and initiative to be productive during waiting periods.
∎ For international applicants, familiarity with local language and context will be considered as an added advantage

Application Deadline: 18 Nov 2020

Company Information:
∎ 11 Nov 2020
∎ WorldFish
∎ Business : WorldFish is an international, nonprofit research organization that harnesses the potential of fisheries and aquaculture to reduce hunger and poverty. Globally, more than one billion people obtain most of their animal protein from fish and approximately 800 million depend on fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihoods.
Utilizing its scientific expertise, its networks and partnerships, and an innovative `research in development` approach, WorldFish increases the productivity and sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture and improves the lives of poor people who rely on them.
WorldFish is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.

Category: NGO/Development