Fishery Resources Specialist

Organizational Setting

The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) is a regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) established under the provisions of Article XIV of the FAO Constitution. The main objective of the GFCM is to promote the development, conservation, rational management and best utilization of living marine resources as well as the sustainable development of aquaculture in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

To this end, the GFCM formulates and recommends appropriate measures for the conservation and rational management of living marine resources and ensures these recommendations are implemented; constantly reviews the economic and social aspects of the fishing industry, recommending specific measures in connection with its development; promotes and carries out training, research and development activities, in addition to cooperation and technical assistance in fisheries-related fields; collects, publishes and disseminates information on exploitable living marine resources and on fisheries exploiting these resources; promotes programmes for marine and coastal fisheries enhancement.

To further support these endeavours, the GFCM adopted a mid-term strategy (2017-2020) towards the sustainability of Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries (the mid-term strategy), as a regional reply to the objectives enshrined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 and the FAO Strategic Objective 2, in order to ensure that the alarming trend in the status of commercially exploited fish stocks is reversed by means of the five targets relating to i) strengthened scientific advice in support of fisheries management; ii) supported sustainable small-scale fisheries; iii) curbed illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; iv) mitigated interactions between fisheries and the marine environment and ecosystems; and v) enhanced capacity-building and cooperation.

Purpose of the call for expression of interest

The purpose of this call is to attract global talent for the Consultant and Personal Services assignments that may provide support and/or lead fisheries projects and technical support processes in the GFCM region. The assignment may be home-based or located at the GFCM headquarters at Palazzo Blumenstihl (Via Vittoria Colonna 1, 00193 – Rome, Italy), with potential travel for field missions. The Global call will create a roster of Applicants that will be used to identify candidates for relevant assignments.

The assignment can be from 1 month up to 11 months. The possibility of extension is subject to satisfactory performance and depending on the resources and needs of the Organization.

The Fishery Resources Specialist reports to the GFCM Fishery Officers and to the GFCM Executive Secretary. She/he closely collaborates with relevant staff at the GFCM Secretariat and in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department.

Areas of work cover sustainable development and management of fisheries in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region, including policy support, implementation of relevant plans of action and binding decisions in place, small-scale fisheries guidelines implementation, fisheries-related SDG monitoring and statistics, assessment of the status of marine living resources, ecosystem approach to fisheries management planning and implementation, interactions between fisheries and the marine environment and ecosystems, discards monitoring programmes and awareness, scientific surveys, fishing gear and fishing techniques, benthic communities, European eel, climate change mitigation and adaptation, non-indigenous species monitoring, MCS, fishing vessels, socio-economic impacts and work plan of scientific advisory bodies.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide technical inputs towards the implementation of the Mid-term strategy towards the sustainability of Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries and achievement of its targets and the provision of advice on fisheries;
• Provide technical expertise or advice to monitor, analyse and/or address ecological, biological, economic, governance or social issues towards the management and sustainable development of fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea;
• Coordinate and, as required, take a lead role in the development and implementation of programmes, projects and initiatives supporting fisheries management, including on the above mentioned specific issues;
• Provide substantial support for the planning and organization of relevant events and activities in relation to the GFCM work programme;
• Undertake research programmes and analysis activities to support the development or implementation of data collection systems, technical standards/guidelines, international instruments, technical innovation, technical reports, publications;
• As required, support the implementation of the work plans of the scientific advisory bodies;
• Edit and revise technical and scientific documents and publications where appropriate;
• Perform any other related duties as required.

• University or specialized degree (only for PSA) in natural or social sciences including any of the following fields\: fisheries or natural resources management, fisheries or natural resources economics, fisheries technology, social development, marine/freshwater affairs, or in other field related to the work of the Organization.
• At least one year of relevant experience in fisheries research, natural resource management, project development and implementation, data analysis or related fields;
• Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian (for PSA, only working knowledge of English is required)