NATIONAL FISHERIES STOCK ASSESSMENT SPECIALIST

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FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.
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Qualified female applicants and qualified nationals of non-and under-represented member countries are encouraged to apply.

Persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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For more than four decades, FAO has been working with the Government of the Philippines, civil society, community-based organizations and the private sector to address challenges in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector. Joint efforts have included increasing sustainability in agricultural production, promoting value-adding practices, improving post-harvest management, enhancing productivity and increasing the resilience of agriculture-based livelihoods to natural disasters, climatic hazards and armed conflict.

The National Fisheries Stock Assessment Specialist will work under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative, ad interim in the Philippines, direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme), day to day guidance of the National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management and Climate Change Adaptation Specialist, and working in close coordination with the GCP/GLO/959/NOR Project Team, FAO Fisheries Resources Officer (FIAF), and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has selected the Philippines among the focus countries for the global project entitled “Supporting member countries implement climate change adaptation measures in fisheries and aquaculture” (GCP/GLO/959/NOR). The project aims to improve country capacity to develop and implement climate change adaptation plans and actions that promote socio-economic development with specific attention to poverty reduction and food security in the fishery and aquaculture sector.

Tasks and responsibilities

The National Fisheries Stock Assessment Specialist will carry out the following tasks\:

• Compile available fisheries and biological data for the key sardine species in the selected FMA, based on literature review and contacts with local scientists, research institutes and governmental agencies;
• Collate available data in a database, following a database template to be provided by FAO;
• Organize a first technical workshop with relevant local/national scientists to\:
• review and update the data collated;
• identify appropriate models and approaches to be used for the assessment of the stock(s), based on the available data;
• agree on the biological parameters and reference points to be used for the assessment of status of the stock, considering relevant literature and the National Sardine Management Framework Plan (NSMFP).
• discuss and define likely scenarios of changes in sardine population dynamics due to climate change and variability.
• Based on the results of the first technical workshop, carry out preliminary assessment of the status of the stock and develop a simulation framework to be used in the evaluation of management strategies proposed in the management plan for the FMA under different climate change scenarios.
• Organize a second technical workshop with relevant local/national scientists and managers to\:
• present the results of the stock assessment for validation
• carry out the simulation of management strategies under different climate scenarios, considering the effects on stock(s) and the likely socioeconomic consequences. Present the results of the simulations and analysis in the format of a decision table for managers.
• identify critical gaps and needs for improving scientific advice for the management of the sardine fishery.
• Participate and provide technical inputs to the stakeholder consultation workshops organized in the framework of the project to develop an operation management plan for sardines in the selected FMA;
• Prepare reports of the technical workshops for the assessment of the stock
• Contribute to the preparation of a final report of the Project in close collaboration with the Project Team.
• Carry out any other relevant duties within his/her technical competence as may be requested by FAO.

• Advance University Degree (preferably PhD) in Natural Resources Management, Fisheries, Marine Sciences or related fields
• At least nine (9) years of relevant professional experience in implementing projects in fisheries assessment, management and development in the Philippines, with relevant publications in fisheries stock assessment
• Working knowledge (Level C) of English
• A National of the Philippines

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Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.