Study - Conservation priorities for sharks and rays in Oceania

The consultancy aims to develop a comprehensive prioritization of conservation activities for Sharks MOU Annex 1-listed shark and ray species in the Oceania region to guide Signatories in implementing effective conservation actions. The consultant will apply established methodologies to identify priority species and conservation actions, prepare reports and species fact sheets, and engage with stakeholders to finalize recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Develop an inception report outlining steps, timelines, risks, and draft structure of the report on regional and subregional priorities for conservation of Shark MOU Annex 1-listed shark and rays in Oceania for approval by the Secretariat.
• Apply the methodology outlined in CMS/Sharks/MOS4/Doc.10.5 and the Advisory Committee’s prioritization matrix to identify priority species and conservation actions for Oceania, potentially subdividing the region into meaningful subregions.
• Conduct assessments including vulnerability assessment for listed shark and ray species and (m-)risk assessment as feasible and within budget.
• Prepare a draft consultation report outlining regional and subregional priorities for conservation and management of Shark MOU Annex 1-listed sharks and rays in Oceania, aligned with the Sharks MOU Conservation Plan.
• Develop regional species fact sheets modelled on existing global species fact sheets for shark and ray species listed in Annex 1 of the Sharks MOU occurring in the region, to be included as an annex to the report.
• Engage with the Secretariat, Sharks MOU Advisory Committee, relevant Signatories and SPREP to solicit input and comments on the draft report.
• Consolidate comments and develop final report including clear recommendations for priority actions addressing all aspects of the Sharks MOU Conservation Plan.
• Make suggestions for future methodological improvements and iterations of prioritization exercises.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in environmental science, marine biology, or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree, combined with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in conservation planning, project management and international conservation policy is required, including substantial experience related to the conservation of sharks and rays.
• Experience in assessing the conservation needs of sharks and rays and in formulating international or regional conservation measures is required.
• Knowledge of conservation priorities and requirements in the Oceania region is required.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Competence in other languages appropriate for the case-study areas would be beneficial.

Skills

• Conservation Planning
• Project Management
• International Conservation Policy
• Shark and Ray Conservation
• Conservation Needs Assessment
• Regional Conservation Measures
• Oceania Conservation Knowledge
• Report Writing
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Species Prioritization
• Environmental Sciences
• Marine Biology

Languages

English