Social Science and Humanities Seminar Series: Dr. Rashid Sumaila

Speaker: Rashid Sumaila

Dr. Rashid Sumaila is a University Killam Professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Interdisciplinary Ocean and Fisheries Economics at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, and the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, University of British Columbia. His 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. Dr. Sumaila received his Ph.D. (Economics) from the University of Bergen and his B.Sc. (Quantity Surveying) from the Ahmadu Bello University. Sumaila is widely published and cited. He won the 2017 Volvo Environment Prize and was named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2019. His interest in the environment started early in life when his grandfather used to say people should “walk as if the ground feels pain” – he believes this is sophisticated environmentalism. His specific interest in ocean and fisheries was picked in Norway. Sumaila enjoys exploring novel ideas and mentoring future thinkers. He loves waking up each day thinking of how best to contribute to ensuring that we bequeath a healthy ocean to our children and grandchildren so they too can have the option to do the same.

Discussant: Ratana Chuenpagdee

Dr. Ratana Chuenpagdee is a University Research Professor in Department of Geography at Memorial University of Newfoundland, in St. John’s, Canada. She is directing a major global research partnership, Too Big To Ignore (TBTI), which aims at elevating the profile of small-scale fisheries and rectifying their marginalization in national and international policies. As part of this project, she’s coordinating research and activities to promote ‘Blue Justice for Small-Scale Fisheries’, support the implementation of the ‘Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines’ and build ‘Transdisciplinary Capacity’ for fisheries and ocean sustainability around the world. Ratana also leads a research module on Informing Governance Responses in a Changing Ocean for the Ocean Frontier Institute, another major collaborative research initiative between universities, governments, private sectors and communities.

Discussant: Andrés Cisneros-Montemayor

Dr. Andrés Cisneros-Montemayor is a resource economist specializing on ocean and coastal social-ecological systems, and Assistant Professor at Simon Fraser University's School of Resource and Environmental Management. Andrés is from the fishing port of Guaymas, Sonora, México, and his interests and his work focus on highlighting ocean equity within sustainable development strategies. He is Deputy Director of the Nippon Foundation Ocean Nexus Center, one of the largest interdisciplinary collaborative research networks addressing social equity, well-being, and public health in coastal and marine contexts throughout the world.