The group around the DSI/NRF South African Research Chair in Marine Ecology and Fisheries is a dynamic team at the University of Cape Town, conducting research into systems approaches to managing human activities in the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem. Our “Southern Cape Interdisciplinary Fisheries Research (SCIFR)” project focusses on the region between Witsands and Mossel Bay and seeks to understand (i) how natural and social changes in the southern Cape shape and interact with the marine social-ecological system at its doorstep, (ii) how selected natural resource users in the area respond to global change, and how they are shaping change in their region, and (iii) how we can use our understanding to help build more social-ecological resilience.
We need to understand more of the social and economic background in the SCIFR study region. Specifically, the candidate will
- Construct fisheries landings (mass and value) and catch composition from official sources (time series – first sale value – wet fish vs. headed & gutted vs. filleted).
- Undertake interviews with regional fishers to understand landings, sales, operating costs, profit, subjective economic well-being and any hidden economy linked to the fisheries enterprise.
- Create a value network of the secondary sales (processors, sales (value-added), market) though interviews with market and processors.
- Evaluate, in view of the results, how fisheries management could be transformed to underpin sustainable lives and livelihoods linked to healthy marine ecosystems.
The thesis research will be co-supervised between Prof Astrid Jarre (UCT) and Dr Siân Rees (University of Plymouth). The successful applicant will be based at the University of Cape Town, and carry out fieldwork in the southern Cape as required.
Prospective applicants must have majored in economics, social science or economic geography at undergraduate and honours levels. Experience in fisheries will be an advantage. Fluency in Afrikaans is advantageous, but not strictly necessary.
The successful applicant will be nominated for a bursary with the NRF, valued at R90,000 per annum at Masters level and R120,000 per annum at PhD level, subject to the approval of the nomination by the NRF. Expenses for fieldwork will be covered from the Research Chair.
Applicants are requested to send, in pdf format, (i) a motivation letter also indicating the earliest starting date, (ii) their cv, including names of two referees, and (iii) their university transcripts to eaf.sarchi@uct.ac.za by 15 March 2020. We might request to see the write-ups of Honours project(s) and/or the Masters thesis of shortlisted candidates. Information on our group can be found on here. Information on the SCIFR project can be downloaded here . Additional questions can be directed to Prof Jarre (Astrid.Jarre@uct.ac.za).
Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted between 19 and 25 March. We reserve the right not to appoint.
