Chemonics International seeks a short-term Community-Based Fishery Surveillance Specialist

Community-Based Fishery Surveillance Specialist - Indonesia

Chemonics International Inc. seeks a Community-Based Fishery Surveillance Specialist for the USAID-funded Indonesia Marine and Climate Support (IMACS) Project. The goal of the IMACS Project is to contribute to the sustainable management of Indonesia's marine and coastal ecosystems. This short-term consultancy of 30 days level of effort will be based in Jakarta, Indonesia, from February – March 2015, but may require occasional travel to field locations within Indonesia.

IMACS Task 2 is focused on sustainable fisheries management, and prioritizes efforts to reduce illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Over the course of the project, IMACS has implemented several strategies to address IUU fishing, ranging from enhancing transparency of fisheries data, developing technologies to support compliance monitoring, and supporting development of related policies and regulations. With Indonesia’s extensive coastlines and coastal areas, one of IMACS most successful strategies has been support for community-based surveillance systems.

Kelompok Masyarakat Pengawas (POKMASWAS, Community Surveillance Groups) are volunteer groups comprised of fishermen who monitor their local coastal ecosystems for IUU fishing. In recent years MMAF has promoted POKMASWAS as a tool to support efforts to tackle IUU fishing. POKMASWAS groups work in partnership with district and provincial DKPs and other enforcement agencies. POKMASWAS members are on the water every day, and extend the surveillance and monitoring capabilities of enforcement agencies. They report infractions, with response and enforcement carried out by the appropriate agencies. 

The provincial government of NTT has promoted the development and strengthening of POKMASWAS groups. From 2013-2014 a capacity development program was undertaken, including distribution of hand phones to enable POKMASWAS members to report sightings of IUU fishing. 

However, standard operating procedures remain poorly defined, and POKMASWAS members report that they are unaware whom to contact if they encounter IUU fishing. Furthermore, clearly defined processes for response and enforcement have not been established, leading to a lack of transparency and different perceptions between POKMASWAS and enforcement agencies on roles, responsibilities, and expected responses.

There have been widespread reports of IUU fishing in this region, including extensive bomb fishing of neritic tuna. The region has a reputation as one of the best sources of sustainably caught tuna in Indonesia, and these reports threaten the reputation and business security of honest fishermen and fishing companies. While POKMASWAS members have reported encounters with IUU fishing, they have been disheartened by an apparent lack of response from enforcement agencies, and the momentum of POKMASWAS efforts in this region is threatened.

Responsibilities

IMACS intends to engage a Community-Based Fishery Surveillance Specialist to strengthen collaborative approaches between POKMASWAS and enforcement agencies to tackle IUU fishing. This work will complement and support an ongoing initiative by IMACS to establish an I-Fish collaborative data management committee and monitoring program within the tuna fisheries of East Nusa Tenggara, and will build upon IMACS successful program of POKMASWAS training and capacity development in NTB. The objective of this assignment is to enhance the capacity of POKMASWAS in NTT, and strengthen collaboration with enforcement agencies. Ultimately, this assignment will contribute to more effective fishery management, thereby improving food security and conserving marine biodiversity.

Specific tasks and responsibilities of the Community-Based Fishery Surveillance Specialist include: 

• Consulting with POKMASWAS members, fishing companies, enforcement agencies and DKPs in NTT.

• Developing clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for POKMASWAS groups and enforcement agencies. These SOPs must include as a minimum: (i) hotline numbers for reporting IUU fishing; (ii) detailed responses required for different levels of reported threat; (iii) responsible persons and agencies. 

• Deliver a training program to POKMASWAS groups and enforcement agencies in NTT.

Qualifications

• University degree in Fisheries or related degree preferred

• Minimum 2 (two) years of similar experience preferably in non-government organization,  private sector or government agency

• Experience in working collaboratively with local communities including small-scale fishermen and district level government essential including running workshops that involve active participation from participants

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision

• Good report writing skills in English

• Native Bahasa Indonesia required; advanced English (written/spoken) preferred

Application Instructions:

Interested candidates should send a CV and cover letter to IMACSproject@gmail.com by January 30, 2015 with “Community-Based Fishery Surveillance Specialist” in the subject line. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.

 

In addition, please download and complete Chemonics’ equal employment opportunity self-identification form and submit it separately to EEOselfidentify@chemonics.com with only “Community-Based Fishery Surveillance Specialist” in the subject line. If you prefer not to disclose your sex, race, or ethnicity, you may check “I do not wish to complete the information requested.” Thank you for completing the form and supporting our equal employment opportunity reporting requirements.

 

Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.