Marine Biology Specialist for baseline analysis on fish for the Caribbean Biological Corridor

Result of Service

The consultant will deliver upon the following objectives: • Carry out a desk review on the status and threats to the conservation of CBC priority fish species and their essential habitats, based on existing research for the region. • Participate and lead discussions on Marine biology particularly on the status and threats of priority fish species and their essential habitats in the CBC to validate and review findings in order to prioritize marine-coastal information gaps that need to be addressed in the CBC, and that should be considered in future projects. • Prepare a report with the results of the review highlighting the existing information gaps and research needs to inform and improve the conservation of the selected groups of priority fish species in the context of the CBC Initiative’s newly approved scope and strategy. The consultant is expected to deliver the following products: • Product No. 1: Roadmap and map of the key issues and information that need to be compiled during the desk review including relevant bibliography on key marine issues as described in Activity 2. • Product No. 2: Workshop/bilateral meetings report with main findings and results regarding the issues on the issues on CBC fish conservation priorities and essential habitats, highlighting new contributions, data gaps and research priorities as described in Activities No 3 and 4. • Product No 3: Final report with the results of the desk review highlighting and including: o All the information as detailed in activities No. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. o The existing information gaps and research needs to inform and improve the conservation of the CBC fish priority species in the context of the initiative's newly approved scope and strategy. o Recommendations for research and monitoring design, early warning, and response systems. o The relevant bibliography with links to, or the copies of the documents consulted during the analysis. o The list of experts and organizations working on the topic in the region as outlined in Activity 6. o Set of recommendations for coordinated actions, using the CBC governance and cooperation platform to respond to the identified threats and challenges for marine Fish species. The consultant is expected to carry out the following activities and deliver related products as described below: • Activity 1. Identify, in close cooperation with the CBC Secretariat and UNEP technical team, a map of the key issues and information that need to be compiled to report on the state of knowledge and information gaps on the status, health and threats to CBC priority marine fish species and their essential habitats in the Greater Antilles, • Activity 2. Carry out a desk review on the state of knowledge in the Greater Antilles about the status, health, and threats to CBC priority fish species and their essential habitats (spawning aggregation sites, breeding and feeding grounds, etc.) compiling and assessing existing information with a focus on:  State of knowledge and data availability about spatial distribution, movement ecology/patterns, and natural history of these species.  Description of existing monitoring initiatives/efforts, detailing its spatial scope, protocol used and data availability/accessibility.  A threat analysis including main historical threats and their drivers, as well as emerging threats (if any), such as the impact of climate change, pollution, sargassum floods, emerging diseases, and invasive alien species.  A general assessment of the conservation status of the CBC fish conservation priorities and essential habitats, with reference to population size and tendencies, threat grade in the region and level of legal protection (MPAs, OECM and other legal means), including a general assessment of the potential effectiveness of the existing protection measures.  Main data/information/knowledge gaps that are key to devising and implementing effective conservation strategies and measures, including an analysis of the availability (or lack) of any data or information relevant and needed for the effective conservation and sustainable management of the populations of the priority species. • Activity 3. Carry out bilateral consultations with experts, CBC member country focal points and other key stakeholders as needed to complement, and/or validate findings of the desk review, identifying the status of existing knowledge, main gaps and research needs. • Activity 4. Support the preparation and implementation of at least one online or in person expert meeting aimed at prioritizing identified marine-coastal information gaps and needs that should be addressed in the CBC; exploring basic indicators and recommended methodologies to monitor and assess the status of priority species and ecosystems, including their climate vulnerability; and providing recommendations for the design of priority research studies to be conducted, including an oceanographic expedition for the region to fill the identified information gaps. • Activity 5. Refine and consolidate findings, incorporating results from the workshops/dialogue/consultations, further extending the baseline review, and carrying out additional interviews (as needed), to produce a final report that includes all the information detailed in the desk review, as well as a set of recommendations for research and monitoring to fill the priority knowledge gaps in the CBC. • Activity 6. Compile a list of experts and organizations working in the region on endangered fish species and their essential habitats, including their names, organization and contact information.




Work Location

Home- Based




Expected duration

3 months




Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, Panama, works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). UNEP´s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. This position is in the Environmental Governance Subprogramme, at the Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO) who for over the last 16 years has supported the Caribbean Biological Corridor Initiative (CBC) an intergovernmental platform in the region conformed by Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Jamaica through the implementation projects. The CBC works to promote coordinated actions that contribute to the conservation, connectivity, and maintenance of ecosystem services in the region. The CBC has agreed its Strategic Action Plan towards 2030 and is moving forward to address the main challenges in the region. Currently UNEP is implementing the project “Strengthening Ocean Management in the Caribbean Biological Corridor (CBC)”. The project “Strengthening Ocean Management in the CBC” seeks to take the first steps towards integrating scientific knowledge and climate adaptation strategies to ensure healthy and resilient marine and coastal ecosystems, species and local communities in the Greater Antilles. The project will directly support the CBC initiative to generate coastal and marine data that guides marine research design and will strengthen ocean management in member countries, in the context of the CBC Strategic Plan towards 2030. The project is conceived to create the conditions and strengthen the capacities of the CBC initiative to improve knowledge on the status and vulnerability of marine and coastal ecosystems, species, and local communities in the Greater Antilles. Alliances with programmes and stakeholders engaged in broader field actions will support achievement of the objectives of the CBC in the marine realm. Outcome 1 of the project is focused on Improving knowledge and baseline information on marine-coastal issues, to guide research design in the CBC’s marine realm. Under the prioritized topics better understanding of fish and shark populations and their ecology in the region is required. The latter will contribute to the prioritization of actions under the CBC Strategic plan towards 2030 and in the formulation of an overarching marine programme, and to support countries identify key actions to conserve fish and shark species along with their marine intervention strategies and policies in the CBC. The Marine Biology Specialist for baseline analysis on fish in the CBC will prepare a desk review on the status and threats of priority fish species and their essential habitats in the Greater Antilles based on existing research for the region. The review will aim to identify information gaps and research needs in the context of the CBC Initiative’s newly approved demarcation and scope. The consultant will liaise with the CBC Secretariat and its technical team at UNEP to build on existing information and knowledge. The consultant will be under direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer of the Environmental Governance Unit at the UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office, will work home-based and is expected to hold regular meetings with the CBC technical team and its Secretariat, strategic partners and supervisor.




Qualifications/special skills

ACADEMIC - Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology, Biology, conservation science, Oceanography, ecology, Environmental and Resource Management, Sustainability, Environmental Sciences, Engineering, acuaculture, fisheries, or related (required). - Master’s Degree in Marine Biology, Biology, conservation science, Oceanography, ecology, Fisheries or a related field is desirable. - PhD´s degree in Marine Biology, Biology, conservation science, Oceanography, ecology, or a related field is an advantage. PROFESSIONAL - Minimum 7 years of relevant work experience at the national or international level in marine conservation, research and/or management is required. - Experience in scientific research or desk reviews is required. - Knowledge of at least one of the CBC priority species or groups of species including but not limited to marine fish or sharks in the region is desirable. - Experience in the Caribbean region is desirable. - Experience working across large NGOs or UN bodies in the thematic of marine conservation and or research is desirable. - Experience in the UN system desirable.




Languages

- Fluency in Spanish is required - Fluency in English is desirable - Basic knowledge of French is desirable.




Additional Information

SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: - Excellent synthesis and summarizing skills. - Excellent writing skills in English or Spanish. - Excellent communication skills. - Good organizational and team working skills.




No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.