Fisheries Oceanographer Location: Noumea, New Caledonia

Secretariat of the pacific community POSITION DESCRIPTION FISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHER BACKGROUND The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) is an international organisation that provides technical and policy advice and assistance, training and research services to its Pacific Island members. SPC works in a wide range of sectors with the aim of achieving three development outcomes – sustainable economic development, sustainable natural resource management and development, and sustainable human and social development. SPC was established in 1947. It has 26 member countries and territories and its working languages are English and French. SPC’s headquarters are in Noumea, New Caledonia. It has regional offices in Suva, Fiji, and Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and country offices in Honiara, Solomon Islands and Port Vila, Vanuatu. Additional information on SPC, particularly regarding its work in specific sectors, can be found on its website: www.spc.int. Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) are unusually dependent on capture fisheries for food security. Annual per capita fish consumption in all Pacific Islands is above the global average of 16.5 kg, and in several small island states the figures are among the highest in the world. Much of this is supplied by subsistence fishing, with a high proportion of coastal households directly involved in catching fish. Catches from inshore subsistence fishing (people fishing to supply their families) are estimated at 110,000 tonnes, making an annual contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) of PICTs of over USD 166 million. This is often undervalued in official statistics. A further 45,000 tonnes is landed annually from commercial coastal fisheries, much of it for sale on local markets. While most of the two million tonne catch of offshore (tuna) fisheries is taken by foreign based vessels or destined for export, this sector also makes a major contribution to national food supplies. This is particularly true in urban centres, where catches unsuitable for export provide a relatively low-cost source of protein. Dark meat tuna, canned for the local market, also provides an affordable and easily-stored high protein food that is appreciated in several countries with tuna processing industries. The role of fisheries in food security is not just about providing fish for consumption. Income generation and employment in export-oriented fisheries and aquaculture are equally important in ensuring that people have adequate access to food – especially in some of the poorer countries in the region. It is noteworthy that the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) identifies Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu as ‘low income food deficit’ countries. SPC’s Oceanic Fisheries Programme (OFP) is one of two programmes that make up the Division of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (FAME). OFP’s goal is to ensure that fisheries exploiting the region’s resources of tuna, billfish and related species are managed for economic and ecological sustainability, using the best available scientific information. The programme provides information to national and regional authorities on the status of stocks targeted or otherwise impacted by oceanic fisheries; it collects and analyses comprehensive scientific data on fisheries targeting the region’s resources of tuna and other oceanic species; and it aims to improve understanding of pelagic ecosystems of the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. OFP comprises four sections responsible for stock assessment, data management, fisheries monitoring and ecosystem analysis. The programme currently has 29 internationally recruited and 25 locally recruited staff and an annual budget of over 500 million CFP (USD 6 million). Climate change is predicted to have profound impacts on the distribution of tuna in the Pacific Region. To facilitate planning for this change the Fisheries Oceanographer will provide SPC member governments, the Forum Fisheries Association (FFA) and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) with scientific data, modelling and advice on oceanic fisheries to underpin their management decision making and strategic positioning with regard to projected climate change. This will involve modelling, analyses and provision of information on the effects of environmental variation on tuna stocks, the pelagic ecosystem and the fisheries; and the effect of predicted climate change on tuna stock, the pelagic ecosystem and the fisheries, including long-term simulation of species distribution and abundance under Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scenarios. He or she will work closely with other programmes within SPC and the OFP. The Fisheries Oceanographer reports directly to the Principal Fisheries Scientist for Ecosystem Monitoring and Analysis. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The position of Fisheries Oceanographer encompasses the following major roles and responsibilities. 1. Research to support stock assessment and ecosystem-based fisheries management Implement and manage research to address knowledge gaps in the interaction between tuna fisheries, tuna populations, by-catch populations and climate/oceanographic variability. Review and select a plausible ensemble of IPCC climate change simulations to characterise a scientifically defensible range of uncertainty in climate change predictions for tuna populations. Analyse climate change impacts on pelagic ecosystems and tuna fisheries through model simulation and statistical analyses at regional level. 2. Improved knowledge of the impacts of climate change on oceanic ecosystems to inform application Collaborate with Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS) and further develop the SEAPODYM model to more realistically model the impacts of climate change on the four main tuna species (skipjack, bigeye, yellowfin and albacore). Generate population simulations for each candidate forcing dataset in the plausible ensemble and summarise the results in appropriate forms to articulate both the predicted overall spatial and temporal trends in tuna stocks and the uncertainty in those trends. 3. Ecosystem-based management of oceanic fisheries by SPC members, WCPFC and FFA is supported by the best scientific information and advice Provide national tuna climate change advice as required. Summarise/interpret the results of modeling, including vulnerability assessment, implication of impacts, recommendations for policy development and adaptation strategies at regional and national levels. In collaboration with other senior OFP staff, provide national level advice to SPC members on climate change to increase the capacity of SPC members to participate and negotiate appropriate adaptive strategies for both international and national policy. Inform the general debate on climate change impacts on Pacific fisheries. 4. Administration Assist the Section Head, to develop the annual work plans and work plan reports for the Section, consistent with the strategic plan. Maintain up-to-date corporate and administrative procedures for all activities undertaken. · Contribute where applicable to programme, divisional and corporate publications, such as fisheries newsletters, annual reports, and divisional reports for CRGA. · Produce reports for all activities undertaken in the appropriate format for the activity, including technical reports and trip reports, and input to funding proposals and donor reports. · Fill in for other staff when they are on leave or duty travel, when required. · Participate in other administration duties as directed by the EMA Principal Fisheries Scientist. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE Essential Ø A relevant postgraduate qualification, preferably at Masters level or higher, in fisheries science, oceanography, population biology, ecosystem modelling, climate change or a related discipline. Ø Demonstrated analytical capabilities on climate change issues. Ø Demonstrated technical proficiencies in a range of statistical and mathematical methods relevant to the analysis of large natural resources datasets. Ø Demonstrated technical proficiencies in a range of methods relevant to the analysis of datasets in the presence of data uncertainty. Ø Well-developed computer programming skills in one or more major languages. Computer software packages commonly used by OFP staff include C++, FORTRAN, AD Model Builder, R, FoxPro and others. Ø Proven ability to work as part of inter-disciplinary and/or multi-cultural teams. Ø Excellent verbal and written presentation and communication skills in English. Ø Demonstrated ability to meet project deadlines, often under difficult circumstances. Ø Demonstrated ability to supervise and manage contract staff. Desirable Ø Direct experience of tuna fisheries issues in the Pacific region Ø A working knowledge of the ecosystem model, SEAPODYM. Ø An understanding of tuna population dynamics, large-scale oceanographic models, the WCPO tuna fisheries and climate change impact on fisheries. Ø Excellent verbal and written presentation and communication skills in French SALARY, TERMS AND CONDITIONS SALARY AND ALLOWANCES The position is in Band 11 of SPC's salary scale. Salaries for staff recruited internationally are set in SDR (special drawing rights) and paid in the local currency (e.g. the French Pacific Franc, XPF, in New Caledonia). As per SPC’s 2011 salary scale, the salary range for this band is SDR 3,589–5,182 per month. At prevailing exchange rates, these amounts convert to approximately XPF 490,257–707,861 per month (USD 5,600–8,200 / EUR 4,100–5,900). An offer of appointment for an initial contract will be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration being given to experience and qualifications. The organisation subsidises housing. An SPC-owned or SPC-rented house or flat will be made available, with the staff member contributing 25 per cent of the normal rental. In addition, an establishment grant is payable to non-residents of New Caledonia. Where appropriate, other allowances, such as an education allowance, may be payable. SPC salaries are not subject to income tax in New Caledonia at the present time. PROVIDENT FUND The appointee will be eligible for membership in SPC’s Staff Provident Fund. Staff members contribute eight per cent of their base salary, to which SPC adds a matching contribution. TENURE The appointment is for a period of two years, with the possibility of renewal for a further period depending on performance and continued funding availability. DUTY STATION Noumea, New Caledonia. LEAVE Annual leave will accrue at the rate of 25 working days per annum. Sick leave is 30 working days per annum. MEDICAL BENEFITS SPC’s Staff Medical Insurance reimburses doctors’ fees, cost of prescribed medicines, surgical and hospital costs, etc. up to certain percentages and limits. Supplementary medical insurance is available to increase these percentage reimbursements and limits. FARES AND REMOVAL EXPENSES For an appointee recruited outside New Caledonia, the cost of air fares by the most direct and / or economic route for the appointee and recognised dependants, and reasonable removal expenses by sea of personal and household effects, will be met by SPC on appointment and termination. COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT SPC has a standardised computing environment based on Microsoft Office running under Microsoft Windows. SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT Smoking is not permitted in the work place. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES SPC is an equal opportunity employer. Recruitment is based entirely on merit, but in cases where two short-listed candidates are ranked equal by the selection committee, preference will be given to Pacific Island nationals.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES The closing date for applications is 30/03/2012

Applicants are asked to use SPC’s online recruitment system. Only those applicants residing in a Pacific country or territory who cannot access the online recruitment system are allowed to send their documents to: Director-General, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, P.O. Box D5, 98848 NOUMEA CEDEX, New Caledonia or submit them by fax (+ 687 26 38 18) or email (spc@spc.int, preferably as an electronic attachment in Microsoft Word format). All other applicants must use the on-line recruiting system or their applications will not be considered. Applicants should provide their curriculum vitae and specifically address how their qualifications, knowledge and experience demonstrate their ability to successfully undertake the duties and responsibilities of the position in their cover letter. They should also provide names and contact details of three referees.