Marine Conservation Intern

Healthy oceans are the lifeblood of our planet, but they face growing threats from climate change, overfishing, habitat destruction and other pressures. For over 20 years, EDF’s Fisheries & Oceans program has successfully helped fisheries around the world become more sustainable and resilient to climate change. We have developed initiatives to protect and restore the ocean’s capacity to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide, while advancing environmental justice and equity, human welfare and food security. Our work is grounded in strong scientific, policy, and economic expertise.

Bycatch—the incidental capture of non-target species—remains the leading driver of global declines in threatened seabirds, including albatrosses, with tens of thousands of birds killed annually in pelagic longline fisheries. Addressing this threat in international waters requires cooperation among fishing nations through Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). In the eastern Pacific, seabird bycatch regulations established by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) have not been updated since 2011 and lag behind those of other tuna RFMOs. The EDF-led project aims to develop science-based bycatch mitigation strategies, build international consensus and advance targeted policy reform to achieve substantial, long-term reductions in seabird bycatch across the Pacific Ocean.

Overall Function:

The intern will contribute to a quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of alternative fisheries management strategies in reducing seabird bycatch, with the goal of developing science-based recommendations for updated conservation measures. They will play a key role in data processing, spatial analysis, and quantitative modelling, as well as reviewing scientific literature to inform model parameters and develop realistic management scenarios. This work will integrate seabird distributions, fishing effort, species-specific catchability, and mitigation effectiveness, to estimate the number of seabirds that could be saved annually under different management and enforcement scenarios. They will also help evaluate the potential conservation benefits of alternative mitigation strategies and translate analytical findings into actionable recommendations for fisheries managers and policymakers. The Intern will receive close mentorship from EDF scientists, and analytical tasks will be clearly scoped to fit the internship timeline.

The intern will report to the Research Scientist, Seabird–Fisheries Interactions, will be an active member of the Ocean Science Team, and will have the opportunity to work closely with partner NGOs and staff of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). By the end of the internship, the intern will have gained practical experience applying quantitative ecological research to international fisheries management, strengthened their analytical and scientific communication skills, and developed a deeper understanding of seabird conservation, ecological risk assessments, and ocean governance.

Required Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in or recently completed a master’s or doctoral degree in ecology, marine science, fisheries science, conservation biology, environmental science, geography, data science, or a related quantitative field.
• Proficiency in R programming (or Python skills and a willingness to work in R), including demonstrated experience in data processing, manipulation, visualization, and statistical analysis.
• Demonstrated experience conducting spatial analyses in R, including working with geospatial data and spatial data packages.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, including the ability to independently troubleshoot code and interpret results.
• Experience reviewing and synthesizing scientific literature to inform research questions and analytical approaches.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple tasks and deliver analytical outputs within tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to disseminate scientific findings clearly to diverse audiences.
• Ability to work both independently and in a team setting.
• Demonstrate self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across all cultures and backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience analyzing animal tracking, fisheries effort, or other spatially explicit ecological datasets.
• Familiarity with spatial overlap analyses, ecological risk assessments, or quantitative approaches to assessing anthropogenic impacts on wildlife.
• Experience developing or applying statistical models, conducting sensitivity analyses, and quantifying uncertainty.
• Knowledge of seabird ecology, fisheries bycatch, marine policy or marine conservation.

Compensation:

This internship would involve compensation for work paid at a rate competitive with leading non-profits at $23-24/hr, depending on degree level.

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