International Consultant: Establish the Baseline for Monitoring and Evaluation of fish stocks

The ‘Mainstreaming Biodiversity Management into Production Sector Activities” (or “Mainstreaming Biodiversity”) Full sized Project was signed in October 2007 between the Government of Seychelles (GOS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and is funded by a Global Environment Facility (GEF) grant of US$3,600,000. The project is part of the UNDP-GEF portfolio in Seychelles and is implemented under a Programme Coordination Unit (PCU), and headed by a Biodiversity Programme Manager. The project started in February 2008, is of 6 years duration, and has the following Project Objective: “Biodiversity conservation is integrated into key production sectors of the economy”. This Objective is to be attained through the following Outcomes:

• Outcome 1: “Systemic and institutional capacities for mainstreaming biodiversity management within and across sectors are strengthened”.
• Outcome 2: “Methods and means for integrating biodiversity and artisanal fisheries management are in place”.
• Outcome 3: “The tourism industry is addressing biodiversity conservation as part of good practice in business operation”. 

Under Outcome 2, the Project is currently seeking an international consultant to establish the baseline for monitoring and evaluation of fish stocks and co-management practices in the artisanal fishery sector on the island of Praslin.
 
The establishment of monitoring and evaluation is of paramount importance to consolidate co-management efforts and is the key to the success of resource stewardship. Feedback and reporting is equally important in assessing the successes and failures of these co-management efforts and improving the resource conditions. Consequently, successful resource stewardship also requires partners with complementary skills and capacities to maintain a commitment to assessment, monitoring, and evaluation.
 
The aim of this consultancy is to establish a monitoring and evaluation baseline to enable the continuous monitoring and assessment of fish stock by implementing agencies and the Praslin fishers.

The two primary tasks of the assignment are to establish a baseline and a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for artisanal fishery on Praslin. This will be carried out by the international consultant, who will also conduct the training on baseline data collection and monitoring and evaluation exercises for trainers to ensure long-term

• Review existing fisheries dependent and fisheries-independent data relating to the trap fishery in Seychelles, including any other relevant environmental, ecology and socio-economic data.
• Assess the present state of the trap fishery resource, using appropriate models based on existing fisheries and biological data. Cross reference with current stock status assessed by SFA.
• Conduct a 1-2 day workshop and training on status of the resource (stock assessment) utilizing existing fisheries-dependent on the artisanal fishery on Praslin. This will target members of the PFA (and other fishers), SFA and other stakeholders on Praslin.
• Evaluate the current fisheries-dependent sampling system related to the Praslin artisanal fishery and make recommendation for collecting data, including participatory monitoring, and improving dissemination to fishers in support of co-management. Discuss with implementing agencies (SFA) and fishermen (e.g. Pralin Fishers’ Association) the future participation of fishers in data collection and monitoring
• Interview fishers and stakeholders to determine perceptions and issues relating to current fisheries-dependent monitoring and stock assessment in Seychelles.
• Select and justify appropriate stock assessment method (models, reference points etc) for the trap fisheries and determine the potential role of participatory stock assessment tools for the trap fishery (e.g. PARFISH) and test such an approach.
• Develop a fisheries-dependent monitoring protocol that complements that of SFA but recognises the highly aggregated and low spatial resolution of the current system
• If required, develop and conduct fisheries-independent assessment, such as underwater visual census based approach, that involves, where possible, local stakeholders. Develop a long-terms fisheries-independent monitoring protocol as appropriate
• Based on available scientific information, determine the importance of environmental degradation and how it presently affects the fishery and ecosystems
• Conduct a 1 day workshop on status of the resource as determined by other approaches developed during the course of the consultancy and compare with initial assessment. This will target members of the PFA (and other fishers), SFA and other stakeholders on Praslin.
• Conduct a training of trainers (3 days) workshop to provide background and tools for the handover of fisheries monitoring and assessment methods for the co-management project.
• Develop a fisheries monitoring and assessment plan for the duration of the co-management project.

Establishing and overseeing the monitoring of fish stocks and co-management practices in the artisanal fishery sector on Praslin.
 
This consultancy directly covers Output 2.1.3: Develop and build capacity of fisher’s associations and it will further support Output 2.1.4 & 2.1.5; Develop pilot co-management system for artisanal fisheries

1. Provide two summary reports for the work conducted for Activities 1-5 and Activities 6-8. 
2. An evaluation analysis on how the monitoring of fish stocks should proceed and the roles of different partners
3. A monitoring and evaluation plan to enable continuous participatory monitoring and evaluation of fish stocks on Praslin
4. Reports on the training sessions and workshops conducted  baseline data collection and monitoring and evaluation of fish stocks
5. A detailed work plan and training plan, based on the existing Training Needs Analysis document, which includes activities, timing, resource needs, evaluation mechanisms, etc. This needs to be discussed with and approved by the Program Coordination Unit

• University degree in marine studies, fisheries, ecology, and/or natural sciences
• At least 10 years international experience in working/teaching marine science subjects, with good knowledge of artisanal fisheries
• Experience in fisheries co-management and in writing co-management plans
• Ability to relate to, work with, and address, varied groups of people
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Knowledge of UNDP and GEF projects and procedures an advantage;
• Fluent written and oral communication in English. Knowledge of French and Creole an advantage.