guidelines • supported research • research partners

Guidelines

The Lenfest Ocean Program supports marine research that will be useful in formulating solutions to ocean problems. Lenfest Ocean Program staff members consult with scientists, advocates and decision makers to identify policy-relevant research questions. A critical factor in developing the Program’s research projects is the extent to which the research will be directly relevant to marine policy decisions.

The Program focuses its work on fisheries issues because fishing arguably has the greatest impact on marine resources, and because many of these impacts can be reversed with improved fisheries management The Program currently supports research in the three areas described below. For a list of the Program’s research projects, click here.

Ecosystem Impacts of Fishing

Humans have caught marine fish since the beginning of civilization. Today, commercial and recreational fisheries provide important revenue or leisure opportunities for millions of people worldwide. Yet relatively little is known about many of the fish that we take from the oceans or about the habitat in which they live. The Lenfest Ocean Program invests in research to improve our understanding of how fishing is altering marine ecosystems, and what the likely future consequences to these systems will be if present fishing methods and intensity continue. We place priority on research focusing on the impacts either to top marine predators or to small schooling fish that serve as a food source for other species.

Social and Economic Impacts of Fishing

Informed decision making about management of ocean resources must take into account both the biological and the socio-economic consequences of policy decisions. Just as there is a need for better biological data, there is very little reliable information on the economic and social impacts of current policy decisions. The Lenfest Ocean Program invests in research that examines the social and economic components of fishing regulations and assesses the future consequences of differing fisheries management systems.

Sustainable Fisheries Management

Many of the current fisheries management approaches worldwide have resulted in depleted fish populations and degraded marine habitat. To ensure both healthy marine life and productive and sustainable fisheries into the future, better approaches to fisheries management must be developed. The Lenfest Ocean Program invests in research that examines how to improve current fisheries management and how to develop more effective management tools.

Sustainable Marine Aquaculture

Global landings from wild capture fisheries have remained flat or have declined over the past three decades, yet demand for seafood continues to grow. As a result, marine aquaculture has developed rapidly in recent years and the industry will continue to expand. Aquaculture has a significant impact on the marine environment. Impacts range from sea bed pollution and coastal habitat degradation to introduction of non-native species and depletion of wild “forage” fish to feed farmed carnivores. These factors combine to make marine aquaculture an emerging issue in marine conservation worldwide. The Lenfest Ocean Program invests in research that examines the impacts of aquaculture on the marine environment and identifies approaches to ensure aquaculture practices are sustainable.

Research projects are developed by Lenfest Ocean Program staff through consultation with scientists, policymakers and advocates. The Program does not accept unsolicited proposals.