Recreational Fisheries Economist M - F H / F

Closure date for receipt of applications: 21 / 04 / 2025

Who are we?

Located on the site of the Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, beside Ifremer Centre in Brittany, the Maritime Economics unit (EM) is an integral part of the Joint Research Unit 6308 AMURE (AMénagement des Usages des Ressources et des Espaces marins et littoraux), which brings together staff from Ifremer, the University of Brest and the CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research) in the humanities and social sciences. The main topics addressed by the EM unit are the economic analysis of the development trajectories of maritime activities, the assessment of their impacts on marine and coastal ecosystems and their associated ecosystem services, and the analysis of the responses that can be provided by public policies, particularly in terms of institutions and regulatory mechanisms. The work of the EM team focuses more particularly on the issues of managing exploited living marine resources (e.g., professional and recreational fishing, marine farming) and policies for the marine environment conservation.

Recreational fisheries is a widespread activity in all coastal areas. In addition to its social role, this activity supports an important economic sector of goods and services. Its economic impact also relies on other indirect effects on local economies, for instance through the tourism sector. In addition, as recreational fisheries is mainly located in coastal and littoral areas, it interacts with other professional and recreational uses, which can generate conflicts within a territory. Finally, this activity can also have an impact on the fishery resources exploited and the ecosystems that support them. It is therefore necessary to study the structure and dynamics of this fishery through its economic, ecological and social dimensions, and to analyze the public policies that govern them. Despite the importance of this activity, it remains insufficiently understood.

What will your mission be?

Under the responsibility of the head of the EM unit, your main mission will be to develop a research program on the economics of marine recreational fisheries, in particular its economic and social assessment, its impact on the management of fishery resources, the integration of sustainability into fishing practices and the impact of public policies that affect it. Your position will also contribute to Ifremer's expertise and support activities for public policies within the framework of European directives (Data Collection Framework - DCF, Marine Strategy, in particular). Your work will be carried out in a multidisciplinary research framework and involves active participation in national and international research projects.

Your missions are defined within the framework of the research and expertise work of the EM unit, the UMR AMURE and the Biological Resources and Environment (RBE) department of Ifremer, and in particular of formalised actions. Expected tasks include:

1. Identifying indicators and methods for collecting economic and social data on recreational fisheries, in particular within the framework of the DCF and in close collaboration with the coordinator of data collection in this sector and the statistician responsible for processing them, both attached to the HISSEO unit of Ifremer.
2. Economic and social analysis of recreational fishing activities and the public policies that govern them.
3. Expertise in support of public policies in the field of recreational fishing.

What will your activities be?

As part of Ifremer's mission to support public policy and research, you will be responsible for the following activities:

1. Develop knowledge and analyze socio-economic data on recreational fishing:
   • Develop methods for collecting data on recreational fisheries, in association with the Fishery Information System of Ifremer.
   • Develop expertise in economic and social data collection on marine recreational fisheries.
   • Contribute to economic and regulatory monitoring of recreational fishery activities.
   • Evaluate the economic and social impacts of recreational fisheries at different territorial scales.
2. Analyze the dynamics and behavior of recreational fishers:
   • Study the behavior of recreational fishers, integrating their motivations, strategies and practices (consumption of recreational goods and services, productive strategies).
   • Study the heritage, cultural and ethical dimensions associated with recreational fishing activities.
   • Characterize the evolution of practices and analyze the continuum between professional fishing, subsistence fishing, informal fishing and recreational fishing.
   • Assess interactions and conflicts of use between recreational fisheries and other maritime uses.
3. Assess public policies and analyze governance:
   • Analyze public policy and governance of recreational fisheries in the context of coastal socio-ecological system management.
   • Examine the role of this activity in local planning and in public and private decision-making related to coastal and marine issues.
4. Contribute to internal scientific activities, dissemination and publication in the field of this position:
   • Contribute to Ifremer's expertise on recreational fisheries.
   • Actively participate in the unit's scientific production and research development.

How are your activities organised?

You will initially focus on recreational fisheries in the French metropolitan framework, but a future extension to the French overseas territories is expected. The geographical scope of intervention will be the whole of France. Travelling abroad may be envisaged in the framework of international expert working groups or research activities. Full time position.

Who are you?

- PhD / post-doctoral fellow in agro-economics, resource economics, political sciences
- Post-doctorate in applied research
- Experience in interdisciplinary research

You have the following skills, knowledge and experience:

• Knowledge of European and French sectors and public policies related to coastal activities and recreational fisheries in particular.
• Mastery of the theoretical bases of natural resources and environmental economics.
• Experience in production system analyses.
• Experience in economic intelligence and implementation of socioeconomic data collection methods.
• Skills in statistics and sectoral data processing.
• Knowledge of modelling approaches suitable.
• Fluency in English.
• Ability to work in French.

You have the following qualities:

• Sense of organisation, responsibility and human relations.
• Ability to work in a team.
• Good communication skills.
• Autonomy, teamwork and interdisciplinary skills.