Jessica Savage

Jessica completed a BSc (hons) in Marine Biology and an MSc with distinction in the dissertation in Ecosystem-based Management of Marine Systems from the University of St Andrews and Scottish Association for Marine Science. During her masters, she received the Dean’s List Award for academic excellence. Prior to pursuing her PhD Jessica has worked for various NGOs including as a small-scale fisheries monitoring, evaluation and learning specialist on a project establishing a network of locally managed marine areas in southeast Madagascar and as a marine scientist in Cambodia’s first large-scale marine protected area.

Role of marine ornamental fisheries in achieving net positive outcomes for people and nature.

The marine aquarium trade, a multi-billion dollar industry, remains reliant on harvesting from coral reefs by small scale fishers, leading to concerns over the trade’s sustainability. However, the trade is described as high value, low volume and could represent a more sustainable use of coral reef resources compared to other reef-based livelihoods, possibly disincentivising more environmentally damaging livelihoods whilst also providing socioeconomic benefits to source communities. Indonesia is one of the main source countries for the trade and globally is the country most dependent on marine ecosystems with the most coral reef fishers.

Jessica’s project includes working with source communities across Indonesia to investigate source community livelihood portfolios, with an emphasis on reef-based livelihoods, community wellbeing and local ecological knowledge of the fishery. This project will address knowledge gaps in the social dimensions of the marine aquarium trade, which have received limited attention compared to other fisheries sectors. 

Jessica is interested in the application of scientific research to support sustainable marine natural resource management to safeguard both the wellbeing of coastal communities and marine biodiversity. 

Jessica's supervisors include :-

Dr Mahesh Poudyal
Dr David Roberts
Dr Joanna Murray (CEFAS, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science)
Dr Matthew Bond (OATA, Ornamental Aquatics Trade Association)
Dr Donna Snellgrove (Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Mars Petcare Inc.)
Professor Luky Adrianto (International Research Institute for Maritime, Ocean and Fisheries, IPB University)