Dr. Sarah Jane Harper, PhD, MSc, BSc

I am a marine social scientist working at the intersection of fisheries, policy, and social justice where I apply feminist perspectives and methodologies towards understanding access and the distribution of benefits in fisheries. More specifically this includes a range of topics from resource economics to governance theory, Indigenous rights, and gender studies.

My PhD research, which I completed in 2019, focused on estimating the contributions by women to fisheries economies worldwide. For this project, I applied a broad definition of fisheries economies, to include the informal and unpaid roles and responsibilities that not only contribute to converting fish into marketable, consumable products, but also the social capital necessary for building resilience in coastal communities. Much of this work, often done by women, is overlooked and undervalued when developing policies and programs aimed at promoting food and livelihood security, for example.

I have collaborated on projects with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (Rome), The International Institute for Environment and Development (London), Oceana (Washington, DC), The Heiltsuk First Nation on Canada's Pacific Coast as well as partners and organizations around the world on projects related to sustainable and equitable fisheries management.

I have published my research in over 20 peer-review journal articles and have been featured in pieces produced by Hakai Magazine, Voice of America and other media outlets.

Sub specialities: Sustainable Fisheries; Gender & Environmental Justice; Gender & Resource Management; Fisheries Economics; Fisheries Co-management; Fisheries-related food security and sustianable livelihoods; Blue Economy