Tressa Arbow presented her research, “Workforce Sustainability in the Washington Maritime Industry,” at the Washington Maritime Blue Strategy Rollout event on Tuesday, January 8. Washington Maritime Blue is a task force established by Governor Inslee in 2017 to develop a plan for increasing the competitiveness and sustainability of the Washington maritime industry, or Blue Economy. The roll out event was the formal delivery of the Strategic Plan, and included remarks from Advisory Council members and leaders of key demonstration projects. Tressa’s thesis focuses on the maritime workforce in Washington, with an emphasis on how diversity, inclusion, and equity can contribute to the sustainability of the industry. Her report is included as an appendix in the Washington Maritime Blue Strategy and can be found at www.maritimeblue.org.
Samantha Farquhar has been studying Canada’s national and international marine conservation commitments with the help of the FLAS. Her work has been focused on Canada’s promise to protect 10 percent of its marine and coastal areas by 2020 through the designation of “other effective area-based conservation measures” or OECMs. These areas differ from traditional MPAs, but to what extent they differ is debated, as has the meanings of “conservation” and “protected” areas. Farquhar has become comfortable with the French language through her FLAS, allowing her to work with the Government of Canada and other intergovernmental organizations.
Photos taken by Sam Farquhar
Sam Farquhar has been awarded a Fulbright to Madagascar to study the social impacts of recent shifts in fisheries policy and the designation of a locally managed marine area. She will be working alongside Blue Ventures for 9 months from March to December in the Barren Isles.
First year SMEA student Brittany Hoedemaker authored a post on Currents, SMEA’s student-run blog. Check out her piece where she explores the disappearance of sixgill sharks in Puget Sound. Brittany serves as an editor and author for Currents so keep an eye out for additional posts throughout the year.
Sam Farquhar presented work with coauthor Maria Santos of the New University of Lisbon regarding innovative ways synergy can be promoted and streamlined between the conservation of marine living resources and the conservation of nonliving (cultural) resources through the framework of international commitments like the Aichi Targets and Sustainable Development Goals. Sam received a $750 award from the College of the Environment to attend this meeting.

Sam speaking at the Human Sea Conference
