University of Hawaii Launches Advanced Degrees in Sustainable Fisheries Management to Support Sustainable Development Goals

The University of Hawaii (UH) has initiated new master’s and doctorate degree programs focused on sustainable fisheries management. This development aligns with multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by creating a locally relevant, culturally informed approach to marine resource management in the Pacific region. The program aims to train a new generation of scientists equipped to address the unique ecological and social challenges of Pacific Island fisheries.

Advancing SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

The new UH programs are designed to provide inclusive and equitable quality education, directly addressing key targets within the SDGs. The initiative focuses on building local capacity and reversing the “brain drain” of talent from the region.

• Local and Indigenous Focus: A primary objective is to provide advanced educational opportunities for Hawaii’s students, particularly Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, who would otherwise need to pursue degrees on the mainland. This contributes to SDG 4 by making higher education more accessible.
• Empowering Women in Science: Assistant Professor Kanoe Morishige highlighted the program’s goal of supporting female scientists and increasing the representation of Indigenous women in fisheries science, a direct contribution to SDG 5.
• Integrating Knowledge Systems: The curriculum uniquely merges Western scientific techniques with Native Hawaiian values and resource management practices. This approach promotes SDG 10 by recognizing and elevating Indigenous knowledge systems, which are often marginalized in conventional academic settings.

Fostering SDG 14: Life Below Water

The core mission of the degree programs is the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, which is the central aim of SDG 14. The program addresses the specific needs of the Pacific Islands, which differ significantly from the continental fisheries often studied in U.S. mainland institutions.

1. Region-Specific Management: The program will focus on the management of tropical, multi-species fisheries (e.g., tuna and coral reef fisheries) rather than the cold-water, industrial fisheries common to North America. This tailored approach is critical for developing effective, sustainable management strategies.
2. Culturally Relevant Science: By integrating Indigenous stewardship practices, the program aims to create management decisions that are more trusted and durable within local communities, enhancing the effectiveness of conservation efforts.
3. Building Trust and Transparency: The program seeks to build trust among diverse stakeholders—including fishers, scientists, and conservationists—by training students in rigorous and transparent scientific methods, a crucial step for the long-term health of marine ecosystems.

Strengthening SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

The initiative is built on a foundation of collaboration and is poised to strengthen the regional economy by creating a skilled workforce.

• Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: The program’s development involved a broad partnership, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the state’s Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), the longline fishing industry, and environmental groups. This exemplifies the collaborative approach championed by SDG 17.
• Developing a Local Workforce: By training local experts, the program supports SDG 8. Graduates are expected to fill roles in federal and state agencies, regional management bodies, non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions, contributing to sustainable economic development in Hawaii and across the Pacific.
• Regional and International Cooperation: The program is expected to attract students from other Pacific Island nations, including Palau, the Marshall Islands, and Fiji, fostering a network of skilled professionals dedicated to the sustainable management of shared marine resources.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The article’s central theme is the establishment of new master’s and doctorate degree programs in sustainable fisheries management at the University of Hawaii (UH). This directly addresses the goal of providing inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The article specifically mentions the goal of increasing the representation of women, particularly Indigenous women, in the field of fisheries science. Assistant professor Kanoe Morishige is quoted saying, “There’s not enough Indigenous women in fisheries science. So it’s an exciting moment,” highlighting an effort to empower women in a scientific field.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  A key objective of the new UH program is to “reverse the brain drain” by training local students for local jobs in Hawaii and the Pacific. This connects to promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire focus of the new academic program is on sustainable fisheries management, studying marine species, and merging Western and Native Hawaiian management practices to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources. The discussion about the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument also directly relates to the conservation of marine ecosystems.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article highlights the collaboration that led to the creation of the new degree program. It mentions that the concept was supported by a diverse group of stakeholders, including “environmentalists, the longline fishing industry, NOAA and the state’s Division of Aquatic Resources,” demonstrating a multi-stakeholder partnership to achieve sustainable development goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.3: By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university. The article discusses the creation of new master’s and doctorate programs at UH, directly expanding access to quality tertiary education in a specialized field.
   • Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development. The curriculum is explicitly designed to teach sustainable fisheries management and incorporates “a Native Hawaiian view, values and practices,” which aligns with education for sustainable development and appreciation of cultural diversity.

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in all levels of decision-making. The article’s emphasis on helping “female scientists” and increasing the number of “Indigenous women in fisheries science” directly supports this target by aiming to increase female participation and leadership in a scientific and management field.

3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.6: By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training. The program aims to “train local people for local jobs in Hawaii and throughout the Pacific,” creating a direct pathway from education to employment for local youth and preventing the “brain drain.”

4. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems. The program’s focus on merging scientific research with Indigenous management practices is a strategy to achieve sustainable management. The legal conflict over the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument is a direct example of efforts to protect marine ecosystems.
   • Target 14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing… and implement science-based management plans. The new degrees are designed to train graduates who can develop and implement such plans, tailored to the unique tropical ecosystems of the Pacific, which differ from the cold-water fisheries often taught on the mainland.
   • Target 14.a: Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology. The article states that NOAA and DAR are interested in the research that will come out of UH and that the program will be a “hub of innovation” for scientists and students to find new ways of doing science, thereby increasing regional research capacity.

5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships. The article explicitly states the program was supported by environmentalists, the fishing industry, and government agencies (NOAA, DAR), showcasing a classic multi-stakeholder partnership to advance education and sustainable resource management.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 4 (Quality Education):

   • Implied Indicator: The number of students, particularly local, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian students, enrolling in and graduating from the new master’s and doctorate programs. The article mentions that officials from Palau, the Marshall Islands, and Fiji plan to send students.

2. For SDG 5 (Gender Equality):

   • Implied Indicator: The proportion of women, especially Indigenous women, among students, faculty, and graduates of the program who enter the fisheries science field. Kanoe Morishige’s statement directly points to this as a metric of success.

3. For SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):

   • Implied Indicator: The employment rate of program graduates in relevant local jobs with government agencies (like NOAA and DAR), NGOs, or academia in Hawaii and the Pacific region. The article notes that these agencies “want to hire local graduates.”

4. For SDG 14 (Life Below Water):

   • Implied Indicator: The number of new, locally-developed, science-based fisheries management plans that incorporate Indigenous knowledge. The article emphasizes that management strategies from the mainland often fail and a “locally developed approach” is needed.
   • Implied Indicator: The volume and impact of scientific research on Pacific marine species and ecosystems produced by the program’s faculty and students.

5. For SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):

   • Mentioned Indicator: The number and diversity of stakeholders supporting the program. The article lists “environmentalists, the longline fishing industry, NOAA and the state’s Division of Aquatic Resources” as partners.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: hawaiitribune-herald.com