University of Hawaii Establishes Advanced Degree Programs in Sustainable Fisheries Management

The University of Hawaii (UH) has initiated new master’s and doctorate degree programs focused on sustainable fisheries management, hiring eight new faculty members to support the endeavor. The programs are designed to address critical gaps in marine resource management in the Pacific region, directly aligning with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Alignment with SDG 14: Life Below Water

The core mission of the new UH programs is the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, a direct contribution to SDG 14. The initiative seeks to create management strategies tailored to the unique ecological and cultural context of the Pacific Islands.

Program Objectives for Sustainable Marine Ecosystems

• To develop management approaches specifically for warm tropical waters, which differ significantly from the cold-water, industrial fisheries often studied in U.S. mainland programs.
• To integrate Western scientific methods with traditional Native Hawaiian and Indigenous Pacific Island resource stewardship practices for a more holistic and effective management framework.
• To conduct research on local marine species, such as tuna and coral reef fisheries, to ensure management decisions are based on relevant data.
• To build trust among diverse stakeholders, including fishers, scientists, and conservationists, by training students in rigorous and transparent scientific methods.

Contribution to Social and Educational SDGs

Beyond its environmental focus, the program makes significant contributions to goals related to education, equality, and economic opportunity.

SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

• The programs provide specialized, high-quality graduate-level education that was previously unavailable in the region, forcing students to pursue degrees on the mainland.
• A primary goal is to “reverse the brain drain” by creating opportunities for local students to obtain advanced degrees and build careers in Hawaii and the Pacific.
• Graduates will be prepared for local employment in federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions, strengthening the regional workforce.
• The program will also serve students from other Pacific Island nations, including Palau, the Marshall Islands, and Fiji, enhancing regional capacity for sustainable development.

SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

• The initiative actively seeks to remove barriers for underrepresented groups in fisheries science.
• A stated objective is to increase the presence of Indigenous women in the field, promoting gender equality and empowering a key demographic.
• By creating a locally accessible program, it reduces inequalities for Indigenous and local students who may face challenges studying abroad.

Fostering Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

The establishment of the degree programs exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership, a crucial component of achieving the SDGs.

Collaborative Stakeholder Support

The concept for the program received broad support from a diverse group of partners, including:

1. The University of Hawaii’s Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology
2. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
3. The State of Hawaii’s Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR)
4. The longline fishing industry
5. Environmental and cultural conservation groups

Outcomes of Strategic Partnerships

This collaboration is expected to create a hub of innovation, allowing agency scientists to mentor the next generation and work alongside students on new research. Both NOAA and DAR have expressed interest in hiring program graduates and providing professional development opportunities for their existing staff, ensuring that the program’s impact is integrated directly into the management of the region’s marine resources.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

1. 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 by creating specialized, advanced learning opportunities. The program aims to fill an educational gap in the Pacific region and train local people for local jobs.
2. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article explicitly mentions the goal of empowering women in science. Assistant professor Kanoe Morishige states her desire to help “local students, especially female scientists” and highlights the underrepresentation of Indigenous women, noting, “There’s not enough Indigenous women in fisheries science.” This connects directly to promoting opportunities for women in specialized scientific fields.
3. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • The entire focus of the new academic program is on “sustainable fisheries management.” The article discusses the need to conserve and sustainably use marine resources by merging Western and Native Hawaiian management practices, studying Pacific marine species, and implementing science-based management plans to ensure fisheries “can be sustained for generations.” The legal conflict over opening marine national monuments to commercial fishing also falls under this goal.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article highlights a multi-stakeholder collaboration to create the new degree program. It mentions that the concept was supported by “environmentalists, the longline fishing industry, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and the state’s Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR).” Furthermore, the program intends to serve not just Hawaii but also other Pacific Island nations like Palau, the Marshall Islands, and Fiji, fostering regional partnerships.

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

1. Under SDG 4 (Quality Education):
   • Target 4.4: “By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.” The new UH program is designed specifically to provide graduates with advanced skills for “local jobs in fishery science or management with government agencies or nonprofit organizations or academia.”
   • Target 4.7: “By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development…” The program’s curriculum, which focuses on sustainable fisheries and merges scientific research with Indigenous knowledge, is a direct form of education for sustainable development.
2. Under SDG 5 (Gender Equality):
   • Target 5.5: “Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.” The program’s stated goal of increasing the number of “Indigenous women in fisheries science” directly supports this target by aiming to improve female participation and leadership in a key scientific and economic sector.
3. Under SDG 14 (Life Below Water):
   • Target 14.2: “By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems…” The program’s objective to merge Western and Native Hawaiian practices is aimed at developing more effective and culturally relevant strategies for managing and protecting marine ecosystems in the Pacific.
   • Target 14.4: “By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing… and implement science-based management plans…” The core purpose of a “sustainable fisheries management” program is to train professionals who can develop and implement such science-based plans to regulate fishing.
   • 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 coming out of UH and that the program will be a “hub of innovation” for developing the “next generation of scientists,” thereby increasing local research capacity.
4. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
   • Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The development of the UH program, supported by academic institutions (UH), government agencies (NOAA, DAR), private industry (longline fishing industry), and civil society (environmentalists), is a clear example of such a partnership.

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 Targets:
   • Implied Indicator: The number of students, particularly local students, enrolling in and graduating from the new master’s and doctorate programs. This measures the increase in adults with relevant skills (Target 4.4).
   • Implied Indicator: The employment rate of graduates in local fisheries management jobs, which would demonstrate the program’s success in reversing the “brain drain” (Target 4.4).
2. For SDG 5 Targets:
   • Implied Indicator: The number and proportion of female and Indigenous women students who enroll in and graduate from the program. This would directly measure progress toward increasing their participation in fisheries science (Target 5.5).
3. For SDG 14 Targets:
   • Implied Indicator: The volume and impact of scientific research on Pacific species and fisheries management produced by the program’s faculty and students (Target 14.a).
   • Implied Indicator: The number of new, locally developed management approaches that integrate Indigenous knowledge and are adopted by agencies like NOAA and DAR (Target 14.2).
4. For SDG 17 Targets:
   • Implied Indicator: The number of formal agreements or collaborations between UH, government agencies, and other Pacific Island nations (e.g., Palau, Marshall Islands, Fiji) for student exchange or joint research (Target 17.17).
   • Implied Indicator: The number of staff from agencies like NOAA and DAR who enroll in the program for advanced degrees, indicating a strong public-academic partnership (Target 17.17).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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