Rodrigo Oyanedel from the University of Oxford, UK, is researching the illegal fishing of common hake in Chile which is affecting local fishermen and fisherwomen that depend on hake fishing for their livelihoods. He will investigate the drivers for illegal fishing and aims to design interventions to reduce the practice in the region. 

Rodrigo said: “Non-compliance with regulations is hard to see and becomes visible through the negative impacts it produces, it’s a threat that needs an urgent solution if we want to protect the ocean for future generations.” 


Guilherme Suzano Coqueiro from the Federal University of Paraná, Brazil is studying the socioeconomic effects of using bycatch exclusion devices in small-scale, traditional community fisheries in southern Brazil.  

Guilherme commented: “I do believe this study will point out substantial aspects in the development of best practices on our local fisheries and I am very grateful the MSC has the interest to fund my research.” 


Jessica Hudgins from Heriot-Watt University, UK, will be researching the population dynamics of sawfishes in Queensland waters. In collaboration with Sharks and Rays Australia, the project will have workshops to train fishers on safe sawfish handling, sawfish tagging and DNA sample collection.  

Jessica said: “This research will allow us to understand current and historical distributions of sawfish using approaches that can be applied to other data poor or remote areas.” 
Santiago Bianchi from the National University of Mar del Plata, Argentina, will use the fund to study whether escape rings can help reduce spider crab bycatch in the Argentine southern king crab fisheries.  

Santiago said: “I believe that the ocean conservation is currently the most important program, so with my research I’m supporting the ocean science and contribute to the ecosystem approach in fisheries.”