Duties and Responsibilities

Under this assignment, and in consultation with the COP-appointed Councillor for Marine Pollution, the consultant will, based on desktop research, develop a report covering: a) Evaluation of the relationship between FADs and marine debris. b) Principles for best practice to avoid FAD loss, entanglement with marine wildlife, and beaching in corals, mangroves and other aquatic and coastal habitats, and that seek to reduce their contribution to plastic pollution. This should include liaison with the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), further to their work on improving FAD design, and the relevant fisheries organization. c) Mediterranean Sea as a case study area, looking at FADs as a source of marine debris, to review compliance with existing regulations, to recommend environmental management and control measures to avoid gear loss, and to explore ways of improving the environmentally sound retrieval of lost FADs. Timeline: • Prepare an outline of the report for comment by the Secretariat by 15 April 2025. • Share preliminary draft with the Secretariat for comments by 15 May 2025 (to ensure the work is progressing in the desired direction). • Based on the comments, submit the first draft by 15 June 2025. • Following review of the first draft report by the Secretariat by 1 July, submit a final draft by 15 August 2025. • Assist in potential further revisions based on comments from the CMS Scientific Council.

Qualifications/special skills

Post graduate degree in biological or environmental sciences, or in another field relevant to the subject is required. Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience is required. In-depth knowledge of marine conservation, marine debris, FADs, fisheries in the Mediterranean desirable.

Languages

Fluency in English and excellent writing skills are required.