PhD in Ecology and Natural Resource Management

Current position: Assistant Professor at Marine Affairs Program, Dalhousie University Faculty of Science, Canada

Research focus: researching innovative cultivation techniques for sustainable production of endangered freshwater fish species in Europe

Conflict over natural resources is inherently unsustainable. Such is the case for wild Atlantic salmon populations across Europe where using hatcheries as conservation tools has created controversy. Hannah is researching solutions for more sustainable salmon conservation by comparing small-scale voluntary hatcheries with habitat improvement and restoration work, with the aim of understanding underlying drivers of conflict and identifying solutions to harmonise salmon management efforts.

Specifically, she is investigating different perspectives involved in conflicts over voluntary hatcheries, which are thought to have a damaging impact on salmon population genetics and survival. Hannah is exchanging knowledge with fishery ecologists, anglers, aquaculture experts, and policy makers, and by evaluating case studies in different countries, she is bringing clarity to the issue.

CV as submitted for the Green Talents award (2017):

Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway

Research focus: researching innovative cultivation techniques for sustainable production of endangered freshwater fish species in Europe

Conflict over natural resources is inherently unsustainable. Such is the case for wild Atlantic salmon populations across Europe where using hatcheries as conservation tools has created controversy. Hannah is researching solutions for more sustainable salmon conservation by comparing small-scale voluntary hatcheries with habitat improvement and restoration work, with the aim of understanding underlying drivers of conflict and identifying solutions to harmonize salmon management efforts. Specifically, she is investigating different perspectives involved in conflicts over voluntary hatcheries, which are thought to have a damaging impact on salmon population genetics and survival. Hannah is exchanging knowledge with fishery ecologists, anglers, aquaculture experts, and policy makers and by evaluating case studies in different countries, she is bringing clarity to the issue. Her goal is to develop a comprehensive view of how voluntary hatcheries add and detract to salmon conservation efforts, and give insight into their future management.

A Marie Curie research fellow, Hannah is excited to add to her expertise in sustainability from Germany’s top research institutions, as part of the Green Talents Forum. She views Germany as a world leader in innovative and socially-supported approaches to sustainability research development, and, by cooperating with the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS), she hopes to engage with new and relevant stakeholders. Hannah will also take advantage of the Science Forum by building networks with industry professionals from VAUDE and academics from institutions such as IRI THESys, Berlin.

The jury acknowledged the valuable insights and findings Hannah brings to the development of sustainable salmon conservation issues. Her research about the Atlantic salmon fish stock is closely related to the sustainability of salmon conservation in Germany and highlights the need for policies that have been developed through collaborative research practises and stakeholder engagement.