GRACE CARR MARINE BIOLOGIST FOR THE IRISH WILDLIFE TRUST

Grace Carr marine biologist for The Irish Wildlife Trust. Fish Focus celebrates women in seafood in our latest publication.

I have always been obsessed with sharks, ever since I was a little girl. I worked teaching SCUBA diving for many years, going to areas known to be hotspots for sharks so that I could see the animals I’d loved all my life. Unfortunately, I started to notice a decline in their numbers. Areas that should have been full of sharks were now missing a top predator from their ecosystem and a vital link in keeping the oceans healthy.

It was devastating to realise and that’s one of the reasons I chose to go back to school to study marine biology and then get a Master’s of Research focussing on shark movements and environmental variables. I was lucky enough to be able to volunteer with different charities and research facilities although since I was a mature student I had to balance this with full time work.

It’s extremely important for anyone studying conservation to get as much experience through volunteering as they can. I come from a working class background and I am still one of the lucky ones as many people around the world do not have these opportunities. I think that’s important to keep in mind. There are many organisations globally that prioritise getting citizens from their own country on board and offering grants to make this happen. I think as women and people who care about the environment, we must also care about social justice and support organisations working to improve that.

After leaving University, I worked on a tagging programme for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna in Irish waters. It was unbelievable to work with such an amazing powerful fish that’s here on our doorstep! There is a lower number of females working in this aspect of the industry however, I always felt accepted by skippers and fishermen onboard and these relationships have continued on into my current role in marine advocacy and policy.

I now work at a national and EU level, lobbying politicians on legislation regarding marine protected areas and fisheries with The Irish Wildlife Trust. There are many amazing women working in the environmental NGO sector advocating for better conservation measures on land and at sea. I have been able to learn from a vast team of ocean advocates at home and internationally and have always felt support across different NGOs. While initially it can seem intimidating to speak out in large forums on different issues, it’s important to remember that we are there for a reason. We have spent the time and effort educating ourselves on these issues, we care deeply and our voices need to be heard.

I work regularly with the fishing industry around laws which impact them and the environment. The majority are male and I can say that I have never felt this to be an issue. I believe there are bigger issues at hand which need to be addressed and everyone is aware of that. Many small scale fishing communities are worried about the future and want to work to ensure a sustainable livelihood and a healthy marine ecosystem.

I think that the number of women working in marine advocacy will continue to rise and this is a good thing. We need strong women, willing to stand up in rooms historically dominated by  men and use their voice to fight for better protections in the marine environment. I’d advise any young woman wanting to work in conservation, to reach out to different organisations. While I can say that most are stretched very thin because there are such a huge amount of issues facing the marine environment, you’ll find many willing to help and support anyone coming into the sector.

I love how my career has taken me to so many different places and allowed me to meet and work with so many people from different walks of life. Some days can be difficult and you can get overwhelmed with what’s happening in the world, but it’s beyond helpful to be surrounded by like minded people all working towards the same goal.

We will be posting each individual article on our website over the coming weeks, but you can read the complete issue in our publications section here.

If you are a women working in the seafood/marine industry and you would like to be part of our next issue of Women in Seafood, or if you know of someone who you think should be, please contact me at mary@fishfocus.co.uk

Images: Grace Carr