Ph.D. Student Profile: Steve Eayrs
Degree: Natural Resources and Environmental Studies
Ocean Process Analysis Lab
Research Scientist (Fish behavior/fishing gear technology)
Gulf of Maine Research Institute.
350 Commercial St, Portland, ME. 04101.
Ph. 207 228 1659, email: steve@gmri.org
Research Topic: Improving fishing profitability and sustainable fishing practice: Testing the application of an Environmental Management System in the New England groundfish fishery
Advisor: Dr. Chris Glass
Description of Research
My proposed doctoral research will explore the application of an Environmental Management System (EMS) in the New England groundfish fishery to improve the profitability of fishermen and reduce the environmental impact of fishing activity. An EMS is a voluntary process that can help fishermen identify and address their regulatory and non-regulatory responsibilities and provide a mechanism to systematically achieve and record gains in operating efficiency, seafood quality and value. It is a continuous process that is periodically refined to prepare fishermen to meet current and future challenges, review and improve their actions to meet government regulation and societal demands, demonstrate environmental stewardship, and help flag areas requiring additional resources and effort.
My doctoral research will:
- work collaboratively with a group of fishermen from Maine to test the efficacy of an Environmental Management System to bring about changes in operating and business practice while simultaneously reducing the negative impacts of fishing activity on the environment;
- explore socio-economic circumstances that provide conditions suitable for EMS development, identify the minimum elements that comprise an EMS, and develop protocols and metrics to test the efficacy of the EMS to provide improved socio-economic and environmental outcomes from modified fishing activity.
Selected Presentations and Publications
Books
- Winger, P., Eayrs, S. & Glass, C. (in press). Fish behaviour near bottom trawls. In Behavior of Marine Fishes: Capture Processes and Conservation Challenges. P. He, editor. Ames, IA: Blackwell Sciences
- Eayrs, S. 2005. A guide to bycatch reduction in tropical shrimp-trawl fisheries. Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations. Rome. ISBN 987 92 5 105674 5. 105 pp.
- Eayrs. S., Buxton. C., & McDonald. B. 1997. A guide to bycatch reduction in Australian prawn trawl fisheries. Australian Maritime College. ISBN 0 646 32823 9. 54 pp.
Refereed Papers
- Yanase, K., Eayrs, S. & Arimoto, T. 2009. Quantitative analysis of the behaviour of the flatheads (Platycephalidae) during the trawl capture process as determined by real-time multiple observations. Fisheries Research 95: 28–39.
- Yanase, K., Eayrs, S. & Arimoto, T. 2007. Influence of water temperature and fish length on the maximum swimming speed of sand flathead, Platycephalus bassensis: Implications for trawl selectivity. Fisheries Research 842: 180-188
- Piasente, M., Knuckey, I. A.., Eayrs, S. & McShane, P. E. 2004. In situ examination of the behaviour of commercial fish in response to demersal trawl nets. Marine and Freshwater Research 55: 1 - 11.
- Broadhurst. M., Kennelly. S. & Eayrs. S. 1999. Flow-related effects in prawn trawl codends: potential for increasing the escape of unwanted fish through square-mesh panels. Fisheries Bulletin 97: 1 - 8.
- Brewer. D., Rawlinson. N., Eayrs. S. & Burridge. C. 1998. An assessment of Bycatch Reduction Devices in a tropical Australian prawn trawl fishery. Fisheries Research 720 (1998) 1 - 21.
- Brewer. D., Eayrs. S., Mounsey, R. & Wang, Y. 1996. Assessment of an environmentally friendly, semi-pelagic fish trawl. Fisheries Research 26. (1996) 225 - 237.
Education
- B. App. Sci (Fishing technology) Australian Maritime College
- M. Philosophy (Fisheries) Australian Maritime College
Professional Positions
- 2007 – present Research Scientist - Fish Behavior/ Fishing Gear Technology.
- 1991 – 2006 Fishing technologist, Australian Maritime College (AMC).
- 1989 – 1991 Commercial fisherman. Australia, Myanmar.
- 1988 – 1989 Fishing technologist, AMC.
- 1983 – 1985 Commercial fisherman. Australia, Saudi Arabia.
