US Ocean Conservation Fellow - Marine Protected Areas

About the Organization:

WILDCOAST, founded in 2000, is an international team that conserves coastal and marine ecosystems and addresses climate change through natural solutions. To achieve our mission we establish and manage protected areas, protect and restore blue carbon ecosystems, and partner with local communities, governments, and the private sector. WILDCOAST is currently helping to conserve and rewild threatened coastal and marine ecosystems in Mexico and California with natural climate solutions.

https://wildcoast.org

Position Description: 

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are designated ocean regions established to conserve and protect marine life and habitats. These areas, which can range from state-managed reserves to larger conservation areas, play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity, supporting fisheries, and providing opportunities for research and recreation.

WILDCOAST is deeply involved in the conservation of California's MPA network, working on several projects to ensure their effectiveness and resilience.

As the US Ocean Conservation Fellow focused on Marine Protected Areas, you will play a vital role in leveraging existing community science data to inform our conservation efforts in San Diego County. Specifically, you will be responsible for accessing and analyzing data from a relevant iNaturalist (iNaturalist.org) project focused on MPAs in California.

Your primary tasks will include:
*Becoming familiar with the iNaturalist platform and the specific MPA project dataset.
*Exploring the available data to determine the types of ecological analyses that can be conducted.
*Conducting relevant statistical or spatial analyses to address questions related to biodiversity within San Diego County's MPAs. Potential analyses could include identifying biodiversity hotspots, comparing species diversity between different MPA classifications (e.g., State Marine Reserves vs. State Marine Conservation Areas), highlighting notable or endangered species occurrences, or comparing diversity across various marine habitats.
*Documenting your methodology, findings, and interpretations in a clear and concise written report.
*Presenting your key findings to the WILDCOAST team.

This internship offers a unique opportunity to contribute directly to evidence-based conservation and gain valuable experience in ecological data analysis and scientific reporting within the context of marine conservation.

Desired Qualifications:

*Currently enrolled in or a graduate of a Bachelor's or advanced degree program in biology, ecology, marine science, environmental science, data science, or a related field.
*Familiarity with ecological concepts, particularly related to biodiversity and habitat analysis.
*Experience with data analysis software or programming languages (e.g., R, Python, GIS software).
*Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently to explore and interpret data.
*Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly present technical information.
*A demonstrated interest in marine conservation and environmental issues.
*Experience with community science data platforms like iNaturalist is a plus but not required.
*Ability to work effectively in a virtual and independent setting, while maintaining clear communication with the WILDCOAST team.

Time Commintment: 10-20 hours/week