Thesis Participatory Approach for the Monitoring and Sustainable Management of the Recreative Fisheries in French Guiana M - F H/F

Les missions du poste

Deadline for applications: 19/05/2026

Who are we?

Ifremer works in a network with the French scientific community, also collaborating with international partner organizations, in the frame of several national and international projects, including contractual activities.

Two research axes are developed by the Fisheries Biodiversity unit within the pluridisciplinary joint research and service Unit LEEISA, Laboratory Ecology, Evolution and Amazonian System Interactions, (CNRS-National Center for Scientific Research, Université de Guyane, Ifremer):

1. Studies of the fisheries Socio-Ecosystems
2. Population and community dynamics under fisheries exploitation

The UAR has access to coastal marine resources, equipment for sampling fauna and measuring environmental parameters.

Reporting to Fabian Blanchard, Ifremer's overseas representative for French Guiana, who is also the deputy director of the UAR LEEISA and the thesis supervisor.

What is the topic of the thesis?

Recreational fishing represents a significant activity in France (2.74 million practitioners) with major impacts on certain fish stocks and ecosystems. In French Guiana, these practices coexist with subsistence fishing in a context of high demographic pressure, rising prices, and coastal urbanization. Despite their importance, these activities remain poorly documented and monitored, making it difficult to assess their impact. This knowledge gap limits the ability to adapt regulations and ensure sustainable management. The thesis aims to develop and test a methodology to characterize recreational fishing activities in French Guiana, identify their drivers (socio-economic, cultural, regulatory, environmental), and assess their impact on resources. A participatory approach will seek to co-construct monitoring indicators and sustainable management scenarios. The research will combine direct observations through a participatory monitoring mobile application (geolocation, catches, techniques) and surveys with fishers to identify their profiles and motivations. The data will be subjected to statistical analyses and econometric modeling to map pressure zones and use conflicts, thus contributing to reflections on the evolution of the Guianese coastal socio-ecosystem.

What will your mission and activities be?

• Review of the literature on participatory approaches to monitoring recreational activities
• Conducting interviews and workshops
• Selecting a participatory monitoring app for smartphones
• Monitoring the relevant activities
• Analysing the data collected
• Drafting publications and a thesis manuscript

Keywords: Recreational fishing, participatory approach, sustainability of coastal socio-ecosystems

How will your work be carried out?

• Phase 1: Review of the literature on participatory approaches to monitoring recreational activities and conducting interviews and workshops
• Phase 2: Selection and implementation of a participatory monitoring app for smartphones
• Phase 3: Analysis of monitoring data
• Drafting of publications and thesis

Le profil recherché

Who are you?

We are seeking a candidate with a Master's degree in coastal management (economics, management, ecology) with an interest in interdisciplinarity. The project relies on a participatory approach involving fieldwork with fishers and local stakeholders in French Guiana. Expected skills: mixed methods (surveys, statistical analyses), participatory facilitation, interpersonal skills, and autonomy.

Infos complémentaires

What are your benefits?

• We have a teleworking agreement and our staff have 12 comp time days (after 6 months' seniority) and supra statutory leave.
• We allocate a significant budget to developing skills, through individual or collective training actions.
• We have a CSR policy inspired by the purposes of the institute (sustainable mobility allowance, etc.).

How to apply?

The application must include the following elements in a pdf file:

• a cover letter, explaining why the research topic is of interest to you and why you have the required background and experience for the position
• a curriculum vitae
• a reference letter, ideally from one of the Masters advisors
• an academic transcript (Bachelor + Master 1 and first semester Master 2)

The deadline for applications via this website is May 19, 2026.

Nevertheless, we strongly advise contacting the three thesis supervisors as soon as possible with your CV and a message briefly explaining your interest in the topic of the PhD thesis:

• Fabian Blanchard
• Olivier Thébaud

The deadline for applications via the Amethis website is May 17, 2026.

What are the next steps?

• Review of your application
• In-person or video conference interview
• Interview before a doctoral school committee, with representatives from the doctoral school and Ifremer
• Approval of your application by the doctoral school council

Doctoral student contracts will start as of October 5th, 2026, subject to the submission of administrative documents authorizing Ifremer to recruit the doctoral student (certificate of completion of the Master 2 or engineering degree + visa for foreign doctoral students outside the EU).

Job details

Title: Thesis Participatory Approach for the Monitoring and Sustainable Management of the Recreative Fisheries in French Guiana M - F H/F

Employer: Ifremer - French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea

Location: Arrondissement de Cayenne Cayenne, French Guiana

Published: 2026-04-28

Application deadline: 2026-05-19 23:59 (Europe/Paris)

Job type: PhD

Field: Ecology, Marine Biology, Environmental Economics, Socioeconomics, Environmental Science, Aquaculture, Statistics