Research summary
Oceans around the world face significant challenges, such as those caused by climate change, plastic pollution, industrial development and overfishing. Addressing these large-scale, unprecedented threats requires interdisciplinary collaboration informed by a deep perspective of long-term ecological change. Dr. Loren McClenachan, Canada Research Chair in Ocean History and Sustainability, is integrating environmental history, historical ecology and social science to come up with ways to help protect and conserve the world’s oceans.
She and her research team are addressing fisheries sustainability, climate adaptation and the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives in managing marine resources. They are also creating a cohort of newly trained interdisciplinary scholars and enabling collaborative networks of academics, conservation practitioners and stakeholders to increase ocean sustainability, productivity and equity.