I am an environmental social scientist, and my research focuses broadly on understanding the interactions between people and marine environments. Specifically, my research seeks to identify socio-economic and cultural factors that influence sustainable livelihood outcomes in vulnerable small-scale fishing communities experiencing social and ecological change. My work to date has centred on three drivers of change currently dominating international policy agendas offering potential avenues for small scale fishing communities to reduce their vulnerability to global threats such as climate change and fisheries decline; tourism, conservation, and small-scale aquaculture. 

Although the interdisciplinary nature of my work leads me to draw on a diversity of social science theories, I draw most heavily on the theories of social-ecological systems, common-pool resource management, and sustainable livelihoods. A common element of these theories, which has become increasingly relevant in my research, is the role of social capital and equity in influencing how people adapt to, and hence benefit, from change. I employ a multi-method ethnographic approach to collecting data, with an emphasis on quantitative analysis, substantiated by qualitative data.

My work focuses strongly on the interface between humans and fisheries resources, which means that I tend to work very closely with interdisciplinary teams comprised of natural and social scientists. My research generally has a strong applied element, which means that I prioritize taking measures to ensure the work I produce results in practical, sustainable outcomes for end-users. This necessitates a participatory approach to research, which means that I collaborate closely with local communities, local partners and NGOs, and decision-makers. 

I have diverse international experience, which has allowed me to build-up a portfolio of comparative research. Following several years working in Central America and the Caribbean during my PhD I held a postdoctoral position in Spain, where I worked mainly in the Mediterranean region. Since I moved to Australia to take up my current position, my research has been mainly in Asia and the Pacific. These include completed projects in Philippines and Ecuador, and current ones in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Myanmar, Australia.

Learn more about my Lab at www.livelihoodslab.com

 

 

Teaching

• EV3020: Human Dimensions of Nature, Environment and Conservation (Level 3; TSV)
• EV5009: Foundations of Natural Resource Management (Level 5; CNS & TSV)
• EV5020: Human Dimensions of Nature, Environment and Conservation (Level 5; TSV)
• EV5209: Principles and Practices of Protected Area Management (Level 5; TSV)
• SC5009: Professional Project (Level 5; CNS & TSV)
• SC5900: Special Topic (Level 5; TSV)
• SC5901: Special Topic 1 (Level 5; TSV)
• SC5902: Special Topic 2 (Level 5; TSV)
• SC5903: Literature Review (Level 5; TSV)
• SC5909: Minor Project and Seminar (Level 5; TSV)
• SC5912: Minor Project, Seminar and Literature Review (1 of 2) (Level 5; TSV)
• SC5913: Minor Project, Seminar and Literature Review (2 of 2) (Level 5; TSV)

Interests

Research

• Small-scale fisheries management
• Marine Protected Areas
• Sustainable livelihoods
• Marine tourism
• Small-scale aquaculture

Experience

• 2013 to present - Lecturer, College of Marine and Environmental Sciences (Townsville, Australia)
• 2012 - Lecturer, The School for Field Studies (Bocas del Toro, Panama)
• 2009 to 2012 - Lead Researcher, Division of Strategic Issues and Applications for Society, Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System (Spain)
• 2006 to 2008 - Postdoctoral Researcher, Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies (Balearic Islands, Spain)
• 2002 to 2003 - Doctoral Research Assistant, Coastal Resources Centre, University of Rhode Island (USA)
• 2001 to 2002 - Program Assistant, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO (Paris, France)

Research Disciplines

• Environmental Science and Management (0502)
• Fisheries Sciences (0704)
• Human Geography (1604)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Ecosystem Assessment and Management (9605)
• Environment (9699)
• Environmental Policy, Legislation and Standards (9607)

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Barrios-Garrido H, Wildermann N, Diedrich A and Hamann M (2019) Conflicts and solutions related to marine turtle conservation initiatives in the Caribbean basin: identifying new challenges. Ocean and Coastal Management, 171. pp. 19-27
• Diedrich A, Blythe J, Petersen E, Euriga E, Fatchiya A, Shimada T and Jones C (2019) Socio-economic drivers of adoption of small-scale aquaculutre in Indonesia. Sustainability, 11 (6).
• Diedrich A, Benham C, Pandihau L and Sheaves M (2019) Social capital plays a central role in transitions to sportfishing tourism in small-scale fishing communities in Papua New Guinea. Ambio, 48 (4). pp. 385-396
• Marshall N, Thiault L, Beeden A, Beeden R, Benham C, Curnock M, Diedrich A, Gurney G, Jones L, Marshall P, Nakamura N and Pert P (2019) Our environmental value orientations influence how we respond to climate change. Frontiers in Psychology, 10.
• Mizrahi M, Duce S, Pressey R, Simpfendorfer C, Weeks R and Diedrich A (2019) Global opportunities and challenges for shark large marine protected areas. Biological Conservation, 234. pp. 107-115
• Mizrahi M, Diedrich A, Weeks R and Pressey R (2019) A systematic review of the socioeconomic factors that influence how marine protected areas impact on ecosystems and livelihoods. Society and Natural Resources, 32 (1). pp. 4-20
• Barrios-Garrido H, Palmar J, Wildermann N, Rojas-Cañizales D, Diedrich A and Hamann M (2018) Marine turtle presence in the traditional pharmacopoeia, cosmovision, and beliefs of Wayuú indigenous people. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 17 (2). pp. 177-186
• D'Lima C, Everingham Y, Diedrich A, Mustika P, Hamann M and Marsh H (2018) Using multiple indicators to evaluate the sustainability of dolphin-based wildlife tourism in rural India. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 26 (10). pp. 1687-1707
• MacKeracher T, Diedrich A and Simpfendorfer C (2018) Sharks, rays and marine protected areas: a critical evaluation of current perspectives. Fish and Fisheries, 20 (2). pp. 255-267
• MacKeracher T, Diedrich A, Gurney G and Marshall N (2018) Who trusts who in the Great Barrier Reef? Exploring trust and communication in natural resource management. Environmental Science & Policy, 88. pp. 24-31
• Sandanam A, Diedrich A, Gurney G and Richardson T (2018) Perceptions of cyclone preparedness: assessing the role of individual adaptive capacity and social capital in the Wet Tropics, Australia. Sustainability, 10 (4).

Book Chapters

• Gerhardt K, Diedrich A and Jaiteh V (2018) Social science and its application to the studies of shark biology. In: Shark Research: emerging technologies and applications for the field and laboratory. Marine Biology Series. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA, pp. 319-336

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 31+ research outputs authored by Dr Amy Diedrich from 2007 onwards.

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• The Impact of Fisheries Interactions on the Foraging Behaviour of Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphins (Sousa plumbea) along the Sindhudurg Coast of Maharashtra, India (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Conservation Targeting and Prioritization in the Prairie Pothole Region (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Local People, Ecotourism and Protected Areas in Nepal (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Territorial use rights in small-scale fisheries management and the role of collective governance for sustainable fisheries in Botswana (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Understanding the social dynamics of tilapia pond aquaculture in a rural developing pacific islands context (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• A holistic approach to shark fisheries science and management: The role of contempory indigenous knowledge (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Maximising Potential Impact of Marine Protected Area Placement: An Integrated Socioeconomic Perspective. (PhD , Primary Advisor)

Completed

• Socio-economic drivers affecting marine turtle conservation status: causes and consequences (2018, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Effects of land use on butterfly (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) abundance and diversity in the tropical coastal regions of Guyana and Australia (2018, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• The Ecological State and Fishing Practices of Coral Reefs in South Buton (2018, Masters , Secondary Advisor)
• Multidisciplinary insights into the conservation and biology of sea turtles in Mozambique (2017, PhD , Secondary Advisor)

These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit the JCU Research Data Catalogue.

• Usobiaga, A. (2019) Interactions between ecological state and fishing practices on coral reefs in South Buton, Indonesia. James Cook University

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.