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 improve 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. 

My work occurs at the interface of 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 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, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Ecuador, and current ones in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Australia.

Learn more about the work that my students and I are doign via my Lab Webpage at www.livelihoodslab.com

 

 

Teaching

• EV3020: Human Dimensions of Nature, Environment and Conservation (Level 3; CNS & TSV)
• EV3201: Coastal and Marine Management and Conservation (Level 3; CNS & TSV)
• EV5020: Human Dimensions of Nature, Environment and Conservation (Level 5; CNS)
• EV5209: Principles and Practices of Protected Area Management (Level 5; TSV)
• EV5701: Coastal and Marine Management and Conservation (Level 5; CNS & TSV)
• EV5969: Human Dimensions of the Environment - Ridge to Reef (Level 5; TSV)
• SC5009: Postgraduate Internship (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)

Interests

Research

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

Experience

• 2017 to present - Senior Lecturer, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University (Townsville, Australia)
• 2013 to 2017 - 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 management (4104)

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

• Gabela-Flores M and Diedrich A (2021) Exploring leadership dynamics in community-based marine protected areas. Marine Policy, 129, Article: 104569, DOI:10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104569.
• Grant M, White W, Amepou Y, Baje L, Diedrich A, Ibana D, Jogo D, Jogo S, Kyne P, Li O, mana R, Mapmani N, Nagul A, Roeger D, Simpfendorfer C and Chin A (2021) Local knowledge surveys with small-scale fishers indicate challenges to sawfish conservation in southern Papua New Guinea. Aquatic Conservation: marine and freshwater ecosystems, 31 (10), pp. 2883-2900, DOI:10.1002/aqc.3678.
• MacKeracher T, Mizrahi M, Bergseth B, Chit Maung K, Khine Z, Phyu E, Simpfendorfer C and Diedrich A (2021) Understanding non-compliance in small-scale fisheries: shark fishing in Myanmar's Myeik Archipelago. Ambio, 50, pp. 572-585, DOI:10.1007/s13280-020-01400-1.
• Sheaves M, Waltham N, Benham C, Bradley M, Mattone C, Diedrich A, Sheaves J, Sheaves A, Hernandez S, Dale P, Banhalmi-Zakar Z and Newlands M (2021) Restoration of marine ecosystems: understanding possible futures for optimal outcomes. Science of the Total Environment, 796, Article: 148845, DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148845.
• Barrios-Garrido H, Shimada T, Diedrich A and Hamann M (2020) Conservation and enforcement capacity index (CECi): integrating human development, economy, and marine turtle status. Journal of Environmental Management, 262, Article: 110311, DOI:10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110311.
• Harohau D, Blythe J, Sheaves M and Diedrich A (2020) Limits of tilapia aquaculture for rural livelihoods in the Solomon Islands. Sustainability, 12, Article: 4592, DOI:10.3390/su12114592.
• Harohau D, Blythe J, Sheaves M and Diedrich A (2020) Uneven adoption of tilapia aquaculture in rural Solomon Islands. Aquaculture International, 28, pp. 2093-2109, DOI:10.1007/s10499-020-00577-2.
• Mizrahi M, Duce S, Khine Z, MacKeracher T, Maung K, Phyu E, Pressey R, Simpfendorfer C and Diedrich A (2020) Mitigating negative livelihood impacts of no-take MPAs on small-scale fishers. Biological Conservation, 245, Article: 108554, DOI:10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108554.
• 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, DOI:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2019.01.003.
• 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), Article: 1543, DOI:10.3390/su11061543.
• 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, DOI:10.1007/s13280-018-1081-4.
• 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, Article: 938, DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00938.

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 39+ research outputs authored by A/Prof 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

• Local people, nature-based tourism and protected areas in Nepal (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Applying vulnerability assessments within social-ecological systems: Developing a dynamic integrated vulnerability assessment (DIVA) in the Solomon Islands (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
• 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)
• Monitoring tropical freshwater biodiversity using environmental DNA (eDNA) (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

Completed

• The ecological state and fishing practices of coral reefs in South Buton (2018, Masters , 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)
• Socio-economic drivers affecting marine turtle conservation status: causes and consequences (2018, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Maximising potential impact of Marine Protected Area placement: An integrated socioeconomic perspective. (2020, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Multidisciplinary insights into the conservation and biology of sea turtles in Mozambique (2017, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Understanding social dimensions of Tilapia aquaculture in rural Solomon Islands (2021, PhD , Primary Advisor)

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

• 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.