Both the trial lecture and defense and was streamed and recorded
Trial lecture: Leveraging social norms for more sustainable harvesting
Defense: Economics of Ghost Fishing: Incentives, Behaviour and Management
Head of department at NFH Professor Petter Holm led the disputation.
Popular Science Summary
Abandoned, Lost, or Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG), also known as ghost gear, continues to trap marine life, damage habitats, and pollute the ocean—a phenomenon known as ghost fishing. This thesis examines the economic drivers and policy incentives behind gear loss and mitigation. I reviewed global studies to assess how ALDFG affects marine ecosystems, using ecosystem services as a lens to understand broader impacts on nature and society. I also developed a bio-economic model of ghost fishing to evaluate how different policies—such as taxes, quotas, or gear retrieval programs—affect fishers’ behavior and stock sustainability. Lastly, I conducted large-scale surveys with Norwegian fishers to investigate how and when they would adopt biodegradable gear to reduce the impacts of ALDFG. The findings highlight the importance of incentives, peer influence, and cooperation, offering new insights for more sustainable and socially informed fisheries governance.
Evaluation Committee
Professor Florian Diekert, University of Augsburg, Germany (1. opponent)
Dr Sturla Kvamsdal, Samfunns- og næringslivsforskning AS (2. opponent)
Associate Professor Yajie Liu, NFH (Internal member and leader of the committee)
Supervisors
Professor Claire Armstrong, Norwegian College of Fishery Science
Associate Professor Thuy Pham, Norwegian College of Fishery Science