Ocean Job Board
Contractor
Earth
GLOBAL, closes November 11, 2026
About the Company
Global Fishing Watch is an international, non-profit organization committed to advancing ocean governance through increased transparency. We create and publicly share knowledge about human activity at sea to enable fair and sustainable use of our ocean. Founded in 2015 through a collaboration between Oceana, SkyTruth, and Google, GFW became an independent non-profit organization in June 2017. Using cutting-edge technology, we create and publicly share map visualizations, data, and analysis tools to enable scientific research and drive a transformation in how we manage our ocean. By 2030, we aim to monitor and visualize the impact of ocean-going vessels, both industrial and small-scale, that are responsible for the vast majority of the global seafood catch. We believe human activity at sea should be common knowledge in order to safeguard the global ocean commons for the common good of all.
Global Fishing Watch is working to enhance fisheries management by promoting transparency, building analytical capacity, and fostering regional collaboration. Through open data, satellite technology, and partnerships with governments and stakeholders, we aim to equip decision makers with the tools needed to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, support small-scale fishers, and improve marine conservation. Our program focuses on sharing insights, capacity development and the integration of advanced monitoring and evaluation techniques to drive evidence based policy and sustainable ocean governance.
Global Fishing Watch (GFW) seeks an independent consultant to support its Pacific engagement through the end of 2026, centred on the 23rd Regular Session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC23) in Vanuatu.
GFW is an international nonprofit that advances ocean governance through increased transparency of human activity at sea, using satellite vessel tracking data and open technology. GFW engages as an observer at five regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs), including WCPFC, with two policy priorities: vessel tracking through the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and, to a much lesser extent, transparency of vessel ultimate beneficial ownership (UBO).
At WCPFC, GFW presented an observer paper at the 22nd Technical and Compliance Committee (TCC22) framing AIS as a compliance tool, and will build on it at WCPFC23. GFW now needs on-the-ground Pacific expertise to deliver this engagement and to shape a detailed WCPFC engagement strategy for 2027.
The consultant will work with GFW's International Policy Officer – RFMOs on four areas:
The consultancy runs from 16 November 2026 to 15 January 2027, with an estimated 25–30 working days.
Deliverables
The consultant will send brief progress updates by email weekly.
Submission requirements
Interested individuals should submit a proposal including a detailed plan and budget. The proposal should consist of:
Evaluation. GFW will assess proposals on relevant WCPFC and Pacific experience (40%), quality of the proposed approach (30%), value for money (20%), and availability (10%). Shortlisted candidates may be invited to a brief interview.
Submission deadline
Proposals should be submitted by November 11, 2026.
Equal Opportunities: Global Fishing Watch is an equal opportunities employer. Global Fishing Watch is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within our organization and in the greater ocean management and conservation community. We believe that diverse backgrounds, skills, knowledge and viewpoints make us a stronger organization. Bringing together professionals who possess broad experiences and a spectrum of perspectives will enable us to reach our goal of improved ocean governance faster. We hire and promote qualified professionals without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or parental status, national origin, age, physical or mental disability or medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Our organizational goals match the urgent challenges facing our global ocean, and our mission is designed to help secure a healthy ocean for all. We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of humanity’s diversity, by providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all employees of Global Fishing Watch and for our partners, vendors, suppliers and contractors.