Marine Conservation Intern

Environmental Defense Fund; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 32,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

Environmental Defense Fund, Inc. offers a Spring 2027 internship spanning 16 weeks, with a focus on seabird-fisheries interactions. The role emphasizes data processing, spatial analysis, and quantitative modelling to inform conservation strategies at an international scale.

Interns will work under a Research Scientist, gain practical experience applying quantitative ecological research to fisheries management, and collaborate with EDF scientists and partner NGOs across the West and East Coasts.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in or recently completed a master's or doctoral degree in ecology, marine science, fisheries science, conservation biology, environmental science, geography, data science, or a related quantitative field.
• Proficiency in R programming (or Python skills and a willingness to work in R), including demonstrated experience in data processing, manipulation, visualization, and statistical analysis.
• Demonstrated experience conducting spatial analyses in R, including working with geospatial data and spatial data packages.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, including the ability to independently troubleshoot code and interpret results.
• Experience reviewing and synthesizing scientific literature to inform research questions and analytical approaches.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple tasks and deliver analytical outputs within tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to disseminate scientific findings clearly to diverse audiences.
• Ability to work both independently and in a team setting.
• Demonstrate self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across all cultures and backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Help collate, process, and map seabird distribution and fisheries effort datasets to assess spatiotemporal patterns of seabird-fisheries overlap.
• Review scientific literature to compile species-specific catchability estimates, life-history characteristics, and evidence on the effectiveness of seabird bycatch mitigation measures.
• Review existing fisheries regulations and work with EDF scientists and collaborators to develop and evaluate alternative bycatch mitigation and management scenarios.
• Develop, refine, and implement R code to model the potential effectiveness of different management scenarios in reducing bycatch.
• Support sensitivity analyses to evaluate model assumptions, parameter uncertainty, and the robustness of results.
• Where feasible, incorporate observed bycatch rates to estimate the number of seabirds caught and potentially saved under different management scenarios.
• Contribute to the preparation of scientific figures, maps, technical reports, and policy-relevant recommendations to inform fisheries management decisions.
• Communicate with scientific collaborators, seabird tracking data holders, IATTC staff, and partner NGOs to support data acquisition, analysis, and policy engagement.
• Participate in advancing EDF's organizational effectiveness and culture goals, so people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included and empowered to address environmental and organizational challenges in ways that align with EDF values.

Skills

R programming

Spatial analyses in R

Data processing

Analytical skills

Communication

Teamwork

Cultural competency

Education

Master's or PhD in ecology or related quantitative field

Tools

R

Python

Job description

EDF internships provide high-quality experiences (including relevant projects and opportunities for networking) that form the foundation for any individual who is serious about pursuing an environmental career.

Location

U.S. Remote with option to be hybrid out of an EDF office in Austin, TX, Boulder, CO, Boston, MA, New York, NY, Raleigh, NC, San Francisco, CA, or Washington D.C. Intern supervisor is in California, and team members are on the West and East Coasts.

Term

Spring 2027 (16 weeks)

Hours

Full-time (35 hr/week) preferred, or Part-time (20 hr/week).

Application Materials

Interested applicants should attach their cover letter and resume to the EDF application.

Program/Department Overview

Healthy oceans are the lifeblood of our planet, but they face growing threats from climate change, overfishing, habitat destruction and other pressures. For over 20 years, EDF's Fisheries & Oceans program has successfully helped fisheries around the world become more sustainable and resilient to climate change. We have developed initiatives to protect and restore the ocean's capacity to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide, while advancing environmental justice and equity, human welfare and food security. Our work is grounded in strong scientific, policy, and economic expertise.

Bycatch - the incidental capture of non-target species - remains the leading driver of global declines in threatened seabirds, including albatrosses, with tens of thousands of birds killed annually in pelagic longline fisheries. Addressing this threat in international waters requires cooperation among fishing nations through Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). In the eastern Pacific, seabird bycatch regulations established by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) have not been updated since 2011 and lag behind those of other tuna RFMOs. The EDF-led project aims to develop science-based bycatch mitigation strategies, build international consensus and advance targeted policy reform to achieve substantial, long-term reductions in seabird bycatch across the Pacific Ocean.

Overall Function

The intern will contribute to a quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of alternative fisheries management strategies in reducing seabird bycatch, with the goal of developing science-based recommendations for updated conservation measures. They will play a key role in data processing, spatial analysis, and quantitative modelling, as well as reviewing scientific literature to inform model parameters and develop realistic management scenarios. This work will integrate seabird distributions, fishing effort, species-specific catchability, and mitigation effectiveness, to estimate the number of seabirds that could be saved annually under different management and enforcement scenarios. They will also help evaluate the potential conservation benefits of alternative mitigation strategies and translate analytical findings into actionable recommendations for fisheries managers and policymakers. The Intern will receive close mentorship from EDF scientists, and analytical tasks will be clearly scoped to fit the internship timeline.

The intern will report to the Research Scientist, Seabird-Fisheries Interactions, will be an active member of the Ocean Science Team, and will have the opportunity to work closely with partner NGOs and staff of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). By the end of the internship, the intern will have gained practical experience applying quantitative ecological research to international fisheries management, strengthened their analytical and scientific communication skills, and developed a deeper understanding of seabird conservation, ecological risk assessments, and ocean governance.

Key Responsibilities

• Help collate, process, and map seabird distribution and fisheries effort datasets to assess spatiotemporal patterns of seabird-fisheries overlap.
• Review scientific literature to compile species-specific catchability estimates, life-history characteristics, and evidence on the effectiveness of seabird bycatch mitigation measures.
• Review existing fisheries regulations and work with EDF scientists and collaborators to develop and evaluate alternative bycatch mitigation and management scenarios.
• Develop, refine, and implement R code to model the potential effectiveness of different management scenarios in reducing bycatch.
• Support sensitivity analyses to evaluate model assumptions, parameter uncertainty, and the robustness of results.
• Where feasible, incorporate observed bycatch rates to estimate the number of seabirds caught and potentially saved under different management scenarios.
• Contribute to the preparation of scientific figures, maps, technical reports, and policy-relevant recommendations to inform fisheries management decisions.
• Communicate with scientific collaborators, seabird tracking data holders, IATTC staff, and partner NGOs to support data acquisition, analysis, and policy engagement.
• Participate in advancing EDF's organizational effectiveness and culture goals, so people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included and empowered to address environmental and organizational challenges in ways that align with EDF values.

Required Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in or recently completed a master's or doctoral degree in ecology, marine science, fisheries science, conservation biology, environmental science, geography, data science, or a related quantitative field.
• Proficiency in R programming (or Python skills and a willingness to work in R), including demonstrated experience in data processing, manipulation, visualization, and statistical analysis.
• Demonstrated experience conducting spatial analyses in R, including working with geospatial data and spatial data packages.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, including the ability to independently troubleshoot code and interpret results.
• Experience reviewing and synthesizing scientific literature to inform research questions and analytical approaches.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple tasks and deliver analytical outputs within tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to disseminate scientific findings clearly to diverse audiences.
• Ability to work both independently and in a team setting.
• Demonstrate self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across all cultures and backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience analyzing animal tracking, fisheries effort, or other spatially explicit ecological datasets.
• Familiarity with spatial overlap analyses, ecological risk assessments, or quantitative approaches to assessing anthropogenic impacts on wildlife.
• Experience developing or applying statistical models, conducting sensitivity analyses, and quantifying uncertainty.
• Knowledge of seabird ecology, fisheries bycatch, marine policy or marine conservation.

Compensation

This internship would involve compensation for work paid at a rate competitive with leading non-profits at $23-24/hr, depending on degree level.

Learn more about internships at EDF -http://www.edf.org/environmental-careers/internships