Whale watching gig gets one scholar hooked on oceans

WWF

British Columbia native Jenna Stoner has grown up surrounded by oceans her whole life. But for a good long time, the ocean, to her, was merely a backdrop for the city.
Now, the Dalhousie Master of Marine Management candidate and Sobey Fund for Oceans recipient is on the path to making her life’s work the proper understanding and stewardship of the natural world, and oceans specifically.

“The Sobey Fund really opened a big door for me – I wouldn’t be able to do this program without the funding and I’m so thankful for it.”

Whaling ships have been converted into vessels used to take tourists on whale-watching expeditions in a shift from commercial whaling to whale ecotourism in Iceland. © Peter Ewins / WWF-Canada

 
Her passion for marine management came after she took an introductory course on oceanography and then worked as a naturalist on a whale watching boat.
“There is nothing like actually being on the water and seeing these things firsthand. On land, we don’t really consider just how much we depend on the ocean, and also how much our actions impact it.”
To earn the $10,000 scholarship, Stoner had to submit a 1000-1500 word essay, explaining how her intended research would contribute to the integration of governance and management solutions for healthy oceans, recognizing that conservation efforts will likely fail unless there is sufficient investment to drive change in communities, industry and government.
Stoner has decided upon a research project which will look into Canada’s current fish feed practices, and alternative options to help improve the long-term sustainability of the industry.
“So many people have never been on the ocean, and they don’t consider the challenges that the oceans face, but they have had salmon on their dinner plate. I want to help inform people and help them make those connections.”
The Sobey Fund for Oceans is made possible by a generous and innovative gift by Donald R. Sobey. A unique partnership has been formed by the Marine Affairs Program at Dalhousie University, “Canada’s Ocean University”, in Halifax, Nova Scotia and WWF-Canada, a leader in marine conservation.
For more information about the Sobey Fund for Oceans, click here.