My research
In the past decade almost all of my field research has been conducted in fishing communities in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. My work focuses on determining the social and economic impacts of changes in fishery regulations on fishers and fishing-reliant communities. Recently I have done some post-Hurricane disaster research for fishing-reliant communities in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas. I have also been working with a team of social scientists and biologists to develop an ecosystems based fishery management plan for Galveston Bay, Texas.
In 2009 I was appointed to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council's (GMFMC) Socio-Economic Panel (SEP). The work of the SEP is to advise the GMFMC on the social and economic impacts of proposed regulatory changes. In 2010 I was appointed as a Fellow at the Houston Advanced Research Center in recognition of my past and on-going work in the Gulf of Mexico. I have also secured external grant funding to conduct fishing community research. My most recent grant projects include:
“The Role of Shrimp Imports in the Decline of Shrimp Reliant Communities in the Gulf of Mexico.” Cooperative Research Program (CRP) NOAA NMFS, August 1, 2010 to August 1, 2011. ($298,710). Pris Weeks, P.I., Eric Biltonen, Steve Jacob, and Ben Blount.
“ Social Impacts Of The Allocation/Reallocation Of Marine Fisheries Resources On Communities In The Gulf Of Mexico And South Atlantic: Development Of An Empirical Predictive Model.” Marine Fisheries Initiative Competitive Grant Progam (MARFIN). NOAA NMFS 09MF034(ESS), August 1, 2009 to August 1, 2011 ($322,986) Steve Jacob, P.I., Joshua Landau, PI., Ben Blount, Pris Weeks, and Heather McIlvaine-Newsad.
“Development of Social Indicators for Fishing Communities of the Southeast: Measures of dependence, vulnerability, resilience and gentrification.” NOAA NMFS Saltonstall-Kennedy Competitive Grant Program (NA08NMF427041). June 1, 2008 to May 31, 2009 ($273,284). Steve Jacob, P.I., Pris Weeks, P.I., and Ben Blount, P.I.
“Data Analysis of Post-Hurricane Ethnographic Interviews from the Gulf of Mexico A Report Written for NOAA National Marine Fisheries Services Sustainable Fisheries Division.” NOAA NMFS SERO GA133FO8SE3978. September 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008 ($6,000). Steve Jacob, P.I