Our Team | Bailey Lab @ Marine Affairs

Leadership

Megan Bailey

Director, Bailey Lab
Professor, Marine Affairs Program

I grew up in London Ontario, completing my Bachelors in Zoology at Western University in 2003. I have always been interested in the natural world, and fancied myself destined to be a vet, primatologist or marine biologist.

With that mission in mind, I spent a year in Suriname working on a capuchin monkey field study in a remote location on the Coppename River. Armed with idealism and a pair of binoculars, I thought I’d save the rainforest. What struck me after only a couple of weeks in the field was the coupled nature of social and ecological systems. Saving the rainforests because of ideology can also mean destroying local livelihoods and cultures. To have the largest conservation impact, I realized that I needed to expand my studies to include social and economic systems.

In 2005 I attended the Fisheries Centre at UBC to pursue graduate school under the supervision of Dr. Rashid Sumaila in the Fisheries Economics Research Unit. I completed my Masters in 2007 and my Doctorate in 2012. My PhD focused on solutions to global tuna governance through the lens of game theory and economics.

In July of 2015, I wrapped up a three year Postdoc with the Environmental Policy Group at Wageningen University in the Netherlands where I helped to lead the BESTTuna and IFITT projects (www.besttuna.org; www.ifittuna.info). With my studies spanning zoology, fisheries economics and environmental policy, I have a unique perspective on the issues facing marine resource use, as well as a unique vision for how solutions to these issues can be developed.

I am always looking for opportunities to supervise students and collaborate with partners and colleagues. I can be reached at:

Megan Bailey, Associate Professor, Marine Affairs Program
Canada Research Chair Integrated Ocean and Coastal Governance
Nippon Foundation Ocean Nexus PI
Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford St, Life Sciences Centre 801
Halifax, NS, B3H 1R2 Canada

Phone: +1 (902) 494-6906
Email: Megan.Bailey@Dal.ca

Wilf Swartz

Deputy Director, Ocean Nexus Center
Professor, Marine Affairs Program

Wilf grew up on both sides of the Pacific—Tokyo and Vancouver— before completing his BSc. in Biology with a Minor in Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia.

After a brief foray into international relations (Fukuoka, Japan), Wilf returned to the Fisheries Centre at UBC to pursue graduate studies in resource management in 2002. His two-year MSc was followed by another academic hiatus, this time to spend three years in global finance (London, UK). Wilf completed his PhD in resource economics at UBC in 2012 and was with the Nippon Foundation Nereus Program, first as a research fellow (2012-14) and then as a program manager (2014-16, 2018-19) before joining the Marine Affairs Program in 2019 as a research associate. Wilf has also worked as a research officer for the World Trade Organization (Geneva, 2011) and as the Director of Environmental Policies at the Ocean Policy Research Institute (Tokyo, 2016-18).

Wilf’s research focuses on the role of public policies for economic security and social safety nets in fishing communities from Atlantic Canada to the coasts of Japan.

Born in Canada and raised in Japan, Wilf is enthusiastic about seafood, from smoked salmon to skipjack sashimi.

Email: Wilf.Swartz@dal.ca

Ken Paul

Indigenous Fellow

Ken is a member of the Wolastoqey First Nation in the community of Neqotkuk whose traditional territory is located on the northern Atlantic coast spanning the Canada/US border between Maine, New Brunswick and Quebec.

For the past 9 years, Ken has advocated for First Nations Chiefs regionally, nationally and internationally on all aspects relating to fisheries, aquaculture, oceans governance and aquatic resources as they relate to inherent and treaty rights, legislation, and policy. This includes Indigenous Knowledge Systems, economic prosperity, community engagement and resource management.

Previous to this, he had worked for 10 years in field-based ocean mapping with the Canadian Hydrographic Service and another 10 years with Parks Canada as a Senior Policy Advisor in Atlantic Canada and the Field Unit Superintendent in the Northwest Territories.

Ken has an MBA with St Mary’s University and a BSc from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and has extensive training in leadership, policy development, mediation, labour relations, First Nations governance and traditional teachings.

Ken is currently the Lead Fisheries Negotiator and Research Coordinator for the Wolastoqey Nation and is a dedicated father of two.

PhD Students

Dylan Seidler

PhD Candidate

Dylan Seidler has long had a passion for marine conservation. As a history-environmental studies major at Whitman College, much of Dylan’s honors thesis, Cultural Staples in Crisis: A Historical Analysis of Southern Resident Orcas and Chinook Salmon, emphasized the value of examining Indigenous history and cultural attitudes alongside colonial perspectives to develop successful collaborative partnerships to aid in the recovery of endangered southern resident orcas and Chinook salmon. While a Master of Marine Management candidate at Dalhousie University she worked as an intern for the Sustainable Nunatsiavut Futures Project. This project is a collaborative initiative focused on addressing the impacts of climate change on local communities by partnering with community members to share knowledge about effective ways to monitor, and manage, Arctic marine ecosystems. Dylan’s masters project, Marine Based Research in a Changing Climate: Lessons and Methods for Community Engagement in Nunatsiavut focused on gathering perspectives on community engagement process to explore how research conducted in the region can best support Inuit community goals.

As a PhD student in the Dalhousie Biology department, Dylan is continuing her work with the Sustainable Nunatsiavut Futures Project. Her current research focuses on partnering with the Torngat Wildlife, Plants and Fish Secretariat and Torngat Fish Producers Co-Operative to combine different types of data and information sources on Arctic char numbers in Nunatsiavut. In addition, Dylan will be working to develop a model based on sonar data to predict future abundance of Arctic char in the region. The goal is to develop a holistic picture of population trends to support Inuit management of the char fishery and food security. Broadly, Dylan’s research interests include endangered species survival protection, marine mammal and salmonid conservation, mitigating climate change/environmental impacts and relationships with Indigenous communities and small-scale fisheries.

Email: Dylan.Seidler@dal.ca

Kate Ortenzi

PhD Candidate

Kate is originally from Upstate New York, and after a stint in international climate policy has transitioned back to the classroom. Kate’s now a PhD student in the Biology department where she is researching how Marine Protected Areas can be designed to protect relational values between people and the environment in the face of climate change. To do this, Kate is building and analyzing the networks that connect benthic habitats to cultural keystone species, important places, and Labrador Inuit values. The goal is to identify areas of resilience and risk to enhance Inuit seafood sovereignty in the future. The best part of this work is getting to spend lots of time in Nunatsiavut, Labrador, working with community members and the Nunatsiavut Research Centre, and getting out on the land. Kate is extremely interested exploring allyship in science and is actively engaged in the Biology Department’s equity, diversity and inclusion efforts. When not doing research, you will find Kate either eating, cooking, thinking about eating, or playing with her dog, Muchlee.

Email: Ortenzi@dal.ca

Grace Akinrinola

Abdirahim Ibrahim Sheike

PhD Candidate

Abdirahim is interested in the sustainable utilization of fisheries and marine resources, particularly tuna and tuna-like species of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). He is a Research Fellow with the Nippon Foundation Ocean Nexus Center and a member of Bailey Lab.

He has earned a BSc in Biology and Chemistry and an MBA at the Northern University of Malaysia. Abdirahim Ibrahim is a graduate MMM student at the Dalhousie University of Marine Affairs Program.

His research interest is the inequitable burdens and incompetence of developing coastal states and the nature of RMFOs governance systems towards shared fisheries resources. He continued to study and develop an interest in the human dimensions of resource use, particularly engagement related to resource conflict, corruption, and justice. Abdirahim was a regular attendant of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and the Head of the delegation for Somalia. He won numerous scholarships and international travel grants to attend conferences. His Ph.D. aims to identify the links and interactions among RFMOs and state policy on resource governance and management for better regional fisheries management.

Email: Abdirahim.Ibrahim@dal.ca

PhD Candidate

Grace Akinrinola is an Interdisciplinary PhD (IDPhD) candidate at Dalhousie University interested in applying principles that consider humans as integral components of social-ecological systems, such as ecosystem-based management (EBM) and interactive governance. She graduated from Dalhousie University with a Master of Marine Management (MMM) in 2023 and her research was on promoting reconciliation and Indigenous self-determination through EBM. Before this, she completed her B.Sc. (Hons.) in Marine Biology and M.Sc. in Marine Pollution and Management (Distinction) from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. The Genome Canada North Atlantic Right Whale project and the Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship at the Doctoral level fund her PhD research. Other previous awards and scholarships Grace received include the Marine Affairs Millennium Prize Interdisciplinarian of the Year 2023, Sobey Fund for Oceans Scholarship 2022-2023 and Nippon Foundation Ocean Nexus Center Student Fellowship.

With over seven years of experience in environmental impact assessment, implementing ecosystem-based approach programs, strategic marine-related research, and administration, Grace has developed an interest in the human dimensions of resource use, particularly aspects related to conflict and justice. Her PhD research focuses on enhancing the governability of North Atlantic Right Whale (NARW) conservation. Despite ongoing discussions involving various stakeholders such as scientists, fishers, fish managers, fishing associations, government, and non-governmental organizations, a collaboration gap persists in actively engaging rightsholders (Indigenous communities) and stakeholders (including fish harvesters) in developing an inclusive management system. The project aims to study NARW conservation burdens and provide recommendations for an improved collaborative conservation landscape. She is excited to contribute to the sustainable and inclusive conservation of the NARW population using an interdisciplinary approach. Her leisure time is spent with my family, engaging in activities like singing, dancing, praying, and playing together.

Email: Grace.Akinrinola@dal.ca

Research Assistants

Abigael Kim

Research Assistant

Abigael is an award-winning marine social scientist, storyteller, and writer based in Nova Scotia, Canada. Her research explores the realities, resilience, and culture of coastal communities at the forefront of the climate emergency.

With a BSc. in Environmental Science (University of Guelph) and a Master of Marine Management (Dalhousie University), her work has graced academic journals, government initiatives, and news publications around the world.

Known for her science communication skills and unique ability to weave together rigorous science and authentic stories, she is passionate about breaking down traditional research norms and carving out a space in science, policy, and education for local voices to drive global change.

Abigael specializes in socioecological research, science communication, and project management, often working in Canada and the Caribbean on topics of sustainable development, blue economies, environmental justice, and climate change adaptation in underserved communities.

Email: Abigael.Kim@dal.ca

Website: https://abigaelkim.wixsite.com/abigaelkim

Aimée Hopton

Research Assistant

As a candidate in the Marine Management program at Dalhousie University, Aimee hopes to conduct research that utilizes interdisciplinary thinking in the context of Indigenous fisheries. This way of thinking was brought on during Aimee’s undergraduate career, at Queens University where she considered and further analyzed the connection between the natural world and humans through a geographic lens. Aimee’s knowledge of planning and policymaking is something she intends to apply when evaluating how social, ecological, and economic dimensions play a role in sustainable fisheries management. As she continues her research, Aimee is interested in conceptualizing how management regimes that lack equitable and dynamic governance techniques impact Indigenous fisheries on both national and international scales.

Email: Aimee.Hopton@dal.ca

Katrina Côté-King

Research Assistant

Katrina is a marine scientist who is passionate about the sustainable use of our ocean’s resources, particularly through the adequate management of transboundary species. With a BSc in biology from the University of Prince Edward Island (PEI) and a Master of Marine Management from Dalhousie University, Katrina has a diverse background in marine biology and socio-economic growth in the ocean sector. Throughout her undergrad, she studied coastal ecology in the North Atlantic and shellfish aquaculture in PEI. Her graduate studies centred around international tuna fisheries and explored the role of the Marine Stewardship Council among Indian Ocean fishing nations. This research focused on the Maldives pole-and-line skipjack tuna fishery and the disproportionate conservation efforts from small scale versus industrial fleets in the region.

Katrina has worked as a research assistant since 2023 on projects exploring blue carbon offsets in the Caribbean, improved international market access of small scale fisheries in developing nations, and harvest strategies in tuna regional fisheries management organizations. As a Nippon Foundation Ocean Nexus Centre Fellow, member of the Bailey lab, and an avid scuba diver, Katrina’s work encompasses environmental and social prosperity with the goal of empowering coastal communities and supporting the marine ecosystems on which they rely.

Email: Katrina.Coteking@dal.ca

Zachary MacMillan-Kenny

Research Assistant

Zachary is a marine scientist and science communicator based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He holds a B.Sc. in Marine Biology from Dalhousie University and a Master's in Physical Geography from Memorial University of Newfoundland. During his graduate studies, Zach focused on mapping the benthic habitats of culturally significant species like Arctic charr and Greenland cod in Nunatsiavut, aiming to support Indigenous research priorities and contribute to the Imappivut marine management initiative.

Following his graduate studies, Zach worked with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) in Newfoundland as a data analyst, specializing in baited camera systems in the Labrador Sea. He then served as a physical scientist for DFO’s Integrated Marine Response Planning program, where he supported monitoring efforts, data analysis, and the compilation of oceanographic and biological data for management and emergency response initiatives.

Zach’s dedication to science communication is exemplified by his role as a Communication Coordinator for Amundsen Science. In this position, he filmed and communicated the scientific operations aboard the CCGS Amundsen during its Arctic expedition in 2024, bridging the gap between complex scientific research and the public.

In the Bailey Lab, Zach is assisting PhD Candidate Kate Ortenzi in building and analyzing networks connecting benthic habitats to cultural keystone species, important places, and Labrador Inuit values to identify areas of resilience and risk.

Zach’s passion for marine science is deeply rooted in his childhood experiences exploring the beaches of his family's cabin in Caissie Cape, New Brunswick, where his fascination with benthic critters first began. He is dedicated to bridging the gap between scientific research and public understanding through effective science communication and community-centered research. Alongside his scientific work, he plans to continue to leverage his skills in videography and photography to document and share the wonders of the ocean’s depths, aiming to engage and inspire broader audiences.

Email: Zachary.MacMillan-Kenny@mi.mun.ca

Hannah Vonberg

Research Assistant

Born and raised in Southern Germany, Hannah grew up as far from the ocean as you can get in Europe. Nevertheless, she developed an interest in marine and freshwater ecosystems early, volunteering for the German Nature Conservation Organization (NABU) throughout her childhood.

Before starting her undergraduate degree, Hannah worked with the German government-led Institute for Lake Research (ISF) at Lake Constance for a year. During this time, she helped collect data for Project “Seewandel” (“Lake Change”), a wide-ranging impact assessment of climate change transformations on Lake Constance, re-igniting her passion for the protection of aquatic ecosystems. At the ISF Hannah also encountered her first microplastic particles.

After exploring the political hurdles environmental conservation faces through her undergraduate degree in International Relations and Organizations at Leiden University, Hannah shifted her focus back to the aquatic world, pursuing a Master of Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University to research microplastic pollution in boreal lakes. Simultaneously, she started her research assistant role on the North Atlantic Right Whale project, focusing on stakeholder groups and science communication. As she continues her research, Hannah is especially interested in interdisciplinary approaches targeting the remediation of polluted aquatic ecosystems and the conservation of endangered aquatic species.

Email: h.vonberg@dal.ca

Emma Sanders

Research Assistant

Emma graduated from Saint Mary’s University in 2022 with her BA Hons in Sociology. During her undergraduate degree, she developed a keen interest in environmental sociology. This led to her joining the social science (GE3LS) component of the Genome Canada project, “Conservation Genomics of The Endangered North Atlantic Right Whale.” For the past 3 years, Emma’s work with the project has involved getting to know the social networks and perspectives of those interested and involved in North Atlantic right whale conservation. This research seeks to support the communication of genomics data with relevant stakeholder groups.

Emma’s upbringing in a rural fishing community in Nova Scotia fostered her deep appreciation for coastal communities and ecosystems. Outside of this project, Emma can be found visiting local beaches, trying her hand at various crafts, and working toward completing her MSc in Occupational Therapy at Dalhousie University.

Email: emma.sanders@dal.ca

Kevin Allan

Research Assistant

Kevin is a Master of Marine Management Candidate with the Marine Affairs Program at Dalhousie University. Also at Dalhousie, Kevin completed a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Marine Biology. As part of the GE3LS team of the North Atlantic Right Whale (NARW) Genome Project, Kevin will research the role of Indigenous-led organizations and Indigenous Knowledge (IK) in NARW conservation and management. Under the co-supervision of Dr. Megan Bailey and Dr. Rachael Cadman, Kevin will conduct interviews with Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management organizations (AAROMs) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The goals of these interviews are to ascertain how IK and AAROMs have been involved in right whale management and conservation; and to look for ways to improve engagement and strengthen their involvement in the future. In the spirit of reconciliation, Kevin’s research will focus on ensuring that Indigenous voices are represented in NARW conservation and decision-making.

Email: Kevin.Allan@dal.ca

Masters Students

Scott Schrempf

MMM Candidate

Born and raised in Ontario, Scott became passionate about the ocean life and conservation through childhood trips to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with his family. While completing a Bachelor of Science in Biology, from Queen’s University, his passion and appreciation for the world around him grew, as well as his understanding of the importance of conserving and protecting the ecosystems around us. During his degree, Scott had the opportunity to complete an exchange semester at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia where he expanded his knowledge on marine ecology and conservation, reigniting his childhood love for marine ecosystems.

As a Master of Marine Management Candidate at Dalhousie University, Scott’s research project - The Cost of Doing Nothing - aims to quantify the economic and social impacts of consistent overfishing of tuna populations in the Indian Ocean. In his research, Scott will employ a cost-benefit analysis to determine the underlying effects of Indian Ocean Tuna Commission management decisions on the social, economic, and environmental pillars of sustainability. With the support of the Sustainable Fisheries and Communities Trust, the Bailey Lab, and Ocean Nexus, Scott is excited to apply his traditional science background to the more interdisciplinary fields of management and fisheries economics.

Email: Scott.Schrempf@dal.ca

Emma Sansome

MMM Candidate

Emma is a Masters of Marine Management candidate at Dalhousie University. Growing up in Southern Ontario, and travelling throughout her teenage years sparked her curiosity for global development. Before starting her undergraduate degree, Emma took a year off, embarking on a 9-month sail training program that combined her interests in global development with the maritime industry, allowing her to discover a passion for the world’s oceans.

Emma graduated from the University of Guelph with a degree in International Development Studies, specializing in Environment and Sustainable Development. Throughout her undergraduate degree, she focused most of her research on the issues affecting today’s oceans, including topics surrounding the pollution and unknowns of ocean exploitation, as well as community reliance on coastal ecosystems for sustainable development.

As a member of the Bailey Lab and an Ocean Nexus Student Fellow, Emma is interested in pursuing research surrounding the United Nations 30 by 30 ocean conservation goal in Latin America. Specifically, she aspires to research the funding of conservation, tourism, and development coexistence in Bocas del Toro, Panama.

Email: Emma.Sansome@dal.ca

Tamara Joseph

MMM Candidate

Tamara was born and raised in Elsipogtog First Nation and later attended the University of New Brunswick, majoring in Marine Biology. While completing her degree, Tamara was provided the opportunity to complete an internship with the Department of Fisheries and Ocean. After graduating in 2019, she was offered a position as a fisheries researcher for Mi’gmawe’l Tplut’aqnn Incorporated to draft and implement a pilot livelihood fishery plan for seven Mi’kmaq communities in New Brunswick.

With Tamara’s knowledge and passion for fisheries growing, she became interested in the Master of Marine Management program. The MMM program provided her the opportunity to expand her knowledge of marine management through its interdisciplinary approach. Tamara is now seeking to incorporate Indigenous Knowledge and GIS applications into her fisheries research to advance Indigenous science and strengthen relations with First Nation communities.

Email: Tamara.Joseph@dal.ca

Ojas Gitai

MMM Candidate

As a seasoned merchant naval engineer officer, Ojas felt a deep desire to pursue more significant and meaningful work. After seven long years at sea, he decided to end his voyage and embark on a new one as a Master of Marine Management candidate at Dalhousie University. Ojas engages in a graduate project as part of the Genome Canada Right Whale Project titled "Uncovering Synergies: Leveraging Network Analysis to Enhance Collaboration Efforts for Right Whale Conservation", driven by his passion for marine conservation and ocean sustainability.

His project aims to enhance collaboration within the North Atlantic right whale conservation community through sophisticated social network analysis techniques. By understanding and mapping collaboration dynamics among diverse stakeholders and rightsholders, Ojas seeks to enhance effective conservation strategies, which will also help integrate extensive genomic studies. His methodology includes collecting data from scientific literature, multi-stakeholder committees, and consortium meetings, followed by constructing a comprehensive collaboration network matrix. Through this research, Ojas aims to contribute to the preservation of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales by identifying key stakeholders, fostering better communication, and developing targeted conservation initiatives based on evidence-based decision-making.

Email: Ojas.Gitai@Dal.ca

Kali Hines

MMM Candidate

As a Master of Marine Management candidate from Nova Scotia, Canada, Kali grew up near the ocean and quickly developed a passion for all things marine-related. Kali is very passionate about the interdisciplinary nature of marine management issues. In her Masters, she aims to build on her joint undergraduate degree in Environment, Sustainability & Society (ESS), and Spanish, and continue to weave social, environmental, and economic factors together to combine science, governance, and public impacts. She incorporates this knowledge into her passion for sustainability, resource management, Indigenous rights and knowledge, climate change and ocean conservation.

As a member of the Bailey Lab and a Sobey Fund for Oceans Scholarship awardee, Kali is excited to merge her interests in language and sustainability with marine management.

Kali is thrilled to be conducting her research under the supervision of Dr. Megan Bailey and Trina Roache. Through her research, she is exploring how language differs in media when reporting on Nova Scotia fisheries disputes. Specifically, she is researching how language changes when the subject is Indigenous versus non-Indigenous fishermen, and how it differs by media source. Kali looks forward to producing research that can contribute to a larger narrative shift surrounding treaty rights and equitable access to marine resources.

Email: Kali.Hines@dal.ca

Affiliated Students

Abra Brynne

PhD Candidate

Abra is an interdisciplinary PhD student at Dalhousie University working on Indigenous Food Sovereignty. Prior to returning to academia, Abra worked for many years in food systems analysis and policy, integrating marine and land food systems and working at multiple government levels. She also embraced her responsibilities as a settler residing in British Columbia to learn and take action on land justice and Indigenous self-determination. She was thrilled to jump back into academia in September 2022, having received a scholarship as part of a regional food governance project. Her research focus seeks to illuminate avenues for land agency for Indigenous Nations on private property, building on the emerging phenomenon of land sharing agreements. The emphasis to date on decolonizing land in Canada has focused on state-centric processes. Abra’s research will seek to discern how and where non-state land sharing initiatives are disrupting colonial land tenure assumptions and practices and if they can be an avenue for returning land back to their respective Indigenous Nations.

As a cross-listed student fellow of the Bailey Lab, Abra draws on her past work in fisheries policy transitions in the pacific region as well as her land-based policy work to illuminate useful synergies and disconnects in their respective policy regimes.

Zoya Tyabji

PhD Candidate

Zoya is a PhD candidate with the Integrated Fisheries Lab at Dalhousie University, where she is part of a collaborative project unravelling the global shark meat trade. She is also a frequent visitor at the Bailey Lab. Her current research interests include understanding the various and complex interactions between humans and marine systems through an interdisciplinary lens.

She holds a BSc in Zoology and Biochemistry, and MSc in Biodiversity from India. Prior to joining her PhD, she worked on research projects on the terrestrial behaviour of sea kraits, and coral reef resilience in India, and as a marine educator.