Global Marine Consulting's principal consultant, Yoko Tamura has over 20 years of professional experience in research and consulting on coastal management and sustainable fisheries.

With background in fisheries management and marine policy, her particular interest is working in the interface between policy and science to promote coastal and ocean sustainability.

Her work involves projects with central and local governments, international development agencies, FAO, global Non-profit organizations and corporations.

Yoko's geographic experience includes: Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Mexico, Ecuador (Galapagos Islands), Fiji, Palau, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, United States, Canada, Spain, Ghana etc.

Expertise:

• Marine and coastal biodiversity conservation
• Sustainable fisheries certification (MSC assessment assessment auditor)
• Small-scale fisheries and community-based management
• Tropical fisheries / coral reef habitat management
• Marine Protected Area design and implementation
• International development and cooperation

Languages:  English: Fluent, Certified as a Washington State social and medical interpreter in 2001

Spanish: Intermediate speaking and reading skills

Japanese: Native speaker

Other:

Certified as Project Cycle Management Specialist.

Registered as a Marine Stewardship Council Technical Consultant (Completed MSC Level 2 Capacity Building Workshop)

GIS software: ESRI ArcInfo & ArcView, etc.

Canada, USA, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Mexico, Equador (Galapagos Islands), Fiji, Palau, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Spain, Ghana, etc. 

MA in Marine Affairs

Master’s thesis: Rapid Appraisal of Social Pattern of Use in the Design of Marine Protected Areas Using Geographic Information System, Case Study of Orca Pass Initiative.

Exchange Student, Marine Biology and Environmental Studies

BS in Marine Resource Management

•   Euglena, Co.  (Ishigaki & Tokyo) ASC-MSC assessment consultant

•   ME Certification (London), P2 and P3 assessor for pre-assessments and full-assessments. multiple Japan's coastal fisheries and Albacore & Skipjack tuna pole and line fishery.

•   Acoura Marine (Scotland), P3 assessor for multi-location, multi-gear coastal fisheries project.  

 •  Seafood Legacy, Co.  Science specialist

 •   SCS Global（San Francisco, USA), Project Manager, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fisheries Assessment auditor (Kyoto snow crab, flathead flounder, Hokkaido Chum Salmon fisheries assessment Japan liaison, pre-assessments.)

•    ASI (Accreditation Services International), (Germany) Interpreter for Japanese assessment projects. 

•    Global Trust  (Ireland) 　 Japan review leader, Quality Assurance Review Phase 1 & 2 review for Japan's compliance with CCSBT (Commission for Conservation for Southern Bluefin Tuna). 　

•    Wild Salmon Center  (Portland, USA) Japan Program Advisor, stakeholder interviews, etc. 

•    SFP (Sustainable Fisheries Partnership) (Honolulu & Global) Japan Representative, 2010~2012: Analysis of Illegal, Unregulated, Unreported Fisheries (IUU), Fisheries Improvement Projects (FIP), advisory to seafood supply chain companies.

•    Sotokoto magazine (Tokyo, Japan), contribution of ”Ecological Seafood Shopping Guide” special feature issue article.

•    Locally Managed Marine Protected Area (LMMA), (Asia Pacific region): Project proposal assistance to the Palau community-based Marine Protected Areas Network creation through Micronesia Challenge Initiative.

•    Conservation International (CI), Japan Program (global locations, Japan), Assisting Giant Salamander research mission for CI’s scientists and a BBC journalist.

•    Green TV Japan, (Japan)  Environmental reporter / translator：Earth Policy Institute interview etc.

•    Organization for Promoting Responsible Tuna Fishery (OPRT), (Tokyo, Japan), Conference reporter for Inter-Atlantic Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) meetings.

• Participated in the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)’s Project Finding Mission on Regional Climate Change Program on the Pacific Islands as a leader of the Marine Ecosystem and Coral Reef Management Team. Visited Kiribati, Fiji and Solomon Islands to assess climate change vulnerability for coastal communities. Proposed measures to ensure long-term food security in collaboration with WorldFish Center, Secretariat for Pacific Community, etc.
• As a NGO Research Fellow of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, carried out a research on global coastal biodiversity conservation, by introducing Coral Triangle Initiative to the government of Japan. Produced a report “International Collaboration for Marine Conservation Through Coral Triangle Initiative for Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security”
• Coordinated corporate sponsors, field programs and development organizations to promote project development. Major projects include; Agro-forestry in Kakum National Park in Ghana, a Reforestation and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) Project in Indonesia, World Heritage Local Ecological Entrepreneurship Program (WH-LEEP) in collaboration with United Nations (UN) and Daiwa Securities. Co., etc.
• Organized a symposium on multi-sector involvement and co-financing in biodiversity conservation projects, in collaboration with UN University and private donors.

2004 - 2005 Galapagos, EcuadorJICA Long-term Technical Expert: (Marine Ecosystem Monitoring)　Galapagos Islands Marine Environment Conservation Project

• Developed and managed projects in marine conservation with a counterpart agency, the Galapagos National Park for 1.5 years.
• In charge of marine ecosystem monitoring, established water quality monitoring system for both scientific research and participatory education. Established a GIS database for monitoring.
• Advised local governments and relevant authorities on water quality improvement and conservation measures.

2003  Merida, Mexico JICA Yucatan Peninsula Wetland Conservation Project (GIS & strategic planning)

• Assisted local researchers to develop a zoning plan of Ria Celestun, the Ramsar-registered wetland. Collected and analyzed coastal data to produce a GIS database in collaboration with the Center for National Polytechnic Institution for Higher Education and Research (CINVESTAV) and the National Commission for Protected Areas (CONANP). 

2003 Yokohama, JapanJICA Training Course Instructor on Coastal Fisheries Resource Management Training

• In charge of organizing lectures and field trips for one-month training for fisheries officers from ten developing countries.

2003  Cebu, Philippines JICA Cebu Rural Governance Empowerment Project (MPA and fisheries management)

• In charge of coastal resource management and MPA planning for 4 local municipalities in the north of Cebu.
• Conducted underwater surveys and produced habitat maps (coral reefs, mangrove, seagrass, etc.)
• Established community-based MPAs in the north of Cebu and advised the establishment of fisheries ordinances for small-scale fisheries management.
•  Worked with a counterpart agency, the Cebu provincial government office, to empower local government’s management capabilities in the areas of coastal resource management. 

•  Invited speaker, International Sustainability Unit Workshop on "The opportunity of sustainable fisheries management in Vietnam", Vietnam, October 2012.
•  Seafood Summit, Hong Kong Sept. 2012. (Panel presenter)
• July 4-8 2011, 82nd meeting of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission as an adviser to an NGO, Organization for Promotion of Responsible Tuna Fisheries, San Diego.
•  Aug 5-6, 2011, FAO Expert Consultation to Develop the Technical Guidelines
• for Responsible Fisheries, Recreational Fisheries, Berlin.
• The Coral Triangle Initiative 4th Coordination Committee meeting, Manado, Sulawesi, Indonesia 2009.
• International Coral Reef Initiatives (ICRI) meetings, Tokyo 2008.
• Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia. Tokyo. 2008
• Sustainable Islands of the World Conference. Maui, Hawai’i. 2006
• International Marine Protected Areas Conference (IMPAC1). Melbourne. 2005
• WWF-TNC-CI Marine Protected Areas meeting. Cebu, Philippines. 2002
•  Marine Protected Areas Research and Coordination Meeting. Vancouver, 2001.
• Puget Sound Coastal Research Conference. Belleview, Seattle. 2001

• Invited speaker: Tama University Global Environmental Study class, Tokyo. July 2010.
• Multi-sector partnership in biodiversity conservation. Symposium Coordinator. UN University and CI. 2007.
• Galapagos Marine Environmental Conservation Project Community Workshop. Workshop Organizer. JICA. 2004.
• Coastal Fisheries Resources Management Training Instructor, 2003 & 2006.

• Proposal writing assistance to Locally Managed Marine Areas Network in Palau for Micronesia Challenge. 2010 May.
• NGO Working Tool Development Workshop, 2010
• Research Trip with Pangeaseed. Eco-tourism and conservation of whalesharks population in Donsol, Philippines. March, 2010.
• Research visit and interview survey to Kesennuma Port, Japan. Pangeaseed. May 2010.
• Spanish Language Course attendance. Malaga. 2009 Oct.-Nov.
• Forest Carbon & Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Degradation Project Planning Training.Conservation International. 2008
• Multi-sector Partnership Development Seminar by Japan Bank of International Cooperation. Indonesia (Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi). 2008
• Project Management Cycle Planning and Evaluation Course. JICA. 2003.

• J-wave Inter FM Radio Station guest commentator for sustainable fisheries and consumer awareness. August 2010.
• Newspaper article about “Sustainable Seafood Pocket Guide” appeared on major newspapers, distributed by Kyodo News. July 2010.
• Contributed 10 pages article on the Sustainable Seafood Guide and global marine issues to a Japanese lifestyle magazine “Sotokoto” October issue. 2010.
•  Coordinated and produced the DCBCF (Daiwa-CI Biodiversity Conservation Fund) Program Information brochure. 2008.
• Created the “Sustainable Seafood Pocket Guide” for Japanese consumers with private funders.
• Provided expert comment on the by-catch of Albatrosses in Galapagos for a newspaper article. Yomiuri Newspaper, July 2008.
•  Provided expert comment on the water quality analysis in Galapagos Islands, Asahi Newspaper, Feb 2005.