Interested in Food Justice? Be Our Research Assistant!

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The Mangrove Action Project (MAP) is a global non-profit based in Washington State, with offices in Indonesia and Thailand. Its mission is to partner with mangrove forest communities, grassroots NGOs, researchers, and local governments to conserve and restore mangrove forests and related coastal ecosystems, while promoting community-based sustainable management of coastal resources. Mangroves are critically important ecosystems that provide priceless ecosystem services like carbon sequestration, water filtration, storm barriers, marine nursery habitat, shelter, medicine, land animal habitat, and food sources that support 75% of all tropical fish catches. They are also being eradicated from the planet by industrial shrimp farming. Most people are simply unaware of this connection, so the Mangrove Action Project is working to educate the public on this issue so that they can make informed decisions about what they eat.

Environmental Education/Food Justice Campaign- Seattle, Washington: MAP is conducting an environmental education campaign in Seattle, Washington called "Question Your Shrimp" (QYS). The goal of the campaign is to educate retail, restaurant, and private consumers about the destruction caused by industrial shrimp farming and the role that consumer demand plays in the industry's expansion.

Research Assistant for QYS Food Justice Campaign: MAP is seeking creative and energetic research assistants to conduct detailed assessments of information, organize data for further analysis, and support the QYS campaign in Seattle, Washington. College credit is available for students.

Range of Tasks:

• Research certification efforts as they relate to shrimp aquaculture and mangroves
• Research and develop relationships with potential partners, such as sustainable shrimp farmers in the US or seafood suppliers
• Provide support for grant proposals and/or identify grants that MAP/QYS should pursue
• Research communities and other ecosystems that are threatened by mangrove loss and shrimp farming
• Research plants and animals that are threatened by mangrove loss and shrimp farming
• Support outreach activities (public speaking, conferences, meetings, and community events) focused on connecting with retailers, restaurants, and consumers about un/sustainability of choosing cheap, imported shrimp versus local, wild caught or farmed shrimp Support fundraising activities via staging of house parties, an annual fundraising dinner and/or similar events

As a volunteer: hours are flexible and can vary based on campaign activities and your previous commitments. This role is also available as an internship which carries additional responsibilities and a minimum commitment of 10 hours per week.

Desired Qualifications:

Successful volunteers possess the following attributes:

• Independent self-starter
• Highly organized, responsible and mature
• Education or strong interest in environmental science, psychology, fisheries, data analysis, or experience equivalent
• Unafraid to talk to strangers about shrimp & mangroves and possesses the ability to effectively communicate our message
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and grassroots community work Interest in food sustainability and the food/restaurant industry
• Candidates should have transportation of some kind in and around the Seattle metropolitan area

Please visit our website, www.mangroveactionproject.org for more information about the threats that coastal shrimp farming poses to environmental wealth and human health.