about the merluccius group
Merluccius starts as a Master's Program Project from the Bren School of Environmental Sciences and Management of the University of California, Santa Barbara. The group is highly interdisciplinary, and share a common interest in environmental and social sustainable development.
Who we are
Gonzalo Banda-Cruz
Gonzalo graduated from the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador, with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Ecology. He obtained a joint degree in International Political Economy from Juniata College, and in 2007 he was granted the UNESCO Vocations-Patrimoine Fellowship at the University College in Dublin to focus on managing natural heritage sites.
Gonzalo worked with various international organisms on initiatives spanning invasive species management, forest governance, fisheries management, and protected areas zoning. In 2012, Gonzalo joined Conservation International Ecuador as the Marine and Terrestrial Conservation Coordinator for the Galapagos Islands.
At the Bren School, Gonzalo specialized in Coastal Marine Resources Management as a Latin American Fisheries Fellow. His goal is to create entrepreneurial solutions for the sustainable use of our oceans.
Gonzalo graduated from the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador, with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Ecology. He obtained a joint degree in International Political Economy from Juniata College, and in 2007 he was granted the UNESCO Vocations-Patrimoine Fellowship at the University College in Dublin to focus on managing natural heritage sites.
Gonzalo worked with various international organisms on initiatives spanning invasive species management, forest governance, fisheries management, and protected areas zoning. In 2012, Gonzalo joined Conservation International Ecuador as the Marine and Terrestrial Conservation Coordinator for the Galapagos Islands.
At the Bren School, Gonzalo specialized in Coastal Marine Resources Management as a Latin American Fisheries Fellow. His goal is to create entrepreneurial solutions for the sustainable use of our oceans.
Annie Daly
Annie is a Master of Environmental Science and Management Candidate (2018) specializing in Coastal and Marine Resource Management. Originally from Stockton, California, Annie received her BA in Environmental Studies from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles in 2011. While an undergraduate, she sailed to the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” as a crewmember aboard a tall ship and this experience sparked a lasting interest in marine issues. After graduating from LMU, Annie worked for five years in environmental consulting writing land use planning documents and environmental impact statements for private and federal clients. She has since returned to school to pursue her passion for marine conservation and is excited to work at the intersection of marine conservation, environmental justice, and public policy for this project.
Annie is a Master of Environmental Science and Management Candidate (2018) specializing in Coastal and Marine Resource Management. Originally from Stockton, California, Annie received her BA in Environmental Studies from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles in 2011. While an undergraduate, she sailed to the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” as a crewmember aboard a tall ship and this experience sparked a lasting interest in marine issues. After graduating from LMU, Annie worked for five years in environmental consulting writing land use planning documents and environmental impact statements for private and federal clients. She has since returned to school to pursue her passion for marine conservation and is excited to work at the intersection of marine conservation, environmental justice, and public policy for this project.
Nathaniel Grimes
Nathan graduated from Coastal Carolina University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. During his undergraduate career, Nathaniel conducted research supported by the Office of Naval Research on radar wave propagation in the marine boundary layer and wrote a separate thesis on the institutional economic structure of the shark fin market. Upon graduation, he worked as the Operations Manager at the Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation, a world leading shark research facility in Miami, Florida. He remains involved with the institution and sits on their Board of Directors as the Treasurer. Nathaniel’s research goals are to further elucidate the intricate link between economic prosperity and ecological productivity. Specializing in Economics and Politics at the Bren School, Nathaniel hopes to develop incentives that promote community growth while protecting the marine environment.
Nathan graduated from Coastal Carolina University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. During his undergraduate career, Nathaniel conducted research supported by the Office of Naval Research on radar wave propagation in the marine boundary layer and wrote a separate thesis on the institutional economic structure of the shark fin market. Upon graduation, he worked as the Operations Manager at the Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation, a world leading shark research facility in Miami, Florida. He remains involved with the institution and sits on their Board of Directors as the Treasurer. Nathaniel’s research goals are to further elucidate the intricate link between economic prosperity and ecological productivity. Specializing in Economics and Politics at the Bren School, Nathaniel hopes to develop incentives that promote community growth while protecting the marine environment.
Diego Undurraga
Diego graduated as an Industrial Engineer (2009) from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. He worked for two years in the Chilean Government, where he collaborated on projects aimed to promote the development of renewable energies in his country. He also collaborated with the Ministry of Environment, the Undersecretary of Tourism, and the National Forest Corporation, as an adviser for the country's national protected areas, particularly around sustainable tourism development. Before coming to Bren, he also worked in the mining sector in Chile.
As a Latin American Fisheries Fellow in the Bren School, Diego is interested in the strengthening of scientific based policy development in Chile, striving for larger-scales sustainable management of natural resources.
Diego graduated as an Industrial Engineer (2009) from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. He worked for two years in the Chilean Government, where he collaborated on projects aimed to promote the development of renewable energies in his country. He also collaborated with the Ministry of Environment, the Undersecretary of Tourism, and the National Forest Corporation, as an adviser for the country's national protected areas, particularly around sustainable tourism development. Before coming to Bren, he also worked in the mining sector in Chile.
As a Latin American Fisheries Fellow in the Bren School, Diego is interested in the strengthening of scientific based policy development in Chile, striving for larger-scales sustainable management of natural resources.
Kathrin Wagner
Kathrin spends most of her free time on boats living in harmony with the rhythm of nature, which shaped her respect for the environment. During a long-term sailing cruise in the South Pacific Ocean she developed a strong desire to personally advocate for the marine environment. She left her home in Switzerland and her job in the field of technology management and intellectual property, to participate in the master’s program of the Bren School. She graduated with a diploma in physics from the Technical University in Munich, Germany, and holds admission as European patent attorney. At the Bren School she is specializing in corporate environmental management, while taking courses in oceanography and marine science.
Kathrin spends most of her free time on boats living in harmony with the rhythm of nature, which shaped her respect for the environment. During a long-term sailing cruise in the South Pacific Ocean she developed a strong desire to personally advocate for the marine environment. She left her home in Switzerland and her job in the field of technology management and intellectual property, to participate in the master’s program of the Bren School. She graduated with a diploma in physics from the Technical University in Munich, Germany, and holds admission as European patent attorney. At the Bren School she is specializing in corporate environmental management, while taking courses in oceanography and marine science.
our advisors
Chris Costello
Chris is a professor of Environmental and Resource Economics at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UC Santa Barbara. His research concerns natural resource management and property rights under uncertainty, with a particular emphasis on information, its value, and its effect on management decisions. His work combines theoretical work from economics with empirical analysis, often to inform policy. His topical interests include fisheries management, biological diversity, introduced species, regulation of polluting industries, and marine policy, and he frequently collaborates with researchers outside of economics such as statistics, ecology, biogeography, and mathematics.
Chris is a professor of Environmental and Resource Economics at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UC Santa Barbara. His research concerns natural resource management and property rights under uncertainty, with a particular emphasis on information, its value, and its effect on management decisions. His work combines theoretical work from economics with empirical analysis, often to inform policy. His topical interests include fisheries management, biological diversity, introduced species, regulation of polluting industries, and marine policy, and he frequently collaborates with researchers outside of economics such as statistics, ecology, biogeography, and mathematics.
Owen Liu
Owen is a spatial and fisheries ecologist interested in how relationships within and among species inform how we can better manage marine ecosystems and resources. He uses a combination of computer modeling and fieldwork to investigate how basic species' traits like fertility and growth rate, and interactions between species like competition and predation, combine with human pressures to determine the structure and function of marine ecological communities.
Owen is a spatial and fisheries ecologist interested in how relationships within and among species inform how we can better manage marine ecosystems and resources. He uses a combination of computer modeling and fieldwork to investigate how basic species' traits like fertility and growth rate, and interactions between species like competition and predation, combine with human pressures to determine the structure and function of marine ecological communities.
our client
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is the world's largest environmental nonprofit organization, counting with more than two million members, and a staff of 550 scientists, economists, policy experts, and other professionals around the world. They tackle urgent environmental threats with practical solutions, guided by science and economics.
The EDF in Chile
Although Chile boasts a strong fishery law and regulatory framework, implementation has been poor and fisheries have been in decline. Because of this, in 2017, the EDF formally decided to start its activities in the country. In order to secure healthy and sustainable fisheries in Chile, the EDF is focusing on implementing management reforms for a limited number of specific relevant industrial and small scale fisheries. Specifically, the EDF is focusing in three core fisheries in the country: common hake, anchoveta, and small-scale coastal fisheries. The EDF aims to achieve specific successful implementation of reforms in small-scale and industrial fisheries that will later help catalyze national-level changes.
The Merluccius project supports EDF in finding impact investment strategies that will result in the economical and environmentally sustainable recovery of the hake fishery, while also creating financial returns for investors, either from private, public, or combined sources.
The EDF in Chile
Although Chile boasts a strong fishery law and regulatory framework, implementation has been poor and fisheries have been in decline. Because of this, in 2017, the EDF formally decided to start its activities in the country. In order to secure healthy and sustainable fisheries in Chile, the EDF is focusing on implementing management reforms for a limited number of specific relevant industrial and small scale fisheries. Specifically, the EDF is focusing in three core fisheries in the country: common hake, anchoveta, and small-scale coastal fisheries. The EDF aims to achieve specific successful implementation of reforms in small-scale and industrial fisheries that will later help catalyze national-level changes.
The Merluccius project supports EDF in finding impact investment strategies that will result in the economical and environmentally sustainable recovery of the hake fishery, while also creating financial returns for investors, either from private, public, or combined sources.