Pamela Baker

Work

Pamela Baker has worked in the Gulf of Mexico for more than 15 years in collaboration with fishermen, academics, conservationists, and regulators to rebuild and sustain fisheries in ways that align society’s use of oceans with long-term conservation objectives. She has played an important role in designing and implementing fishery management plans featuring individual fishing quotas, marine protection zones, safe catch limits, and other tools to help rebuild and sustain reef fish and shrimp fisheries and improve protections of sea turtles.

In 2010, Pam became the Director of Strategic Conservation Initiatives and her focus is currently on exploring ways to improve management of highly migratory fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico and threatened and endangered sea turtles accidentally captured in fishing gear.

Background

• Served on Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council advisory panels -- red snapper, red snapper IFQ, grouper IFQ, essential fish habitat, andmarine reserves scientience and statistics committee.
• Marine extension agent, Federated States of Micronesia (1993-1995).
• Assistant for coastal resources, U.S. Navy (1992).
• Fisheries biologist, National Marine Fisheries Service (1990 and 1986).
• Marine reserve biologist, Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Belize (1987-1989).

Degrees

• B.S., Marine Biology, Texas A&M University
• M.A., Marine Affairs, University of Rhode Island

Publications

Publications, Major Reports & Presentations (selected)

• Leal, D., M. DeAlessi, and P. Baker. 2008. Beyond IFQs in Marine Fisheries. Property and Environment Research Center, Bozeman, Montana.
• Leal, D., M. DeAlessi, and P. Baker. 2005. The ecological role of IFQs in U.S. Fisheries. Property and Environment Research Center, Bozeman, Montana.
• Coleman, F., P. Baker, and C. Koenig. 2004. A review of Gulf of Mexico marine protected areas: successes, failures, and lessons learned. Fisheries. 29(2):10-21.
• Mathis, M. and P. Baker. 2002. Assurance bonds: a tool for managing environmental costs in aquaculture. Aquaculture Economics and Management. 6(1&2):1-18.
• Baker, P., F. Cox, and P. Emerson. 1998. Management of Red Snapper in the Gulf of Mexico. Presented at the January 1998 meeting of the National Research Council’s panel on Individual Transferable Quotas. New Orleans, Louisiana.
• Baker, P. 1997. Coastal Shrimp Farming in Texas. In Goldburg, B. and T. Triplett. 1997. Murky Waters: Environmental Effects of Aquaculture in the United States. Environmental Defense Fund. New York, New York.
• Baker, P., A. Edward, and M. Abraham. 1995. Recommendations and Progress towards a Pohnpei State Coastal Resources Management Program. A report to the Pohnpei State Department of Conservation and Resource Surveillance. (Federated States of Micronesia)
• Baker, P. and A. Edward. 1995. Grounding of the MV Dang Delima: Biological assessment and economic valuation. A report to the Pohnpei State Environmental Protection Agency.
• Sedberry, G., J. Carter and P. Baker. 1992. A comparison of fish communities between protected and unprotected areas of the Belize reef ecosystem: Implications for conservation and management. In Proceedings of the 45th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Meeting.
• Minello, T., R. Zimmerman, and P. Barrick (Baker). 1989. Experimental studies on selection for vegetative structure by Penaeid shrimp. A report to the Texas Water Development Board and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.