Rashid Sumaila, Ph.D.
Professor and Director of the Fisheries Economics Research Unit, University of British Columbia
Rashid Sumaila is a world-renowned expert in bioeconomics and fisheries economics at the University of British Columbia, where he directs the Fisheries Economics Research Unit. His research focuses on global issues such as fisheries subsidies, illegal fishing and the sustainable management of marine ecosystems.
One of the world’s most decorated environmental scientists, Sumaila has received the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, the Volvo Environment Prize and the Peter Benchley Ocean Award for Excellence in Science. He also has been awarded the Prince Albert I Medal from the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco and the King Charles III Coronation Medal. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and has been named one of the 100 most influential Africans. Clarivate has recognized him as a highly cited researcher every year since 2021, and he is widely regarded as the world’s most cited fisheries economist.
A global policy influencer, Sumaila has addressed the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and the White House. He serves on the boards of The Nature Conservancy and Oceana. He also serves as an expert for the High-Level Panel for Sustainable Ocean Economy.
Sumalia earned his doctorate from the University of Bergen in Norway.