Abigail Bennett

Abigail Bennett serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University's College of Agriculture & Natural Resources. Her research investigates fisheries' critical role in global food security and livelihoods, analyzing how governance structures and trade dynamics shape human well-being in fishing communities worldwide, with emphasis on vulnerable populations including women and the rural poor.

Her academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Marine Science and Conservation, Duke University (2016)
• B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy, University of South Florida – St. Petersburg (2009)

Dr. Bennett's scholarship centers on fisheries governance, political ecology of fish trade, and food security systems. She examines how informal multi-level governance institutions emerge amid global pressures, and how inland fisheries are represented in policy discourses. Her methodological approach combines qualitative fieldwork, ethnographic techniques, and mixed-method analysis to address data gaps in unreported catches and undocumented post-harvest activities. Current work integrates spatial analysis to map fish value chains and nutritional impacts.

Publication trends (2013-2022) reveal consistent focus on small-scale fisheries governance under globalization, with increasing attention to spatial dimensions of food access. Key themes include neoliberalism's impact on fishing cooperatives, gender dynamics in value chains, and combating illegal trade in species like sea cucumbers. Recent work connects fisheries contributions to nutrition-sensitive policies through geospatial modeling.

Scientific recognition includes:

• CANR Early Career Researcher Award (2024)
• Global Scholar in Research designation (2022)
• Honor from International Studies and Programs (2023)

Dr. Bennett actively collaborates with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization on research design and policy implementation. Her Mapping Lake Malawi Fish Value Chains project combines survey and GIS data to analyze distribution patterns, economic benefits, and nutritional access. She has co-taught courses including FW 181 Introduction to Science, Technology, the Environment and Public Policy and FW 481 Global Issues in Fisheries and Wildlife.

She maintains active affiliations with MSU's Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability and Food Security Group, contributing to interdisciplinary initiatives addressing sustainable development goals through fisheries research.