Villy Christensen

Dr. Villy Christensen is a Professor at the University of British Columbia's Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, part of the Faculty of Science. He specializes in ecosystem modeling, particularly in developing data-driven models for fisheries management. His work includes leadership in the Ecopath project, a widely used software system for marine ecosystem modeling. Dr. Christensen's research focuses on global ocean models, fish biomass trends, and habitat capacity, with recent contributions to understanding climate change impacts on marine ecosystems.

His research interests span interdisciplinary topics such as

• Ecosystem-based fisheries management
• Climate change projections for marine systems
• Modeling frameworks for policy exploration
• Historical reconstructions of indigenous fisheries practices

Key publications include studies on FishMIP 2.0, spatial optimizations for marine ecosystems, and the effects of climate change on biodiversity. His work bridges academic research with practical applications, emphasizing tools like Ecopath and Ecospace for decision-making. Dr. Christensen collaborates globally, contributing to initiatives like the Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem Model Intercomparison Project (Fish-MIP).