Dr. Anne Beaudreau
Anne Beaudreau and her team conduct research to understand how fisheries systems (fish + people) respond and adapt to environmental, regulatory, and social change. Anne integrates approaches and perspectives from multiple fields, including fisheries science, ecology, anthropology, geography, and policy science. Her work is largely place-based, with a focus on coastal communities and ecosystems along the North Pacific. Anne began her career at the New England Fishery Management Council, where she saw firsthand that the necessary ingredients for good decision-making are not only the ‘best available science,’ but also relationship-building, communication, and trust. Anne went on to earn a Ph.D. in aquatic and fishery sciences from the University of Washington (UW) and held a faculty position at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Juneau, AK, from 2012 to 2020. She has been an associate professor at University of Washington’s School of Marine and Environmental Affairs since 2021.
In the summer of 2009, Anne completed her Ph.D. in fisheries at the University of Washington. She had spent the previous five years conducting field research on the foraging ecology of lingcod—a bold, toothy predator in kelp forest ecosystems. Along with the data, Anne racked up a bounty of fishing stories. Her hours spent on the water also introduced her to a vibrant community of fishers and divers who generously shared a depth of knowledge with her. Their stories of a rapidly changing Puget Sound inspired new research, which documented ecosystem changes over 70 years through interviews Anne conducted with more than 100 harvesters and other knowledge holders. Through this work, Anne became increasingly committed to inclusive science that centers on relationship-building and community knowledge, addressing important issues for local people.
Anne's career journey took her to the University of Alaska in Juneau for nearly a decade, where she grew an interdisciplinary research program on the human dimensions and ecology of coastal fisheries. In 2020, Anne and her family returned to the Pacific Northwest, where she assumed the role of associate professor in marine and environmental affairs at UW.
Reflecting on her experiences, Anne said, "It has been a joy to introduce my 9-year-old son to the beautiful places that I first came to know so many years ago. The leadership and stewardship of communities throughout the Salish Sea region are inspiring and motivating. I am honored to join the Science Advisory Committee and look forward to supporting the important work of the Northwest Straits Commission."