Hazel Ann Oxenford (Professor of Marine Ecology and Fisheries)
Professor Hazel Ann Oxenford was born on 29 March 1957 in the United Kingdom. She graduated from the University of Exeter, England in 1976 with a B.Sc. in Zoology, earning 2:1 honors.
By 1978, possibly spurred on by her keen interest in the sea and ocean sciences, she became a BSAC certified SCUBA Diving Instructor.
Hazel’s studies brought her to Barbados in 1980, where she studied at the University of the West Indies with the financial assistance of a British Council Study and Serve Scholarship, and by 1986, Hazel earned her PhD in Fisheries Science (high commendation) from the University of the West Indies for her seminal study of biology and management of dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus).
After a 6-month post-doc with McGill University working on other large pelagic fishery species of commercial importance to the Caribbean, she took up the position as the lead scientist on a 5-year IDRC-funded research project on Eastern Caribbean flying fish. During the course of her research Hazel also acted as a part-time lecturer in the undergraduate biology programme at UWI until 1990 when she became a full-time lecturer (fully tenured in 1996). Not soon after, she became a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Science and Technology of the UWI in 1999.
In 1991 she joined the staff at CERMES, UWI in 1991 to help develop and teach the first MSc. programme in Natural Resource and Environmental Management at Cave Hill. Hazel remained at CERMES until her retirement from UWI earlier this year. She was Director of CERMES (2002-2004) and from 2006 until her retirement was Professor of Marine Ecology and Fisheries. In addition to teaching various courses in this post-graduate program, she supervised at least 50 post-graduate students pursuing advanced degrees including advanced diplomas, Masters and PhD degrees.
Hazel’s research interests ranges from applied fisheries biology, coral reef ecology and marine resource management in the Caribbean. According to ResearchGate, the largest academic social network, during the course of her esteemed career Hazel authored or co-authored over 240 scientific articles ranging from technical reports to several articles in the most prestigious scientific journals. She has also contributed to chapters in a number of books and in 2008 co-authored Barbados: A coral Paradise an authoritative popular science book on Barbadian Coral reefs and their importance to the island.
Photo credits: Research Gate, Peer J, and Loop (Frontiers) respectively
Hazel has, and in some cases, still serves on a range of national, regional and international committees, boards and working groups as an expert in her field. This includes, a member of the Board of Directors of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) (1987-2005); Site Director for the Caribbean Coastal Marine Productivity Programme (CARICOMP) (1991-2008); a Technical Committee Member of the CARICOM Fisheries Resource Assessment and Management Programme (CFRAMP) (1995-99); a member of the Steering Committee for the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem (CLME) project for large pelagics and for flyingfish; Regional Advisor to the Joint Technical Working Group for the Barbados / Trinidad and Tobago fishing agreement negotiations (2002-2003). Appointed Member of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation – Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (FAO-WECAFC) Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) (2014 -2019). Appointed Member of the Fisheries Expert Group (FEG) under the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (2009-2013), and member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean (AMLC). She was also an ad hoc reviewer for more than 20 international scientific journals as well as being an associate editor for the Bulletin of Marine Science (2012-2015).
On a strictly national level, Hazel served on the Commission on Sustainable Development being appointed Chair (2002-03). National Inter-Sectoral Committee (NIC) for the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem (CLME) project; as a member of the Fisheries Advisory Committee (2006-present); Appointed Member of the Working Group on Biodiversity (2005-present); and Appointed Member of the CITES Management Authority (2005-present).
Hazel has taught and/or collaborated with many involved in marine research across the island of Barbados. Above that, throughout her career Hazel established strong friendly links with fisherfolk, many of whom she could and would rely on to collaborate with her, her co-workers and students to conduct the required research. In this context it should also be noted that throughout her career Hazel was a hands-on scientist, being in the field as often as she could whether the research involved diving or fishing, this in spite of her full schedule of teaching and serving in her other advisory roles. Hazel officially retired from UWI in 2023.