Liz Drury O'Neill
Where Ocean and Society Meet
Liz is a marine social scientist who studies the people behind coastal and fishing communities. Her work explores coastal livelihoods, fishery markets, conservation efforts, and the governance of small-scale fisheries, with a focus on understanding human wellbeing in all its dimensions.
The ocean shapes lives in more ways than we often see.
This space brings together my research and projects focused on the social side of marine environments. I’m particularly interested in coastal livelihoods, small-scale fisheries, conservation in practice, and the many dimensions of human wellbeing connected to these systems. My goal is to contribute knowledge that supports fair, sustainable, and people-centered ocean futures.
The story of
Liz
Researching who benefits from the ocean — and how marine systems can be more just.
Trained first in marine science and biology, I gradually realized my real curiosity lay not only in oceans, but in the people whose lives are intertwined with them. I’m now a marine social scientist studying fisheries, value chains, and marine governance, with a focus on livelihoods, wellbeing, and equity. My work has taken me from industrial tuna systems in Ghana to small-scale fisheries across Africa and Southeast Asia, always asking: who benefits, and how can ocean systems support a good life for coastal communities?
Research Projects
These projects bring together my work on fisheries, conservation, and marine governance, with a focus on livelihoods and human wellbeing. They aim to generate knowledge that supports fairer resource use and strengthens the resilience of coastal communities.
Rethinking patron-client relationships in small-scale fisheries
Running 2023- 2027
Based at: Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University
Hosted by: University of the Philippines Visayas
Running 2014-2018
Based at: Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, University of the Philippines Visayas & Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam
Running 2014-2018
Based at: Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, University of the Philippines Visayas & Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam
Liz's Blogs
Writing on fisheries, livelihoods, governance, and the social dynamics shaping marine environments.
Research Diaries- #1
Liz's Storytelling Series
These stories bring together my work on fisheries, conservation, and marine governance, with a focus on livelihoods and human wellbeing. They aim to generate knowledge that supports fairer resource use and strengthens the resilience of coastal communities.
CHARACTERS OF THE CLOSURES: Human Experiences of Marine Conservation & Management
The stories of this series come from the work I did with the OctoPINTS project . The stories can be read in English, French or Kiswahili on the OctoPINTS webpage. I have written 4 stories based on my fieldwork in Zanzibar in 2019.
TALES OF CHANGE from Kwale Coast
The stories from this series are based on the FoRel project work in Kenya, specifically interviews and discussions done with about 70, mainly Digo participants in Kwale County Kenya (2020/21). I was not apart of fieldwork due to COVID 19 but worked as the analytical researcher with all the transcripts and qualitative coding.
PATRON OF THE SEAS
This story series comes from the Patron of the Seas project based in the Philippines. It follows the same logistic as the other storytelling series in that I create composite characters and narratives from interviews/focus groups/photovoice exercises as a means to communicate the experiences of participants.