Maxine Westhead
Director, Marine Affairs Program
Email: maxine.westhead@dal.ca
About
Max Westhead holds a B.Sc in Marine Biology from the University of Guelph (1996) and a Master of Science in Marine Biology from Acadia University (2005). Her Master’s thesis focused on the ecological and community impacts of baitworm and clam harvesting on the mudflats of the Minas Basin.
Max has worked for the Marine Planning and Conservation Program with Fisheries and Oceans Canada since 1998, mostly at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography. She has held various positions within the Department over the years, but primarily as Section Head of the Maritimes Region Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Program. Over the years she has led several MPA design and designation processes, MPA-specific consultation and engagement efforts, and she and her team have contributed to Canada’s recent marine conservation targets. In 2018, however, Max shifted her focus to (less controversial) work with DFO’s new Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Program and is now leading the Maritimes Region’s Marine Planning unit.
Max joined the Marine Affairs Program in 2014 as an Instructor for the graduate level Marine Protected Areas course (MARA 5013). In her course students are exposed to real-life MPA/MSP practitioner situations, dilemmas, conflicts and resolutions.
Selected Publications
Tittensor, D. Beger, M., Boerderl K., Boyce, D.G., Cavanagh, R.D., Cosandey-Godin, A., Crespo, G.O., Dunn, D.C., Ghiffary, W., Grant, S.G., Hannah, L., Halpin, P.N., Harfoot, M., Heaslip, S.G., Jeffery, N.W., Kingston, K., Lotze, H.K., McGowan, J., McLeod, E., McOwen, C.J., O’Leary, B., Schiller, L., Stanley, R.E., Westhead, M., Wilson, K.L., and Worm, B. 2019. Integrating climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation in the global ocean. Science Advances. Vol 5(11).
Westhead, M. 2018. Marine Protected Areas: Ensuring Effective Conservation While Pursuing Global Targets. In: The Future of Oceans Governance and Capacity Development. Essays in Honor of Elisabeth Mann Borgese.
Westhead, M. 2012. Tools for integrated policy and management in the Gulf of Maine: A summary of major advancements since 1996. Pages 47-60. in R. L. Stephenson, J. H. Annala, J. A. Runge, and M. Hall-Arber, editors. Advancing an ecosystem approach in the Gulf of Maine. American Fisheries Society, Symposium 79, Bethesda, Maryland.
Hale, S. and M. Westhead. 2012. Ecosystem services in the Gulf of Maine. Pages 1-8. in R. L. Stephenson, J. H. Annala, J. A. Runge, and M. Hall-Arber, editors. Advancing an ecosystem approach in the Gulf of Maine. American Fisheries Society, Symposium 79, Bethesda, Maryland.
Westhead, Maxine C.; Fenton, Derek G.; Koropatnick, Tanya A.; Macnab, Paul A.; Moors, Hilary B. 2012. Filling the gaps one at a time: The Gully Marine Protected Area in Eastern Canada. A response to Agardy, Notarbartolo di Sciara and Christie. Marine Policy vol. 36 issue 3. p. 713-715
Westhead, M., King, M., and Herbert, G. 2012. Marine Protected Area Network Planning in the Scotian Shelf Bioregion: Context and Conservation Objectives. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2012/126. ii + 11 p.
Westhead, M.C. 2005. Investigations of the Reference Condition Approach and intertidal ecology of Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy, with reference to the impacts of intertidal harvesting. M.Sc. Thesis, Acadia University.Max Westhead holds a B.Sc in Marine Biology from the University of Guelph (1996) and a Master of Science in Marine Biology from Acadia University (2005). Her Master’s thesis focused on the ecological and community impacts of baitworm and clam harvesting on the mudflats of the Minas Basin.