Jessica L Decker Sparks
Biographic Data
| ID | 4100329 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Jessica L Decker Sparks |
| GIVEN NAMES | Jessica L Decker |
| FAMILY NAME | Sparks |
| SIGNATURE | SPARKS J L D |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Denver |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-0123-0310 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 15 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 14 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 15 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2017 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Decent work in fishing in a changing climate
Climate change will increasingly impact the working conditions of employed fishers, who work in the most hazardous occupation in a sector already at high risk for forced labor and other decent work deficits. However, in comparison to other sectors, there has been little attention afforded to how climate change will impact working conditions onboard industrial vessels. Although the absence of a well-organized workforce makes it challenging to iden…
The illusion of social improvements: A case study of the role of Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) in fairwashing the UK Nephrops fishery
Fishery improvement projects (FIPs) are attempting to manage the labor dimensions of social responsibility through non-binding mechanisms that directly contradict the tenets of worker-centered approaches. Using the UK Nephrops FIP as a case study, we combined data from worker grievances reported to trade unions, government agencies, and researchers to demonstrate how the FIP concealed several cases of potential forced labor, in addition to other …
Decent Work in a Changing Climate
Climate change is placing increased pressures on workers, including their health, working conditions, and economic outcomes. Whilst efforts by international governance mechanisms and governments espouse the need to achieve decent work, in reality, the threats facing workers are shifting. In this article, we begin to assess how decent work is undermined by climate change. We explore what barriers render decent work increasingly out of reach for so…
The future of decent work: Forecasting heat stress and the intersection of sustainable development challenges in India's brick kilns
The impacts of climate change‐induced heat stress on workers are most prevalent in sectors with decent work deficits and this requires consideration for sustainable development. This paper focuses on the informal economy of brick kilns in India, a sector reliant on piece‐rate payments to its migrant labour force. We forecast to 2050, through satellite mapping and climate modelling, the number of days with extreme heat, loss of labour capacity, an…
Fishery improvement projects: A voluntary, corporate “tool” not fit for the purpose of mitigating labour abuses and guaranteeing labour rights for workers
The recent development of a Human Rights and Social Responsibility Policy for fishery improvement projects (FIPs) has accelerated industry and NGO-led initiatives to address human and labour rights violations in seafood supply chains through FIPs. However, this brief communication demonstrates that FIPs’ social requirements, as currently constituted and reported, suffer from many of the same problems as other voluntary, market-based initiatives t…
Decent work in fisheries: Current trends and key considerations for future research and policy
Labor issues and human rights violations have become the subject of rising concern in fisheries and seafood production. This paper reviews recent research on labor issues in the fishing industry, especially by environmental researchers and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) which are emerging as key players in research and policy arenas. Recent research has focused largely on severe violations such as forced labor, particularly in ‘hotspot’ geo…
Worker-less social responsibility: How the proliferation of voluntary labour governance tools in seafood marginalise the workers they claim to protect
In response to labour and human rights violations onboard fishing vessels, the private sector is increasingly relying on market-based solutions in the form of voluntary, non-governmental social governance tools to improve working conditions for fishers. While the proliferation of these tools is relatively recent in fishing, there is substantial evidence from other sectors that these voluntary standards fail to transform working conditions. Yet, t…
Towards a model of port-based resilience against fisher labour exploitation
Fishers have pronounced vulnerabilities to labour exploitation and modern slavery. Regulatory efforts to mitigate fisher labour exploitation through domestic modern slavery legislation, and through the ratification and implementation of The International Labour Organization’s Work in Fishing Convention (C188) have had varying success. This heterogeneity is mainly because the implementation of C188 rests upon ratified states enforcing aligned dome…
Growing evidence of the interconnections between modern slavery, environmental degradation, and climate change
Ending slavery by decarbonisation? Exploring the nexus of modern slavery, deforestation, and climate change action via Redd
An analysis of inclusion gaps in sustainable development themes: Findings from a review of recent social work literature
Recently, humans have negatively altered ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any other time in human history, contributing to gains in well-being and economic development for some, while threatening the security of most, particularly oppressed populations. We comprehensively reviewed recent social work literature (2010–2015) to examine gaps in environmental sustainability themes relevant to social work practice. Peer-reviewed manuscri…
Complex linkages between forced labor slavery and environmental decline in marine fisheries
Recent media attention on human rights abuses in the fishing sector, precipitated by undercover investigations from nongovernmental organizations and investigative journalists (e.g., Environmental Justice Foundation [EJF] 2014 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FOUNDATION (EJF). (2014) Slavery at Sea: The Continued Plight of Trafficked Migrants in Thailand’s Fishing Industry (London, UK: EJF). [Google Scholar], 2015a Environmental Justice Foundation. (2015a) …
An intersectionality-based analysis of high seas policy making stagnation and equity in United Nations negotiations
© 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. This paper used an intersectionality-based policy analysis to critically dissect systemic power structures within the UN that likely contributed to marine policy making’s stagnation. An empirical analysis of UN organ structure and composition in relation to a state’s gross domestic product found inequities in representation and leadership between large and small economies and elucidated how a state’s economic s…
Social work students’ perspective on environmental justice: Gaps and challenges for preparing students
The integration of environmental justice into social work education, research, and practice has grown substantially in the past decade. However, social workers still report feeling unprepared to address these challenges with their clients and communities. To understand the disconnect between education about and application of environmental justice principles, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with graduate social work students…
Social Work's Role in the Conservation Social Sciences
Timidly I stood, sharing with the symposium panel and audience my experience with multidisciplinary education, including the integration of animal and ecosystem health with human health based on the holistic One Health paradigm. When asked which social science discipline I was from, I hesitated, then responded, “Social work.” Here I was, likely the lone, and possibly first, social worker at the Society for Conservation Biology's (SCB) North Ameri…
Ending slavery by decarbonisation? Exploring the nexus of modern slavery, deforestation, and climate change action via Redd
Social work students’ perspective on environmental justice: Gaps and challenges for preparing students
The integration of environmental justice into social work education, research, and practice has grown substantially in the past decade. However, social workers still report feeling unprepared to address these challenges with their clients and communities. To understand the disconnect between education about and application of environmental justice principles, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with graduate social work students…
Complex linkages between forced labor slavery and environmental decline in marine fisheries
Recent media attention on human rights abuses in the fishing sector, precipitated by undercover investigations from nongovernmental organizations and investigative journalists (e.g., Environmental Justice Foundation [EJF] 2014 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FOUNDATION (EJF). (2014) Slavery at Sea: The Continued Plight of Trafficked Migrants in Thailand’s Fishing Industry (London, UK: EJF). [Google Scholar], 2015a Environmental Justice Foundation. (2015a) …
An intersectionality-based analysis of high seas policy making stagnation and equity in United Nations negotiations
© 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. This paper used an intersectionality-based policy analysis to critically dissect systemic power structures within the UN that likely contributed to marine policy making’s stagnation. An empirical analysis of UN organ structure and composition in relation to a state’s gross domestic product found inequities in representation and leadership between large and small economies and elucidated how a state’s economic s…
Social Work's Role in the Conservation Social Sciences
Timidly I stood, sharing with the symposium panel and audience my experience with multidisciplinary education, including the integration of animal and ecosystem health with human health based on the holistic One Health paradigm. When asked which social science discipline I was from, I hesitated, then responded, “Social work.” Here I was, likely the lone, and possibly first, social worker at the Society for Conservation Biology's (SCB) North Ameri…
An analysis of inclusion gaps in sustainable development themes: Findings from a review of recent social work literature
Recently, humans have negatively altered ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any other time in human history, contributing to gains in well-being and economic development for some, while threatening the security of most, particularly oppressed populations. We comprehensively reviewed recent social work literature (2010–2015) to examine gaps in environmental sustainability themes relevant to social work practice. Peer-reviewed manuscri…
Complex linkages between forced labor slavery and environmental decline in marine fisheries
Recent media attention on human rights abuses in the fishing sector, precipitated by undercover investigations from nongovernmental organizations and investigative journalists (e.g., Environmental Justice Foundation [EJF] 2014 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FOUNDATION (EJF). (2014) Slavery at Sea: The Continued Plight of Trafficked Migrants in Thailand’s Fishing Industry (London, UK: EJF). [Google Scholar], 2015a Environmental Justice Foundation. (2015a) …
An intersectionality-based analysis of high seas policy making stagnation and equity in United Nations negotiations
© 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. This paper used an intersectionality-based policy analysis to critically dissect systemic power structures within the UN that likely contributed to marine policy making’s stagnation. An empirical analysis of UN organ structure and composition in relation to a state’s gross domestic product found inequities in representation and leadership between large and small economies and elucidated how a state’s economic s…
Social work students’ perspective on environmental justice: Gaps and challenges for preparing students
The integration of environmental justice into social work education, research, and practice has grown substantially in the past decade. However, social workers still report feeling unprepared to address these challenges with their clients and communities. To understand the disconnect between education about and application of environmental justice principles, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with graduate social work students…
Ending slavery by decarbonisation? Exploring the nexus of modern slavery, deforestation, and climate change action via Redd
Growing evidence of the interconnections between modern slavery, environmental degradation, and climate change
Decent work in fisheries: Current trends and key considerations for future research and policy
Labor issues and human rights violations have become the subject of rising concern in fisheries and seafood production. This paper reviews recent research on labor issues in the fishing industry, especially by environmental researchers and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) which are emerging as key players in research and policy arenas. Recent research has focused largely on severe violations such as forced labor, particularly in ‘hotspot’ geo…
Worker-less social responsibility: How the proliferation of voluntary labour governance tools in seafood marginalise the workers they claim to protect
In response to labour and human rights violations onboard fishing vessels, the private sector is increasingly relying on market-based solutions in the form of voluntary, non-governmental social governance tools to improve working conditions for fishers. While the proliferation of these tools is relatively recent in fishing, there is substantial evidence from other sectors that these voluntary standards fail to transform working conditions. Yet, t…
Towards a model of port-based resilience against fisher labour exploitation
Fishers have pronounced vulnerabilities to labour exploitation and modern slavery. Regulatory efforts to mitigate fisher labour exploitation through domestic modern slavery legislation, and through the ratification and implementation of The International Labour Organization’s Work in Fishing Convention (C188) have had varying success. This heterogeneity is mainly because the implementation of C188 rests upon ratified states enforcing aligned dome…
Fishery improvement projects: A voluntary, corporate “tool” not fit for the purpose of mitigating labour abuses and guaranteeing labour rights for workers
The recent development of a Human Rights and Social Responsibility Policy for fishery improvement projects (FIPs) has accelerated industry and NGO-led initiatives to address human and labour rights violations in seafood supply chains through FIPs. However, this brief communication demonstrates that FIPs’ social requirements, as currently constituted and reported, suffer from many of the same problems as other voluntary, market-based initiatives t…
The future of decent work: Forecasting heat stress and the intersection of sustainable development challenges in India's brick kilns
The impacts of climate change‐induced heat stress on workers are most prevalent in sectors with decent work deficits and this requires consideration for sustainable development. This paper focuses on the informal economy of brick kilns in India, a sector reliant on piece‐rate payments to its migrant labour force. We forecast to 2050, through satellite mapping and climate modelling, the number of days with extreme heat, loss of labour capacity, an…
Decent work in fishing in a changing climate
Climate change will increasingly impact the working conditions of employed fishers, who work in the most hazardous occupation in a sector already at high risk for forced labor and other decent work deficits. However, in comparison to other sectors, there has been little attention afforded to how climate change will impact working conditions onboard industrial vessels. Although the absence of a well-organized workforce makes it challenging to iden…
The illusion of social improvements: A case study of the role of Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) in fairwashing the UK Nephrops fishery
Fishery improvement projects (FIPs) are attempting to manage the labor dimensions of social responsibility through non-binding mechanisms that directly contradict the tenets of worker-centered approaches. Using the UK Nephrops FIP as a case study, we combined data from worker grievances reported to trade unions, government agencies, and researchers to demonstrate how the FIP concealed several cases of potential forced labor, in addition to other …
Decent Work in a Changing Climate
Climate change is placing increased pressures on workers, including their health, working conditions, and economic outcomes. Whilst efforts by international governance mechanisms and governments espouse the need to achieve decent work, in reality, the threats facing workers are shifting. In this article, we begin to assess how decent work is undermined by climate change. We explore what barriers render decent work increasingly out of reach for so…
Political science (12 works) · Engineering (7 works) · Economics (6 works) · Law (6 works) · Business (5 works) · Sociology (5 works) · Biology (4 works) · Climate change (4 works) · Fishing (4 works) · Geography (4 works)