Current Titles

Disciplines

Education

Current Teaching Areas

Graduate:

Undergraduate:

Research Areas Of Interest

1. Non-Invasive Study of Mammalian Populations: Practices and Policy

This study looks at methods used to “non-invasively” study mammal populations. The study is based on the premise that we must move away from the simple cataloguing of individuals to raising questions about the geographic distribution of natural populations, genetic interrelationships among populations as well as small groups within populations (families, demes, pods, etc.) and understanding intrapopulation changes and phylogeographic patters. The goal is that integration of non-invasive material will stimulate others to develop new techniques and expand the use of those that currently exist; that certain existing non-invasive methods make any permanent removal of individuals from a population outdated, not only by virtue of moral or conservation considerations, but also because of scientific needs. The study focuses on three areas: first, non-invasive practices; second, the development of legal regimes and policy developments that served as a catalyst for these practices; and finally, the ethical and philosophical basis from which law and policy developed

2.  Implementation of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) including the ISO 14000 Series

This project is a continuation of two previous projects that culminated in two books, the first entitled: ISO 14000: Understanding the Environmental Standards; and the second, Positioning Your Organization for Environmental Success. The project explores not only application of ISO 14001, the specification document, but the other guidelines and documents within the ISO 14000 series including, among others, life-cycle analysis; environmental performance evaluation; and eco labeling. The project works with small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as graduate students in environmental science who wish to have knowledge of EMSs and, in particular, ISO 14001. Graduate students learn how these systems developed, how they are implemented, and what the economic benefits can be of successful implementation including reduction of waste, minimizing environmental liabilities, and garnering customer approval.

3.  The Cumulative Effect of Multiple Stressors on a Marine Ecosystem: The Gulf Of Mexico

This project is developing an Ecosystem Management Support System (EMSS) - a database for studying the cumulative impact of human-generated multiple stressors on the Galveston Bay ecosystem. The EMSS is a decision-making tool for future management, analysis, and stressor impact prediction of the Galveston Bay's ecosystem health. Ecosystem refers to socio-cultural, economic and ecological systems in the Bay. Stressor refers to any unnatural aspect that creates an impact on an ecosystem. Traditionally, research into the ecosystem of Galveston Bay has been highly individualized and limited, focusing on narrow topics. The project is a multi-disciplinary study of Galveston Bay with an emphasis on an ecosystem approach, one that identifies a broad range of multiple stressors. Galveston Bay provides an ideal site in which to develop and implement the EMSS to evaluate the cumulative effects of multiple stressors in an estuarine ecosystem. Galveston Bay is the largest estuary on the Gulf coast and the seventh largest in the United States. Immediately surrounding the bay system is an extensively urbanized and industrialized region which is experiencing rapid growth. A broad range of species inhabit the coastal area and are directly impacted by anthropogenic activities.

4.  Assessment of the Impact of Fish Stock Recovery on the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Fishing Communities

That there is a severe problem with declining fish stocks is clear. The chronology of the demise of many fish species follows a typical path. Industrialization of fishing brought a new level of efficiency to an artisanal form of work. As a result, 70% of the world's targeted ocean species are either depleted or fully exploited. Texas has seen a serious depletion of stocks of their tidal water fish species by relatively small numbers of commercial operators. What is not clear, however, is how policy aimed at reducing this decline has affected the fishing communities along the Texas coast including a study of its economic, social, and environmental impacts. Little, if any, study has been made on the impact of recovery initiatives. Added to the complexity of assessing the impact is the diversity of fishing communities and communities that reside within communities. Fishers include members of varied national and ethnic backgrounds. Additionally, within a fishing community are subsumed multiple fishing micro-industries such as fish processing, boat repair, and charter-boat/party boat leasing.  My research evaluates the impacts of fish stock recovery programs on Texas coastal fishing communities.

5.  Poaching: The Problem, the Reasons and the Reduction Thereof

Poaching Wildlife-loss problems are often associated with human activities that cause habitat loss. However, incidents in which poaching and commercial operations inflict damages do just as much irreparable damage. Poaching is on the rise. The level of poaching has reached a crisis both financially and in loss of numbers of wildlife. It is obvious that state and federal regimes are not effective in countering the poaching effort. The research analyzes the gaps in consistency and level of enforcement of wildlife protection laws by comparing states’ restrictions, penalties, and enforcement powers. The purpose is to determine what is and is not working in order to solve the poaching problem in the United States. International, federal, and state legal regimes, with an emphasis on state legal regimes, are compared to determine consistency and inconsistency in the areas such as: definitions of poaching; taking restriction of game and non-game wildlife; waste restrictions; spotlighting laws; sale and purchase of wildlife; transportation restriction; agency enforcement power; regulation of the business of hunting; and penalties. The research also delves into the socio-economic determinates of the poaching culture.

Publications

Books

von Zharen, W.M. ISO 14001: Positioning Your Organization for Environmental Success, Government Institutes Press, 2001, 550 pp. (ISBN: 0-86587-819-6).

von Zharen, W.M.  ISO 14000: Understanding the Environmental Standards, Government Institutes Press, 1996, 213 pp. (ISBN: 0-86587-510-3); Chinese translation, 1998, Gau Lih Book Co.

Thames, Jon; J. Goodwin; and W.M. von Zharen.  South Carolina Criminal Defense. South Carolina Bar Association, 1988, 494 pp. 

James F. Dreher and W.M. von Zharen. A Guide to Evidence Law in South Carolina.  South Carolina Bar Association, 1987, 237 pp. [2^nd edition with Thames and von Zharen].

von Zharen, W.M.  Amerindian Studies. Textbook, Florida College Press, 1977, 307 pp.

Chapters in Books

von Zharen, W.M. “The Legal Framework for Maritime Security.” In International Perspectives on Maritime Security.  The Department of the Interior and the Maritime Security Council, 1996, 247-261.

von Zharen, W.M. “How to Find the Law; Sources of Law,” and “Clean Air Act Amendments.” Clean Air Compliance, Texas Engineering Extension Service, 1996, 36 pp.

von Zharen, W.M.  "Marine Transportation:  Major Oil Pollution Prevention and Compensation Regimes: Jurisdictional Issues in Oil Pollution."  In: Natural Resources Law, edited by Richard Fink, California Western School of Law, American Bar Association, 1994, 91-113.

Articles

von Zharen, W.M., "Imports of Tuna from Mexico"; "Public Trust Doctrine and Beach Access"; "Recent Executive Orders: EMS for Federal Agencies and National System of Marine Protected Areas"; and " Killer Algae," American Bar Association Marine Resources Update, November 2000, 3-6.

von Zharen, W.M. "The Shrinking Sea; Expanding Sovereignty," in “Yours, Mine, and Ours: Making Rules Fit,” Natural Resources and Environment Journal, Vol. 15, No. 1, 24-27,65-66.

von Zharen, W.M. "Human Contraband: Stowaways in Law and Popular Culture," the Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce, Vol. 31, No. 4, 2000, 601-607.

von Zharen, W.M. “The Salmon Agreement: Another Surf War Avoided,” American Bar Association Marine Resources Update, Spring, 2000, 5-6.

von Zharen, W.M. “A Too Brief Legacy of the Year of the Ocean,” American Bar Association Marine Resources Newsletter, Fall, 1999, 2-4.

von Zharen, W.M. "An Eco-Policy Perspective of Living Marine Species Sustainability," Ocean Development and International Law, Vol. 30, No. 1, Taylor & Francis, Fall, 1999, 1-42.

von Zharen, W.M. "Ocean Ecosystem Stewardship,"  William and Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review, Vol. 22, Issue 3,  1999, 1-107.

von Zharen, W.M. "Environmental Governance of the Seas, the Coastal Zone, and Their Resources" in “Marine and Coastal Resources,“ Natural Resources and Environment Journal, the American Bar Association, 1995, vol. 9, No. 4, 3-12. 

von Zharen, W. M. and William Duncan. "Environmental Risk Assessment and Management in the Maritime Industry: The Interaction With ISO 9000, ISM and ISMA Management Systems." SNAME Transactions. the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, 1994, vol. 102, 137-164.

Recent Studies for Industry and Agencies

von Zharen, W.M. "Policy Analysis of Access Management Implementation: Laws, Processes, and Trends," for the Texas Department of Transportation through the Texas Transportation Institute, 2000.

von Zharen, W.M. "Benchmarking of Environmental and Economic Impacts: Offshore Brazil, the Gulf of Mexico, and the North Sea," Petrobras Project/ABS Group, 34 pp., 1999.

von Zharen, W.M., et al. “Oil Spill Risks from Tanker Vessel Lightering,” National Research Council's Marine Board’s Lightering Committee, 125 pp., 1999.

von Zharen, W.M. "Assessing the Economic and Environmental Impact of Fisheries Management Regimes," Texas Institute of Oceanography, Summer, 14 pp., 1998.

von Zharen, W.M., advisor, et al. “Texas Marine Fisheries: A Strategic Plan for Sustainability,” the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, Faculty and Project Advisory Committee with Quenton Dokken, the Center for Coastal Studies, 1998.

Recent Teaching and Course Development Projects at TAMU/TAMUG: