James studies ecological globalisation.

His background is in medieval, historical and environmental archaeology, with special interests in the trade of fish, furs and ivory.

He is particularly drawn to the complex links between rural and Indigenous producers of the north and (often distant) urban consumers, and their implications.

Thus, he is also interested in the construction of local (including island) identities and the social, economic and ecological consequences of resource depletion and/or sustainability.

His academic career started as a zooarchaeologist, but has since been directly or indirectly involved in applying a diverse range of techniques and he is better described as a historical ecologist.

As a proponent of the holistic study of historical ecology, he is equally interested in the study of ecofacts (bones, plant remains, soils, etc.) and artefacts.

Much of his research relates to the study of marine resources and in the interface of nature and culture on land and sea.