Abstract
AbstractAnalysis of the perceptions of commercial fishermen, marine scientists, and other stakeholders of the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank ecosystem regarding collaborative fisheries research revealed that the benefits of collaboration have been extensive and that a loss of further research opportunities would be consequential. To date, more than 1,000 individuals have participated in research initiatives dedicated to promoting collaboration between scientists and fishermen. A series of eight public meetings were held in the summer of 2008 to determine from fishermen, scientists, and others how this collaboration has affected them, their communities, and the management of important marine resources. Of the 142 attendees, participation was greatest among fishermen (28%) and scientists (24%). The impact of collaborative fisheries research most frequently cited was an increase in the regional capacity to conduct research, utilizing the knowledge and expertise of fishermen and industry vessels as research platforms. Improvements in communication, relationships, and trust between science, industry, and other stakeholders were also lauded. In addition to the social impacts, the economic benefits included enhanced gear efficiency, new fishery opportunities, and help in sustaining fishing operations in times of more restrictive fisheries management. The most frequently cited potential impact of a loss in future funding were probable limits to the capacity of science and management to address local, emerging, or regulatory priorities. Less funding would result in fewer opportunities for stakeholders to work together, build trust, and network. We conclude that because the demands for stakeholder engagement and scientific information will only increase with the global shift toward ecosystem‐based management, programs specifically designed to foster collaboration will play a critical role.
Highlights
Background and Funding ProgramsImplementation of formal federally funded programs is critical to building capacity for collaborative research in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank (Sissenwine 2001)
Almost a decade since formal collaborative research funding programs were initiated in New England, and with a bank of research projects and partnerships built, we report on the efforts of the New Hampshire Sea Grant College Program and the Northeast Consortium to take stock, through a public participation process, of the extent to which collaboration has affected New England regional fishery stakeholders intellectually, scientifically, socially, economically, and in management policy
The benefits of collaborative research in building trust and communication pathways and in improving fisheries management have been well documented in the Northeast (e.g., Kaplan and McCay 2004; Johnson and van Densen 2007), the study we report here is a unique assessment across funding programs that gathers stakeholder perspectives on the impacts of collaborative research on science, management, and partnerships and examines the importance of research funding and ways collaborative research could improve in the future
Summary
Background and Funding ProgramsImplementation of formal federally funded programs is critical to building capacity for collaborative research in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank (Sissenwine 2001). We report on the impacts of fishermen– scientist partnered research, the majority of which have been funded and fostered by the following programs. The Northeast Consortium (NEC) was created in 1999 to encourage and fund collaborative research and monitoring projects within the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank. These projects involve effective, equal partnerships among fishermen, scientists, and other stakeholders. An Advisory Committee of stakeholders provides programmatic advice and assistance in the selection of projects to be funded on a range of topics: fishing gear technology; stock assessments; fish biology, habitats, and ecosystems; and fisheries socioeconomics, outreach, and education (Hartley and Robertson 2006a)
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