Fisher behaviour in coastal and marine fisheries

Abstract

AbstractThis research systematically reviews fisher behaviour in coastal and marine fisheries. Fisher behaviour refers to individual and group level action that reflects the psychological processing and social exchange of information in fisheries. Fisher behaviour is poorly conceptualized and explained in fisheries research, and the implications of fisher behaviour for governance outcomes remain uncertain. To address this gap, we present a systematic scoping review of peer‐reviewed literature (n = 104 journal articles published from 2012 to 2017). Results highlight a typology of fisher behaviour and reveal insights into behavioural types and their explanations commonly used in conceptual and empirical models. This research reveals three major implications for governance. First, researchers can strengthen recommendations for governance by examining fisher behaviours as multilevel and multiscale phenomena. Second, researchers in governance can improve capacities to anticipate behavioural change with theoretical models that prioritize psychosocial variables, and interdisciplinary empirical research on the extrinsic factors that shape the fishers’ psychosocial responses to change in a local context. Third, social and policy sciences research is needed to reveal the governance barriers and opportunities for using new models that incorporate fisher behaviour to develop, implement and evaluate fisheries policies.