Abstract
Knowledge mobilisation is required to “bridge the gap” between research, policy and practice. This activity is dependent on the amount, richness and quality of the data published. To understand the impact of a changing climate on commercial species, stakeholder communities require better knowledge of their past and current situations. The common cockle (Cerastoderma edule) is an excellent model species for this type of analysis, as it is well-studied due to its cultural, commercial and ecological significance in west Europe. Recently, C. edule harvests have decreased, coinciding with frequent mass mortalities, due to factors such as a changing climate and diseases. In this study, macro and micro level marine historical ecology techniques were used to create datasets on topics including: cockle abundance, spawning duration and harvest levels, as well as the ecological factors impacting those cockle populations. These data were correlated with changing climate and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) index to assess if they are drivers of cockle abundance and harvesting. The analyses identified the key stakeholder communities involved in cockle research and data acquisition. It highlighted that data collection was sporadic and lacking in cross-national/stakeholder community coordination. A major finding was that local variability in cockle populations is influenced by biotic (parasites) and abiotic (temperature, legislation and harvesting) factors, and at a global scale by climate (AMO Index). This comprehensive study provided an insight into the European cockle fishery but also highlights the need to identify the type of data required, the importance of standardised monitoring, and dissemination efforts, taking into account the knowledge, source, and audience. These factors are key elements that will be highly beneficial not only to the cockle stakeholder communities but to other commercial species.
Highlights
Knowledge does not transmit well [1], resulting in a gap between research and end users, with information not always translating from researchers to policy makers, the public and resource managers [2]
The analyses identified the key stakeholder communities involved in cockle research and data acquisition
A major finding was that local variability in cockle populations is influenced by biotic and abiotic factors, and at a global scale by climate (AMO Index)
Summary
Knowledge does not transmit well [1], resulting in a gap between research and end users, with information not always translating from researchers to policy makers, the public and resource managers [2] This has led to the study of knowledge mobilisation, which relates to the flow and application of information [3]. In similarity with other fisheries [13], the production of cockles has since reduced [14], coinciding with reports of changing fisheries policy, significant overfishing, variable recruitment and mass mortalities [15] Some of these reported mortalities are a result of climate related events (e.g. high precipitation, storms and heat waves), which are anticipated to increase in frequency over the coming decades [16,17,18]. The recent discovery of the pathogen Marteilia cochillia is causing significant mortalities in Galicia, Spain [22]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
