Advancing Data-Limited Fisheries Management Implementation through Applied Capacity Building

Across the world, limitations in capacity and data often hinder sustainable management in coastal fisheries. Effective capacity building programs to support these fisheries in developing sustainable fisheries management plans can present a way forward, yet challenges exist due to the diverse sets of skills and knowledge needed to develop all components of science-based, practical, and implementable plans. There is also a challenge in identifying applied training methods that best support fishery scientists and managers who are adult learners with time constraints. We invite participants and attendees to contribute their experiences, lessons, and challenges in either leading, participating in, or designing applied capacity building activities related to fisheries science and management. We are particularly interested in alternative training formats, such as facilitated activities or applied lessons that achieve tangible results. Although a focus will be placed on the data-limited realm, contributions from more data-rich contexts are welcome.

Organizers:

Serena Lomonico, The Nature Conservancy, [email protected]
Dawn Dougherty, The Nature Conservancy
Jason Cope, NOAA Fisheries
Dowling Natalie, CSIRO
Nicolas Gutierrez, FAO

Addressing Contemporary Fisheries Issues Through Effective Scientist-Stakeholder Collaborations

Fisheries around the world, including in marine and freshwater ecosystems, face a myriad of issues that challenge the long-term sustainability of fisheries resources, fishing industries, and the associated communities. Efforts to address contemporary challenges related to sustainable fishing practices, climate change, and stock assessment and fisheries management can be more successful through effective collaborations among members of the scientific community and stakeholders from the commercial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries communities around the world. This session will feature examples of effective scientist-stakeholder collaborations that have successfully provided the required data for addressing contemporary issues impacting fisheries sustainability. Presentations will highlight examples of successful collaborations with emphasis on how they meaningfully incorporated stakeholder input and collaboration during multiple phases of the project and how results were considered by data end-users. Lessons learned from other projects will be emphasized to aid in overcoming challenges and developing best practices for future scientist-stakeholder collaborations.

Organizers:

Douglas Zemeckis, Rutgers University, [email protected]
Lee Benaka, NOAA Fisheries Service
Mark Chandler, NOAA Fisheries
Sean Simmons, Angler’s Atlas