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Social networks and environmental outcomes
Michele L Barnes1, John Lynham2, Kolter Kalberg3
1Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822; Department of Botany, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822; Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; michele.barnes@jcu.edu.au.
Summary
Social networks influence environmental change. This study shows segregated fishing networks increase shark bycatch, but cross-group communication could prevent thousands of shark deaths.
Area of Science:
- Marine biology
- Environmental science
- Sociology
Background:
- Social networks significantly influence human behavior, a key driver of environmental change.
- Empirical links between microlevel social interactions and macro-level environmental outcomes are limited.
- Shark bycatch is a major global environmental concern in commercial fisheries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between social networks and shark bycatch in commercial tuna fisheries.
- To determine if information-sharing patterns within fishing communities correlate with environmental impacts.
- To assess the role of ethnic segregation in social networks and its effect on fishing behaviors and bycatch.
Main Methods:
- Utilized comprehensive data on information-sharing networks among commercial tuna fishers.
- Analyzed correlations between network structures (ethnic segregation vs. cross-group ties) and shark bycatch rates.
- Compared the influence of network contacts versus ethnicity on fishing behaviors.
Main Results:
- Segregated social networks, primarily based on ethnic groups, strongly correlate with higher shark bycatch.
- Fishers sharing information across ethnic lines exhibited bycatch rates more influenced by their network contacts than ethnicity.
- Within-group social biases may hinder the adoption of sustainable fishing practices.
Conclusions:
- Social networks are directly linked to actions impacting marine ecosystems, specifically shark bycatch.
- Enhanced communication across segregated fishing groups could significantly reduce incidental shark catches.
- Interventions promoting cross-group information exchange may foster more sustainable fishing behaviors and mitigate environmental harm.
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