Sea Change: Using Citizen Science to Inform Fisheries Management

Area of Science:

• Fisheries Science
• Conservation Biology
• Environmental Management

Background:

• Rising costs strain resource management agencies' ability to collect robust fisheries and habitat data.
• Strained trust among scientists, government agencies, and the public hinders effective fisheries management, particularly regarding fishing limits.
• Limited information or analysis can lead to perceptions of unfair or uninformed decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the collaborative process of establishing a citizen science program in the South Atlantic.
• To enhance the quantity and quality of data for fisheries management decisions.
• To build trust and foster mutual understanding among stakeholders in fisheries management.

Main Methods:

• Collaborative process examination.
• Focus on building on existing management infrastructure.
• Development of a citizen science program.

Main Results:

• The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council initiated a citizen science program.
• The program aims to improve data for management decisions.
• The initiative seeks to enhance trust and understanding among stakeholders.

Conclusions:

• Citizen science offers a pathway to address data limitations in fisheries management.
• Collaboration is key to building trust and ensuring long-term fisheries sustainability.
• The established program provides a model for integrating public participation in resource management.