When is a commercial fish species recovered?

Area of Science:

• Ecosystem governance
• Fisheries management
• Conservation biology

Background:

• Decades of species and ecosystem decline necessitate understanding recovery governance.
• The recovery of commercially valuable species is a critical conservation and socioeconomic issue.
• Northern cod (Gadus morhua) experienced a significant collapse, highlighting the complexities of recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the criteria and discourses defining the recovery of a commercial species.
• To explore stakeholder perceptions on the recovery of northern cod (Gadus morhua).
• To identify factors beyond biological metrics influencing recovery governance.

Main Methods:

• Case study of northern cod (Gadus morhua) in NAFO subdivision 2J3KL.
• Conducted 26 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders in the Newfoundland and Labrador fishing sector.
• Discourse analysis to identify key themes in recovery governance.

Main Results:

• Identified three core discourses: biological, industrial, and community recovery.
• Discourses are shaped by five dimensions: epistemic orientation, institutions, risk framing, stakeholder priorities, and lessons learned.
• Northern cod recovery is perceived differently across these discourses.

Conclusions:

• Commercial species recovery is not solely based on biological indicators.
• Decision-makers' views on knowledge systems, risk, and historical lessons are crucial for recovery governance.
• Co-productive approaches may help reconcile competing discourses in species recovery.