Lessons learned for collaborative approaches to management when faced with diverse stakeholder groups in a rebuilding fishery

There is increasing demand within fisheries management for the adoption of management approaches that incorporate in-depth stakeholder participation, scientific uncertainty, multiple objectives, and characterizations of risk. One such approach-management strategy evaluation (MSE)-relies on participation with fishery interest groups to consolidate knowledge of the fishery system, define goals, and evaluate feasible management options. However, the focus of much of the literature on MSE emphasizes steps in implementation and its practical application, despite the fact that technical aspects of MSE have the potential to alienate participants without MSE experience. Using the Units 1 and 2 Canadian Atlantic redfish fishery as a case study, we here describe lessons learned from the MSE developed for this rebuilding fishery, focusing on four key challenges: identifying participants for MSE processes; clearly defining their roles; educating participants on the purpose, benefits, and scope of MSE; and mediating disagreements to acquire critical cooperation, inputs, and feedback from the different stakeholder groups within the MSE process.

Automated summary

There is a growing demand for fisheries management to incorporate stakeholder participation, scientific uncertainty, multiple objectives, and risk characterizations. Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) is one approach that relies on participation with fishery interest groups to define goals and evaluate management options. The technical aspects of MSE have the potential to alienate participants without experience, with literature often focusing on implementation steps. Challenges in MSE include identifying participants, defining roles, educating on purpose and mediating disagreements for critical cooperation.