No abstract

As marine fishery resources in Oregon decline and demand by user groups increases, coastal fishing communities face more and more regulations. This leads to increased interaction between management agencies and user groups, frequently occurring through formal public involvement methods and informal interactions. Communication is at the core of these interactions. Effective two‐way communication results in mutual understanding and a positive outcome for all parties involved. This small pilot study explored the current state of communication within and between Oregon's coastal marine recreational community and the fisheries management community. The primary objectives were to understand the methods of communication used within and between these communities, to describe the current state of communication between them, and to identify suggestions for improving communication. This article focuses on identified factors which affect communication between these communities, potential improvements to current communication, and suggests that taking small, important steps toward making effective communication a priority within and between communities could build upon their genuine and mutual concern for the future of the resource. Fisheries managers (and the commercial fishing community) would be wise to better understand this stakeholder group and learn strategies to communicate with this understudied and possibly under‐represented user group in Oregon.