No abstract

Although it is assumed that the outcomes from scientific research inform management and policy, the so‐called knowledge–action gap (i.e., the disconnect between scientific knowledge and its application) is a recognition that there are many reasons why new knowledge is not always embraced by knowledge users. The concept of knowledge co‐production has gained popularity within the environmental and conservation research communities as a mechanism of bridging the gap between knowledge and action, but has yet to be fully embraced in fisheries research. Here we describe what co‐production is, outline its benefits (relative to other approaches to research) and challenges, and provide practical guidance on how to embrace and enact knowledge co‐production within fisheries research. Because co‐production is an iterative and context‐dependent process, there is no single way to do it, but there are best practices that can facilitate the generation of actionable research through respectful and inclusive partnerships. We present several brief case studies where we describe examples of where co‐production has worked in practice and the benefits it has accrued. As more members of the fisheries science and management community effectively engage in co‐production, it will be important to reflect on the processes and share lessons with others. We submit that co‐production has manifold benefits for applied science and should lead to meaningful improvements in fisheries management, conservation, and governance.

The COVID-19 pandemic and corresponding public health mitigation strategies have altered many facets of human life. And yet, little is known about how public health measures have impacted complex socio-ecological systems such as recreational fisheries. Using a web-based online snowball survey, we targeted resident anglers in Ontario, Canada, to obtain preliminary insight on how the pandemic has impacted recreational fishing and related activity. We also explored angler perspectives on pandemic-related restrictions and other aspects of fisheries management. Our results point to the value of recreational fisheries for the mental and physical well-being of participants, as well as the value and popularity of outdoor recreation during a pandemic. Although angling effort and fish consumption appeared to decline during the early phases of the pandemic, approximately 20% of the anglers who responded to our survey selfidentified as new entrants who had begun or resumed fishing in that time. Self-reported motivations to fish during the pandemic suggest that free time, importance to mental and physical health, and desires for self-sufficiency caused some anglers to fish more, whereas a lack of free time, poor or uncertain accessibility, and perceived risks caused some anglers to fish less. Respondents also expressed their desires for more clear and consistent communication about COVID-19 fishing restrictions from governments, and viewed angling as a safe pandemic activity. Information on recreational angler behaviours, motivations, and perspectives during the pandemic may prove valuable to fisheries managers and policy makers looking to optimize their strategies for facing this and other similar crises.

In recent years, fish passage efforts have begun shifting away from targeting salmonids and instead toward passing entire fish communities, including nonsalmonids. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the performance of a nature‐like fishway and a pool‐and‐weir fishway at passing Rainbow Smelt Osmerus mordax (2014 and 2016) and Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis (2015 and 2016). Both fishways are located at the same dam on the Glenfinnan River, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Fish were PIT‐tagged, and their movements were tracked using stationary PIT antennas. Results indicated that passage efficiency at the pool‐and‐weir fishway was 0% for Rainbow Smelt in both years. In contrast, 100% and 99.2% of Brook Trout passed the pool‐and‐weir fishway in 2015 and 2016, respectively. At the nature‐like fishway, the highest passage efficiency measured for Rainbow Smelt was 28.6% (2016) and was not significantly different between years. In comparison, 100% and 91.7% of Brook Trout passed the nature‐like fishway in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Additionally, attempts to improve attraction efficiency at the nature‐like fishway by directing more water toward the fishway's entrance and removing instream debris were made in 2015, but attraction efficiency did not differ between 2014 and 2016. Finally, Rainbow Smelt were also observed spawning throughout the nature‐like fishway. This study adds to the growing evidence that fishways designed specifically for salmonids can be inappropriate for nonsalmonids. Data indicate that although some passage of Rainbow Smelt was noted at the nature‐like fishway relative to the pool‐and‐weir fishway, overall passage was low. Future efforts directed at improving passage should focus on adjusting the entrance location of the nature‐like fishway. Despite low overall passage for Rainbow Smelt, the presence of spawning adults within the nature‐like fishway suggests that the fishway itself provides suitable spawning habitat and that fishway performance evaluation should take this into consideration.

No abstract