Effects of fisheries management on local ecological knowledge

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Local ecological knowledge, or the collective perceptions held by a particular group about their environment, results from the transmission of cultural knowledge from one generation to the next, combined with regular and persistent interactions between individuals and the biophysical environment. Management systems that limit access to certain natural resources likely have an effect on the quality of that knowledge. We explore the distribution of local ecological knowledge as it corresponds to different types of fishing activities and experience among fishermen in the eastern Gulf of Maine. We use a network approach to analyze cognitive maps of the ecosystem structure and dynamics described by fishermen during in-depth, open-ended interviews. The interviews reveal unique perspectives on complex interactions between species and their habitat, providing insights about local fluctuations in water temperature and weather patterns, predator-prey dynamics and interspecies competition, with a particular focus on species of commercial interest. We find a significant positive relationship between individuals' diversification in fisheries and the scope of their knowledge. The preliminary findings suggest that fishermen with diversified fishing portfolios interact with a broader range of components in the system, resulting in a more holistic understanding of the marine environment and its dynamics. Because regulatory measures in fisheries management increasingly constrain the ability of individuals to enter diverse fisheries, these findings have significant implications for sustainability and understanding the role that institutions play in shaping local ecological knowledge more generally. A more systematic investigation of how institutional constraints affect the distribution of local ecological knowledge would be well-positioned to inform ecosystem-based approaches in fisheries management.

Heterogeneous Perceptions of Social-Ecological Change Among Small-Scale Fishermen in the Central Gulf of California: Implications for Adaptive Response

“…Resource users' perceptions of and interactions within marine social-ecological systems are impacted not only by external shocks and stressors, but also dynamic knowledge structures specific to the cultures of which they are a part ( Figure 5). Though cultural models are likely influenced by diverse factors whose relative importance may vary across study systems, our findings support the assertion that that livelihood practices (i.e., diversification) and assets (i.e., gear and permit ownership) are critical factors within SSF (Crona, 2006;Farr et al, 2018).…”

“…With a holistic emphasis on relationships, processes, and feedbacks (Walsh et al, 2013), LEK can reveal important information about changes to the structure and function of marine social-ecological systems and plays a critical role in defining how such changes are interpreted and understood as risk (Adger et al, 2009;Aswani et al, 2015). While western (i.e., scientific) knowledge is invaluable in quantifying trends and assessing taxonomic relationships (Moller et al, 2004), LEK can ground such findings in the context of specific places, actors, and harvesting dynamics (Farr et al, 2018), and can be used to describe emergent phenomena in real time (Johannes et al, 2000).…”

“…When these perceptions are internalized, culturally distinct knowledge structures and belief systems may arise (Holland and Quinn, 1987). Explicit consideration of the factors driving the heterogeneous distribution of knowledge in SSFs may be useful in bridging LEK and other forms of science (Farr et al, 2018) and improve our understanding of the subjective factors and decision-making processes influencing adaptive response.…”

Identifying potential causes of fish declines through local ecological knowledge of fishers in the Ganga River, eastern Bihar, India

“…Hence, in spite of overlaps, these two categories are separately discussed in this paper. Farr et al (2018) showed that fishery management regimes influence the content and expression of LEK. Continuing conflicts over access and gear use, and the long experience of discrimination, violence, poverty and social-economic marginality dominated the perceptions of fisher respondents (Choudhary et al, 2015;Kelkar, 2018;Kelkar & Krishnaswamy, 2014).…”

“…Local ecological knowledge refers to experiential, adaptive, practice-based learning and accumulation of relevant knowledge by people who depend strongly on ecosystems (Berkes, Colding, & Folke, 2000;Fazey, Fazey, Salisbury, Lindenmayer, & Dovers, 2006;Santha, 2008;Lertzman, 2010;Davis & Ruddle, 2010). The continuity of local ecological knowledge systems depends on the institutional capacities of fishing communities to access and manage fisheries (Butler, 2005;Farr, Stoll, & Beitl, 2018;Wilson et al, 2006).…”