Corporate responsibility, social justice, ethics…and fisheries?

Interesting article in the new issue of Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. The authors argue that corporate responsibility, social justice, and ethics are the most important issues to address for successful fisheries management. Their ideas are noteworthy as another attempt to think in terms of linked socio-ecological systems, instead of just the ecological system. More and more people are trying to do so, and it seems like a fruitful new direction not only for resource management but basic ecological research. However, I’m not convinced that a focus on philosophy and ethics, as suggested in this article, is going to pay off on a practical level for resource management. You really can’t change people’s viewpoints to conform to a particular philosophy or set of ethics. I believe that a more promising approach is to work holistically on integrating economics and ecology to support management decisions. As part of this approach, philosophical and ethical values can be factored into management decisions through economic models. Thoughts?

Bundy A, Chuenpagdee R, Jentoft S, Mahon R. 2008. If science is not the answer, what is? An alternative governance model for the world’s fisheries. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment: 6(3):152–155.

Gulf of Maine Science Symposium in the works

The Regional Association for Research on the Gulf of Maine (RARGOM) has begun to plan a major symposium to be held in 2009. The Gulf of Maine Science Symposium will have sessions and presentations on the state of scientific knowledge about the Gulf of Maine, management of marine resources, and future needs for science and management. It’s envisioned as a gathering of policy makers, managers, marine industry, natural scientists, social scientists, and non-governmental organizations. The symposium will take place October 4-9, 2009, in St. Andrews, New Brunswick. DFO/St. Andrews Biological Station, Gulf of Maine Research Institute, and COMPASS are convening the symposium in collaboration with RARGOM.

Ecology of the Northeast Continental Shelf

Here’s a handy 24-page booklet written by Michael Fogarty of NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center. Info ranges from fairly basic to more advanced — something for everyone. Well written and useful beyond fisheries. Nice illustrations showing how the ecosystem functions.

Ecology of the Northeast Continental Shelf: Toward an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (PDF, 996 KB)

Table of Contents: Foreword; Monitoring the Ecosystem; Ecosystem Drivers; Fueling the Ecosystem; Habitat and Benthos; Life in the Water Column; Fish Communities; Food Habits; Protected Resources; The Steps Ahead

NOAA needs assessment for the northeastern U.S.

NOAA has been conducting a needs assessment for the northeastern U.S. (Connecticut and north). The report is expected in June 2008. Socio-economic aspects of EBM were apparently identified as a big need. (NOAA released a different but related report a couple days ago. See blog post below).

NOAA needs assessment for EBM training

The NOAA Coastal Services Center is developing a training course for EBM. As part of the process, they conducted a needs assessment survey of 254 people involved in EBM. The summary report has just been released. It has info that will be useful for lots of other EBM-related efforts. The report is available on the CSC website (listed under Technical Reports). Here is the citation:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center. 2008.
Summary Report for the Coastal Ecosystem-Based Management Course Needs Assessment.
NOAA/CSC/RPT 08-01. Charleston, SC: NOAA Coastal Services Center.