Insight into conflicting Insight into conflicting claims concerning cod claims concerning cod and hake predation on and hake predation on

juvenile lobsterjuvenile lobster

OutlineOutline Internship providersInternship providers IssuesIssues Literature reviewLiterature review

Diet StudyDiet StudyEcological knowledgeEcological knowledge

AssessmentAssessment Conclusions / RecommendationsConclusions / Recommendations

Internship ProvidersInternship Providers Gulf NS Bonafide

Fishermen’s Assoc– who/where are they?– what do they do?– Special Projects

Social Research For Sustainable Fisheries– Who was involved?– What was it all about?

ISSUESISSUES

Cod and hake predation on juvenile lobsters Problem

* dissagreement between DFO and fishermen* insufficient research

Use of fish harvesters ecological knowledge My position

Hanson & Lanteigne StudyHanson & Lanteigne Study

What did they report? Problems with the study:

CODCOD

•Distribution assumptions

•Sampling depths

•Sampling time

HAKEHAKE

•Sampling method

•Sampling depths

•Sampling time

AssessmentAssessment

Should Fish harvesters be concerned? Why?

Limited/questionable published data Importance of the lobster fishery Relative abundance of cod and hake in St.

Georges Bay

Ecological KnowledgeEcological Knowledge

Fisheries public policy Collapse of groundfish stocks fishermens concerns ignored

What is ecological knowledge? How can EK be used in fisheries

management? What are some limitations of EK?

Study ObjectiveStudy ObjectiveCollection of background informationGather ecological knowledge of fishermen

identify local experts focus group interviews individual in depth interviews

DocumentDesign study proposalKeep everyone informed!

St. Georges Bay Ecosystem Project St. Georges Bay Ecosystem Project SurveySurvey

Questionaire sections:Attatchment to fishing

communityFishing history of

respondentsExperience with harvester organizationsPersonal backgroundlocal knowledge experts identification

Survey ResultsSurvey ResultsWho were identified as local experts?

Active fishermen expertise widely distributed 35 names came up 4 or more times

Characteristics of “experts” slightly more experienced significantly larger boats More licenses

Conclusions/RecommendationsConclusions/Recommendations Select fishermen to be interviewed Focus interviews on details - ie., where & when

to sampleDesign a study based on fishermens’ input &

compensate for weaknesses of diet study sample shallow water spring & summer months method of capture: handlining, gill netting

Request test permit for studyCarry out study - Document findings

• Academic supervisor:– Tony Davis

• Bonafide Fishermen– President: Sandy Benoit– CRC: Kay Wallace