Conserving California fish … Extension approaches applied to contentious marine-fisheries management issues

Sortais, K; Leet, W; Dewees, C

Conserving California fish … Extension approaches applied to contentious marine-fisheries management issues

Authors

Kristen Sortais
William S. Leet
Christopher M. Dewees

Authors Affiliations

K. Sortais is Research Associate, Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, UC Davis; W.S. Leet is Peer Review Coordinator, Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, UC Davis; C.M. Dewees is Sea Grant Marine Fisheries Specialist, Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, UC Davis.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 58(4):194-199. DOI:10.3733/ca.v058n04p194. October 2004.

PDF of full article, Cite this article

Abstract

We describe three creative collaborations between the California Sea Grant Extension Program (SGEP), the California Department of Fish and Game, the fishing industry and university researchers to improve marine fisheries management in California. These collaborations involved difficult and long-standing issues at a time when many fisheries are declining. The cases studied highlight SGEP's involvement in (1) implementing California's comprehensive marine-life management legislation, (2) helping the sea urchin industry identify goals and techniques to achieve them, and (3) using extension methodologies to enhance socioeconomic research related to management of the Dungeness crab fishery. Critical components of SGEP methods were trust, independence and nonadvo-cacy, a science-based approach, and effective communication. These characteristics are seldom found together among diverse participants involved in contentious fisheries-management situations. We demonstrate how extension programs can partner with constituents and agencies to improve the management and research process; this approach can be applied to the broad range of natural-resource issues facing the state.

References

Acheson JM. Confounding the goals of management: Response of the Maine lobster industry to a trap limit. N Am J Fisheries Manage. 2001. 21:404-16. https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8675(2001)021/0404:CTGOMR/2.0.CO;2

Dewees CM, Lawrence JM, Guzman O. Sea urchin fisheries: A California perspective. Sea Urchins: Fisheries and Ecology. 2003. Lancaster, PA: DEStech Pubs. p. 37-55.

Hackett SC, Krachey MJ, Dewees CM, et al. An economic review of Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) processing in California. CalCOFI Reports. 2003. 44:86-93.

Hankin DG, Warner RW, Leet WS, Dewees CM, Klingbeil R, Larson EJ. Dungeness crab. California's Living Marine Resources: A Status Report. 2001. Sacramento: California Dept. of Fish and Game. 107-11. UC DANR Pub SG01-11

Leet WS, Dewees CM, Klingbeil R, Larson EJ. California's Living Marine Resources: A Status Report. 2001. Sacramento: California Dept. Fish Game. UC DANR Pub SG01–11 133 p.

Leet WS, Dewees CM, Sortais K. Peer review of fishery management plans: Early experiences with the Marine Life Management Act. In: Proceedings of California and the World Ocean 2002. Am Soc Civil Engineers. In press. Reston, VA.:

Thomson CJ, Leet WS, Dewees CM, Klingbeil R, Larson EJ. Human ecosystem dimension. California's Living Marine Resources: A Status Report. 2001. Sacramento: California Dept. of Fish and Game. p. 47-66. UC DANR Pub SG01-11

Weber ML. From Abundance to Scarcity: A History of U.S. Marine Fisheries Policy. 2002. Washington, DC: Island Pr. 245p.

Weber ML, Heneman B. Guide to California's Marine Life Management Act. 2000. Bolinas, CA: Common Knowledge Pr. 133p.

Also in this issue:

Dynamic modelling of a cross-flow rice dryer

ANR Looks to the Future

Letters: October-December 2004

California voters assess anti-GMO initiatives

Climate-change study predicts California water shortage

Nutritionists educate Vietnamese immigrants about breastfeeding

UC Berkeley's Beahrs program an oasis for war-weary global environmentalists

Racing for crabs… Costs and management options evaluated in Dungeness crab fishery

Race for Dungeness crab influences processing, markets

Davis school program supports life-long healthy eating habits in children

Diet, shopping and food-safety skills of food stamp clients improve with nutrition education

Animal Ambassadors…4-H teens learn to lead science program for kids

Low-toxicity baits control ants in citrus orchards and grape vineyards

Weeds accurately mapped using DGPS and ground-based vision identification

Information for our contributors