Fishers Knowledge Project:

Transcription

1 Fishers Knowledge Project: The establishment and application of protocols to capture collate and integrate the tacit knowledge in the fishing industry for use in the scientific assessment, advisory and fisheries management process. Dr. Brendan Flynn Mr. Edward Hind Ms. Emma Martin School of Political Science & Sociology, NUI, Galway & Irish Fisheries Science Research Partnership (IFSRP)

2 Fishers: Scientists, Sociologists, Economists, Politicians & Marine Managers

3 I believe that it may be affirmed with confidence that, in relation to our present modes of fishing, a number of the most important sea fisheries [...] are inexhaustible. - Thomas Henry Huxley, 1883 (part of inaugural address to Fisheries Exhibition, London.)

4 Unheard Voices of the Grand Banks I ll tell you I was looking at a picture last night, it was taken I think in 1965 and it showed these fishermen with a cod trap, trapfish. Jeezus, what a difference in the run of fish. There was twenty and twenty-five pound fish in it and the small ones were as big as the big ones we catch now. I can remember my uncle bringing in fish from the cod trap. I used to be cutting out the tongues, twelve, thirteen year old, I couldn t lift them out on the table. They were bigger than me. They came in out of the cod trap. There was no such thing as a tom cod. You wouldn t get one small enough to eat out of it. If they are there you can catch big fish in the cod trap. -former fish plant owner

5 Unheard Voices of the Grand Banks Well obviously, I m sure we caught lots of big fish that were breeding fish... those years we used to gut all our fish ourselves... You could tell by the roe in the fish whether it was a he fish or a she fish. Days we caught some of those big fish, cut them open, big cod roe in them, almost feel ashamed for catching them. We d almost feel like letting them go again, but not too many do that either. Obviously we know we had to catch the breeding fish, we had to catch some of them but not near as much as the gill net caught. inshore Newfoundland fisher

6 Unheard Voices of the Grand Banks We founded the Newfoundland Inshore Fisheries Association because nobody was listening to the fishermen. We were complaining to the wind. Sam Lee, inshore Newfoundland fisher

7 What is fishers knowledge? Tacit Knowledge Opaque knowledge, unrealized, unconscious, embedded. Traditional Ecological Knowledge Not just fishers other examples include farmers and even you and me! Fishers Ecological knowledge A subtheme of both the above, but not the whole story. Fishers Knowledge is more than simply ecological.

8 Are we interested in Fishers Knowledge OR Fishers Information? Information is not the same as Knowledge. We do need information from Fishers but also wider inputs Knowledge = expertise, views on policy, what works what doesn t, Fishers strategy, how they want to fish, how they actually do, what they think is the way to go.

9 Fishers Knowledge Possibly very important but how much studied? Fishers Strategies natural science info/data socio-economic info/data Fishers Information

10 Newfoundland Knowledge 3Pn4RS managed as single cod stock.

11 Newfoundland Knowledge Summary Map showing Northern Cod migrations derived from fishers knowledge research. Black solid lines represent the northward spring/summer migration of Gulf Cod. Dotted lines indicate areas of uncertainty. Purple lines represent movements of Northern (2J3KL) Cod.

12 Newfoundland Knowledge Landings and catch relative to effort. Scientists track decline in catches to stock degradation from mid-1980s. Attributed to fishing out of a few strong year-classes. FEK study showed catches likely declined earlier than scientists thought. This can be explained by the increases in efficiency also revealed by the FEK study.

13 Fishers Knowledge in Galway and Aran How have we approached the project and have our methods been successful?

14 Interim results of Fishers Knowledge project Findings on Socio-Economic context Findings on Gear/Conservation techniques Findings on Fish stocks/biodiversity/stock Findings on fishing Pressure Findings on Discards Findings on Conservation Priorities

15 Fishers as Scientists Behaviour Uncatchable (due to burrowing ) in SWELL of over 4m. Fishing in the 1960s was best in daytime in May. Now nights are better most of the time. Good at night when bright moon. Good in day when dull. Population Traits Prawns in North Sound and NW corner are rusty red and have harder shell than the pink prawns off back of island. Bigger prawn caught September to March (MALE). Smaller prawn caught March to July (FEMALE).

16 Fishers as Scientists Fishing Impacts Ground off Aran has changed. Was sandy and undulating before twinrigging. Trawling softens ground helping prawn to burrow, thus more breeding. Prawns started to get smaller in N Sound and NW Corner. Nature of Catch Catch would be twice as large per tow off back of island compared to north shore. Main by catch is megrim and monkfish or small whiting/hake. Good catches for 2 weeks after bad weather.

17 Fishers as Scientists: Nephrop effort Heavy More than 10 boats fishing ground. Medium 5 to 9 boats fishing ground. Light 3 or 4 boats fishing ground. Occasional 1 or 2 boats fishing ground.

18 Fishers as Scientists: Fishing effort (non nephrop) Whitefish Whiting, Haddock, Hake Ground fish Megrim, Monkfish, Turbot, Brill, Skate, Ray, Plaice Pelagic Mackerel, Herring

19 Fisher Scientists: Spawning & Extinction Adult Cod & Juvenile Cod Brown Cod Whitefish spawning ground Salmon

20 Fisher Scientists: Catch (non-fish) Jellyfish Scallops Queen Scallops Starfish BLACK AREA

21 Does it fit the science?

22 Fishers as Economists: Strategies Fishers for value-trading down in terms of boat/gear, reducing effort, more pressure likely to fall inshore! Greatest scope for conservation approaches... Fishers for volume-feel trapped, pose greatest scope for ecological pressure... The Inbetweeners -caught between, some waiting (for CFP reform, decommissioning Mk.2?)

23 Fisher Economists: e.g. By Catch Income supplement Much of the by catch can be landed and sold as valuable way to supplement income from prawns (which can be variable). By catch = low Gear being used that keeps by catch very low, including low slung nets and hoodless nets. Discarding not economically efficient. High-GradingSome only catching large prawn by discarding or using larger mesh. Dumping 5X quota on mackerel (Dutch and Irish). Market awareprice of haddock so low at 1/box that it is considered by catch.

24 Fishers as bad economists! Purchased gear when for species for which they didn t own quota - peer effect? Purchased boats for which no license. Upgraded boats before decommissioning. Over optimistic? Bad planning? Uncalculated risk?

25 Fishers as Sociologists Fishers often have a rich knowledge of the fisheries social history. Foreign influence, action of relatives, boat histories, knowledge of fellow fishers. Fishery motivations rarely totally economic, often regard quality of life. They fish as it was they want to do. Very few with fishers with career gaps. Often put future of fishery ahead of short term gain.

26 Fishers as Politicians Very aware of legislation Feel threatened by some regulation and agree with others, know how to play the system, e.g.. days-at-sea. Feel a lack of political equality Some feel they are disadvantaged both within Ireland and within Europe. Want a level playing field. Ready to take action Operate outside of coop for increased economic freedom, to find a higher profile through TV or direct action

27 Fishers as Marine Managers Fishers have many ideas for management of their fishery. Most would seem ecologically sound. Gear control Banning gillnets (ghost fishing), pot limit of 300 per head Protected areas No twin-rigging inside the Aran Islands Temporal closures Closure of prawn fishery whilst prawns in berry How should these be assessed/mobilised?

28 Warning! Warning! Warning! This is not just an informational presentation.!we need YOUR expertise!

29 Core problem for many of the Fishers they say are on Land NOT at Sea! (price of fish, depressed market, marketing, etc.) They need greater control of the value chain from NET to NAPKIN (and we need greater regulatory control over that chain as well!!) How can they be helped-this should be a core question for all agencies?

30 Are we happy with prawn? Most fishers don t like catching prawn. Boring Less skill More expensive (tailing) Less valuable Most fisheries managers want ecosystems closer to historical ones. Weren t nephrop dominated! Fish dominated cod! Do fishers and fisheries managers have the will for this? Is it even possible?

31 With thanks Marine Insitute SEMRU BIM Fishers of Galway, Aran (and now Waterford)