Sustainable Harvests or Empty Vessels? An Exploration of Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) and Its Prospects for Interface with Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM)*

Lobster High AbundanceIntroductionResource management failuresAlternative approachesAmong these, ecosystem based management (EBM)EBM initiatives to identify ecologically and biologically significant areas (EBSAs)In Canada, 3 step process, science led* Three main criteria designated as defining EBSAs* (1) uniqueness, (2) aggregation, (3) fitness consequences, And two secondary criteria - (4) resilience, and (5) naturalness*DFO, 2004. Identification of Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Ecosystem Status Rep. 2004/006.

2IntroductionResource user and aboriginal experential knowledge specified as potentially important contributor to identifying EBSAs, particularly in settings where science-based research is insufficientHere we explore the potentials for marine harvester local ecological knowledge (LEK) to contribute to defining EBSAsFocus here on potential LEK contributions to understanding EBSA criteria uniqueness, aggregation, fitness consequencesEBSA Criteria (DFO 2004)Each of these is a continuum and can refer to species, communities of physical features of an area. Uniqueness - areas whose characteristics are unique, rare, distinct, and for which alternatives do not exist Aggregation - areas where species collect for part of the year, for a specific life-history function (eg spawning)Fitness consequences -features that are important to the survival of one or more species. Related to life history eg., an area which is the only feeding area for a species has important fitness consequences for that species. In practice, potential EBSAs are scored on all 3 criteria, then ranked, based on a prioritisation process (DFO 2007/010).

DFO 2007. Guidance Document on Identifying Conservation Priorities and Phrasing Conservation Objectives for Large Ocean Management Areas. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Ecosystem Status Rep. 2007/010.What is Local Ecological Knowledge?While inconsistent and debated within the research literature (cf. Davis and Ruddle 2010), for our purposes... (1) LEK is a shared system of knowledge about the environment and ecosystem relationships that is (2) developed through direct experience within a specific physical setting and (3) is transmitted inter-generationallyAs a system of knowledge LEK must be demonstrably shared among a community or group of marine harvestersResearch DesignTwo independent studies employing a similar methodology Chedebucto Bay and Scotia-Fundy on Atlantic coast Nova ScotiaTwo step designIst step representative survey of marine harvesters to solicit peer recommendations of harvesters most knowledgeable about the local fishing grounds2nd step interview those receiving the most peer recommendations, i.e., each sites local ecological knowledge experts

The Study Site Atlantic Nova ScotiaA = Chedebucto Bay1 = Cape North2 = Mira Bay/ Gabarus Bay3 = St Peters Bay4 = Country Island5 = Ship Harbour/ Chezzetcook Bay6 = St. Margarets Bay7 = La Have8 = Port Mouton9 = Port La Tour CANADANOVA SCOTIASocial Context Step 1Key Social and Marine Harvesting AttributesBackground AttributesCape Breton Eastern Shore (2006)South Shore (2006)Chedebucto Bay (2001) (N=153) (N=160) (N=158) %%%Fulltime82.481.990.6Licenses Lobster69.373.193.1 Herring65.464.478.6 Mackerel72.567.591.2 Groundfish61.461.368.6Mean Std. DMean Std. DMean Std. DAge43 11.844 10.950 12.2Years Fishing26.6 11.927.8 12.927.2 13.4Weeks Fishing (Previous Year)16.9 10.222.9 11.519.4 11.0Likelihood of re-entering fishing if they had their life to live overResponseCategoryCape Breton Eastern Shore (2006)South Shore

(2006)Chedebucto Bay(2001)Atlantic Coast Captains(1990) (N=153) (N=160) (N=158) (N=126) %%%%Definitely49.739.446.858.4Probably34.124.434.831.2Probably Not11.120.010.17.2Definitely Not5.216.38.23.2

Data affirms similarities among marine harvesters

Longitudinal robustness9Research Design Step 2LEK experts were interviewed until information saturation was achieved11 interviews completed around Chedebucto Bay54 interviews completed throughout Scotia-Fundy

This Study:Controlled comparison of two sitesChedebutco Bay (11 interviews)La Have (6 interviews)Chedebucto Bay

+ herring- seasonality- migration- spawninglobstermackerel codPetit-de-GrasQueensportCansoWhereever we focus, lots of observations11

La Havelobstercrabsherringmackerelshellfishhalibuttunaseabirdssmall fishsealsmix of less than 5 spsMix of more than 5 sps

La Havre/IronboundOff Medway HarbourObservationsCriteriaAreaSiteUniquenessAggregationLife History ConsequencesChedebuctoQueensportXYXPetit de GrasXYXCansoXYXLa HaveLa Have IslandsYYXIronboundYYXMedway HarbourYYXOff Medway YYXObservations ChedebuctoSiteUniquenessAggregationLife History ConsequencesSpeciesReasonQueensportHerringMackerelLobsterLobsterCodAssociated speciesCapelinSpawningMigrationSpawningMigration SpawningPetit de GrasLobster

CodMackerel

Herring

Associated speciesHaddock, Dogfish, baitSpawningMigrationSpawningSpawningMigrationSpawningMigrationThe fish come in there to spawn at that time of the year and thats what we were concentrating on. They were staying on the mud bottom, sand bottom and stuff like that

"[Lobster spawn] floats on top of the waterCertain time of day before it sinks againour spawn doesnt stay on our ground becausethe tide"

Observations La HaveSiteUniquenessAggregationLife History ConsequencesSpeciesReasonIronbound

Ironbound bank is a pretty unique one for the inshore

Lobster, all type of groundfish, herring, mackerel, tuna also this area here......TunaMackerelLobster

CodPollockHerring

Associated speciesDucks, seagulls, comorants, guillemots, sealsFeedingSpawning, nurserySpawning, nursery, migrationSpawning, nurserySpawning, nurserySpawning, nursery, migrationObservations La HaveSiteUniquenessAggregationLife History ConsequencesSpeciesReasonMedway HarbourHigh diversity:All of it because I make my living off of it so, the whole area. There is parts in all of it that unique to what I do, need to do or like to see....Lobster CodMackerelSand crabGreen crabRock crabSoft shell clamComorantsSeagulls

Additional speciesEider ducks, sea ducks, Spawning, nurseryNurseryNurserySpawning

Discussion re: LEK and EBSAObservations derived from livelihood needsLimitation and strength (focussed attention)Spatially based and localLEK observations intersect with EBSA criteria to some degree:Most readily applicable to aggregation criteria as seen across all sitesSome observations may address uniquenessReasons not usually specific or ecologicalNo observations specifically related to life history consequencesControlled comparison demonstrates high degree of similarity across sites

Strength - Enhances quality of the observation19Implications There are no areas which appear to be particularly significant on the 3 EBSA criteriaScale issuesInformation received is particular to the siteCreates gaps in spatial coverageDo they matter?Useful for identifying sites for more systematic researchUseful for identifying representative areasAre the EBSA criteria, as defined by DFO, the appropriate tool for accessing, analysing and incorporating LEK in EBM approaches?

Implications There are no areas which appear to be particularly significant on the 3 EBSA criteriaScale issuesInformation received is particular to the siteCreates gaps in spatial coverageDo they matter?Useful for identifying sites for more systematic researchUseful for identifying representative areasAre the EBSA criteria, as defined by DFO, the appropriate tool for accessing, analysing and incorporating LEK in EBM approaches?

Next StepsExtend analysis to other sitesExplore analysis at Atlantic coast scaleUniquenessLife history consequencesIdentify potential EBSAs based on LEK observations related to aggregation criterionReturn for further LEK/science collaborative research into these areasAddress question of how harvester knowledge can be engaged with fisheries management and policyAcknowledgementsSocial Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (award #s 410-2009-0234, 833-99-1012 and 833-2002-2000), Fishermens and Fisheries Scientists Research Society, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Ms. Lora OHalloran, project research assistant, and Ms. Andrea Kmetty, GIS consultantAll the experts who participated in the LEK surveys

Social Context Step 1Derived from Step 1 - telephone surveysIn general, respondents fish for a similar length of time each year, hold a similar array of licenses, and are of similar agesAs a clear demonstration of attachment to their livelihood, vast majorities claim they would choose to fish for their living if they had their lives to live over.Remarkable attachment levels given uncertainties faced since the late 1980sData affirms similarities among marine harvesters