Exploring Perceptions of Commercial Fisher Representation in Management: A Case Study of the North Atlantic Right Whale UME, 2017-2021

Abstract

There is a growing recognition of the importance of involving stakeholders in marine governance and management to enable the inclusion of the knowledge and interests of those whose livelihoods are directly linked to the marine ecosystems. This study aims to understand the perceptions of fish harvester organizations as mechanisms to represent the interests of commercial fish harvesters during a resource use conflict in Atlantic Canada. It employs a case study approach, utilising semi-structured interviews and qualitative analysis to evaluate the perceptions of fisher representation during the development of the mitigation measures to protect the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale from fishing gear entanglements. The North Atlantic right whale population have faced an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) with 34 confirmed fatalities since 2017, with human interaction by gear entanglements and vessel strikes as the leading cause of death. This case study has been selected for its urgency and the consequences of the mitigation measures on the operations of commercial lobster and snow crab fish harvesters throughout the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is argued that the effective participation of fish harvesters in the design and implementation of mitigation measures can contribute to improved outcomes, whereby fishers can contribute to measures that are reflective of local priorities. The outcomes of this study indicate that there is a clear and valuable role for fisheries organization in the governance of Atlantic Canadian fisheries, but that strategic efforts are needed to overcome the barriers of distrust and poor governance, as identified in this study. Keywords: fisheries governance; stakeholder engagement; adaptive management; resource conflict; stakeholder perceptions