Opportunities for advice when incorporating new knowledge that challenges status quo of management

Presented at 2024 ICES annual science conference. Fish and fisheries in the northeast Atlantic are changing. In recent years, scientists have adapted the knowledge base to reflect these changes. The management and governance system has though remained rigidly fixed in the status quo leading to tension across the social-ecological system. While science is ready to deliver advice on objectives across various dimensions, the capability of the governance system to adapt is limited; constrained by institutional design and inertia; including their decision-making processes, use of implicit objectives, limited scope of responsibilities and ability to work with stakeholders. We will use three examples to highlight some of the challenges facing management in this changing environment. We will also suggest solutions and highlight opportunities. We recommend the greater use of structured dialogues and processes with tailored degrees of transparency using the best available science. Tackling the adaptation of the governance system sets knowledge use as a process and calls for scientist to engage in both open fora and internal fora depending on the nature of the management objective being addressed.

1. Ouch! Opportunities for advice when incorporating new knowledge that challenges status quo of management Mark Dickey-Collas Marta Ballesteros Dorleta Garcia

2. ecosystem (climate change, differing states impacting MSY) social (e.g. Blue Acceleration, competition for marine space) political dimension (e.g. Brexit, war) Change is here Best available? Scientists generate knowledge to reflect changes. Can advice be delivered that reduces tension across social-ecological system? Fisheries with status quo management system

3. Capacity of advisory system to deliver best available implementation ICES tends to look to natural sciences for solutions Acknowledge barriers in take up of new knowledge Current advice framework codifies status quo Science is delivered, which passes responsibility to managers to find solutions, & reduce tension

4. New knowledge Mixed fisheries: fleet-based approach NEA mackerel: climate influenced changes in distribution Northern shelf cod: metapopulation, not sure rate of mixing 3 examples

5. Mixed fisheries: fleet-based approach New knowledge What it means for advice Insights & opportunities from Human Dimension Change in concepts: from stock based to fleet based Fleet dynamics/fleet constraints Destabilises foundation of advice Cherry picking science by managers Provide insights in trade-offs Highlight mismatch of scales in social-ecological system Developed over last 15 years Aim to resolve issues such as choke species (e.g. zero catch advice) Show in transparent manner fleet constraints & metiers

6. NEA mackerel: climate influenced changes in distribution Distribution changes tracked empirically Stock assessment considered robust Only advice on status quo biology New knowledge What it means for advice Insights & opportunities from Human Dimension Distributional changes caused by environment Unpredictable in medium term Management game has changed Advice delivered without consideration of sharing allocations Provide insights in how governance system can adapt Provide alternative options for sharing arrangements

7. Northern shelf cod: metapopulation, not sure rate of mixing New knowledge What it means for advice Insights & opportunities from Human Dimension Metapopulation Estimates at sub-component level Using mixing & modelling Knowledge gap on mixing & genetics reduces effective real time advice No one happy with advice Improve process of advice development & delivery Impact assessment of advice Stock complex described by scientists Long period of development of new approach to assessment Much dialogue with fishers, less with managers

8. Helping adapt management Science cannot deliver new concepts & k nowledge without some responsibility for implementation Researchers enveloped into grey area of negotiations & power dynamics Human dimension plays a key role Greater use of structured dialogues between managers & knowledge holders Processes with tailored degrees of transparency using the best available science

9. Thanks! Systematic integration of the human dimension reduces errors in fisheries advice errors of ineptitude : failure to use what we know errors of mismatch : failure to adjust to advice & management needs