R. Stephenson et al - MSEAS 2016 Practical steps to integrating economic, social and institutional aspects in fisheries management R. Stephenson et al - MSEAS 2016

Current Decision Making Process - Linear Industry lobby Harvesters Stock assessment and interest groups behavior information Fisheries Harvest Science Biological Decision Limit Fisheries Apply Advice Makers Managers conservation Decision Implementation standards Lane and I observed (in 1997) that the decision-making approach was linear (no feedback), and that the ecological aspects were peer reviewed but the economic and social aspects were largely ‘external’ to the process Exogenous conditions (environmental, Other considerations Catch and effort markets, information (economic, social) social) Lane and Stephenson 1998 ICES Journal of Marine Science, 55: 1–13 9 8

Risk Assessment Risk Management Industry Proposed preferred approach Operations Comanagement Feasibility Socio- economic Viability Advice Management Alternatives Advice Biological Assessment Risk Assessment Decision Monitoring Makers and Tracking Risk Feedback Management We suggested the need for a more circular approach (with feedback) in which advice was more holistic and was presented as advice alternatives Implementation Management Management Action Decision Exogenous conditions Lane and Stephenson 1998 ICES Journal of Marine Science, 55: 1–13 10 11

One of the projects of the CFRN has been investigating candidate ‘common’ objectives for fisheries

Framework for comprehensive evaluation

…Athens 2015

Practical integration of the four pillars…

Ashleen Benson Kate Brooks Tony Charles Poul Degnbol Cathy Dichmont Marloes Kraan Sean Pascoe Stacey Paul Melanie Wiber

Impediments to integration? Relative lack of specific social, economic and institutional objectives Lack of process (framework, governance) for routine integration Assessment and management (institutional) bias towards biological aspects

Yes No Use in Fisheries Management Plans Economic Biological Social/Cultural Institutional Objectives? Information? Analyses? Used in decisions? Yes General Variable No (S. Paul – CFRN)

Neglect of human dimension… Nations are failing to achieve aspirations of ‘ecosystem-based’ and ‘integrated’ management policies Many unintended or untracked consequences Lack of ‘social license’

Practical integration of the four pillars…

Practical integration requires… ‘systems approach’ Multi- or trans-disciplinary evaluations Practical objectives for four pillars Appropriate participation Governance system capable of embracing all four aspects

Candidate objectives for sustainable fishery? Ecological objectives Productivity and trophic structure Biodiversity Habitat and ecosystem integrity Economic objectives Economic viability and prosperity, Livelihoods, Distribution of access and benefits, Regional economic benefits to community Social objectives Health and wellbeing, Sustainable communities, Ethical fisheries Institutional objectives Legal obligations including to indigenous peoples, Good governance structure, Effective decision-making processes Linked explicitly to policy statements Including performance indicators

Not a single process… Planning cycle Policies Annual evaluation of tactics Objectives (+ performance indicators) Operational cycle Management plan

Strategic and operational cycles Policies Strategic cycle Evaluation of Strategic direction Annual evaluation of tactics Objectives (+ performance indicators) Operational cycle Management plan

Currently… Spectrum of Participation: Industry Government International agreements Currently… Political imperatives Legislation Research and literature Policies Subset of relevant policies Spectrum of Participation: Industry Government Annual evaluation of tactics Objectives (+ performance indicators) Operational cycle Management plan

More appropriately… Spectrum of Participation: Academics NGO’s Public International agreements More appropriately… Political imperatives Legislation Research and literature Policies Strategic cycle Spectrum of Participation: Academics NGO’s Public Industry Government Evaluation of Strategic direction Annual evaluation of tactics Objectives (+ performance indicators) Operational cycle Management plan

Politically endorsed ecological, social, economic and institutional aspirations/objectives Fig. Y. Trans-disciplinary requirements of management in a fisheries system Strategic Ecological objectives (e.g. productivity biodiversity and habitat) Economic objectives (e.g. viability, prosperity, livelihoods, distribution of benefit) Social objectives (e.g. sustainable communities, health and wellbeing, ethical fisheries) Institutional objectives (e.g. legal obligations, good governance structure, effective decision making processes) Tactical

Process options for integration? (b) (c) (d) (e) Considerations ecological social/cultural economic institutional

Silos Of our: -organisations -backgrounds -disciplines

Link Silos in effective collaborations

Practical 7 step challenge… Think of fisheries as interacting social-ecological systems Be aware of strategic vs operational aspects Articulate objective for all 4 pillars Collaborate across disciplines Participate in interdisciplinary approaches Encourage diverse discipline participation Develop (or emulate) participatory governance regime

Practical steps to integrating economic, social and institutional aspects in fisheries management R. Stephenson, Ashleen Benson, Kate Brooks, Tony Charles, Poul Degnbol, Cathy Dichmont, Marloes Kraan, Sean Pascoe, Stacey Paul, Melanie Wiber

A framework for scenario comparison Management options Scenario A Scenario B Scenario C Ecological: productivity and trophic structure; biodiversity; habitat and ecosystem integrity Economic: economic viability and prosperity; sustainable livelihoods; distribution of access and benefits, regional economic benefits to community Social: Health and well-being; sustainable communities; ethical fisheries Institutional: legal obligations including to indigenous peoples; good governance structure; effective decision-making process Objectives Scenarios may be compared in several ways…relatively, qualitatively or quantitatively

A framework for comprehensive evaluation of fisheries Applied to all fisheries Tactical objectives (with performance measures) Ecological - Economic Social/cultural Institutional/governance Strategic/ aspirational Objectives Ecological Economic Social/cultural Institutional Comprehensive set of Objectives The bare framework has been useful in allowing people to articulate objectives

A practical framework for implementation of EAM/IM Ecosystem Assessment Ecoregion/planning area (umbrella plan) Nested plans for Managed activities Common set of candidate objectives (to influence all plans) Cumulative performance I feel this offers a practical framework for the implementation of an ecosystem approach and integrated management. It requires an empowered governance group (of the type, perhaps that was convened for ESSIM, or like the SWNB Marine Advisory Committee, perhaps?)