As soon as you start studying fisheries science, you hear about the importance of getting fishermen and scientists to talk to each other. It's a truism once you think about it--fishermen know a lot about fishing, and scientists know a lot about science. Put them together and you get fisheries science. But it's useful to confirm that this principle works for, say, squid:
Teresa Johnson, an assistant professor of marine policy in the University of Maine’s School of Marine Sciences, concludes in a recent research paper that the preservation and protection of both the species and those who catch squid for a living depends on cooperation among scientists and those who do the fishing.
Although humans as a rule are remarkably adept at communication, there are always situations where we fall a little short.
Gaining the trust of those on the boats is a slow and fragile process because of the perception among fishing communities that industry regulation is heavy-handed and arbitrary. The few instances where scientists have been allowed to tag along on fishing vessels and record when, where and how squid are caught have been productive, according to Johnson. It’s been educational for both scientists and fishermen, she says.
It's nice to see evidence that the fishermen-scientist street is becoming more and more two-way.
