Latest

Research into fishers’ ecological knowledge has grown considerably over the past decade, highlighting its value for understanding marine ecosystems and supporting fisheries management. At the same time, it has reinforced the importance of bringing together different types of knowledge to develop solutions that are both scientifically robust and grounded in the realities of fishing.

In SEA4FUTURE, stakeholder engagement goes beyond identifying relevant actors or asking fishers to provide observational data. The project takes an ethnographic approach to understanding fisheries, exploring the social relationships, practices and decision-making contexts that influence how people act, interact and collaborate.

But people are only part of the picture. Policies, regulations, technologies, fishing gear, documents and institutional procedures can also influence decisions and shape what is possible in practice. Understanding these connections is essential to developing fisheries solutions that work not only on paper, but also at sea.

From stakeholder engagement to meaningful collaboration

At the ICES Annual Science Conference, Dr Grit Martinez from Ecologic Institute presented SEA4FUTURE’s approach to stakeholder engagement for fisheries bycatch reduction, sharing experiences and lessons with scientists working on related projects across Europe and North America.

SEA4FUTURE brings together fishers, scientists, policymakers, industry representatives and coastal communities to co-design, test and validate practical solutions for more sustainable fisheries.

A central principle of this approach is that fishers’ knowledge and experience should not simply be treated as data to be collected. They represent an important source of knowledge and evidence that can contribute directly to the development of solutions.

This principle is embedded in SEA4FUTURE’s work. Solutions such as modifications to fishing gear are developed together with stakeholders, taking into account the realities of fishing practices, and are then tested at sea through six Mediterranean case studies.

Our approach highlights four key elements for meaningful collaboration:

1. Involve people from the start

Meaningful collaboration begins with early involvement. Building trust requires transparent communication and processes that allow knowledge to be shared, discussed, interpreted and validated together.

Rather than presenting stakeholders with solutions that have already been developed, SEA4FUTURE seeks to involve them throughout the process, creating opportunities for their knowledge and experience to shape the work from an early stage.

2. Connect different ways of knowing

SEA4FUTURE brings together perspectives from the social sciences and humanities (SSH) and the natural sciences (NS).

Drawing on ethnographic approaches and the work of scholars including Lévi-Strauss, Geertz and Latour, the project explores how fishers’ knowledge, interests and willingness to collaborate are influenced by social and political structures, local contexts, interactions and cultural practices.

Inspired by Latour’s Actor-Network Theory, SEA4FUTURE also examines the relationships between people, knowledge, technologies, practices and institutions. A fishing regulation, a new piece of gear or an institutional procedure can influence what happens in practice just as much as the people involved.

Looking at these relationships together provides a more complete understanding of how fisheries operate and what may enable—or constrain—the adoption of new solutions.

3. Find common ground

Fishers, scientists, policymakers, industry representatives and other stakeholders naturally bring different experiences, priorities and perspectives to the table.

Meaningful collaboration does not require these differences to disappear. Instead, it means creating spaces where different perspectives can be discussed and brought together around shared challenges and objectives.

This process can create opportunities for convergence, while ensuring that fishers’ knowledge is recognised, respected and considered alongside scientific and other forms of evidence.

4. Make solutions work in the real world

A solution may look promising in a laboratory or report, but what happens when it reaches a fishing vessel?

Is it compatible with existing fishing practices? Is it practical under real operating conditions? Can it help reduce bycatch while maintaining fishing efficiency? Will fishers be willing and able to use it?

SEA4FUTURE places these questions at the centre of the process. By involving stakeholders in the development, testing and validation of solutions, the project aims to support technologies, fishing practices and management measures that are not only effective, but also locally relevant, practical and socially acceptable.

Turning collaboration into action

SEA4FUTURE demonstrates how stakeholder engagement can go beyond consultation. Bringing different forms of knowledge together and involving people directly in shaping solutions can strengthen trust, support better-informed decision-making and contribute to more sustainable and resilient fisheries.

By connecting scientific research with the knowledge, practices and everyday realities of fishing communities, SEA4FUTURE is working to turn collaboration into practical action at sea.