Kai LorenzenKai LorenzenKai LorenzenKai Lorenzen, Jessica Sutt, Joy , Jessica Sutt, Joy , Jessica Sutt, Joy , Jessica Sutt, Joy HazellHazellHazellHazell, , , , Bryan Bryan Bryan Bryan FluechFluechFluechFluech, Martha Monroe , Martha Monroe , Martha Monroe , Martha Monroe

University of FloridaUniversity of FloridaUniversity of FloridaUniversity of Florida

Goliath grouper management stakeholder project

The Management ChallengeDivergent stakeholder views and high scientific uncertainty pose challenges to management agencies in reaching satisfactory decisionsMany stakeholders feel their views and experiences are being ignored (e.g. individual fishers out on the water as well as divers & concerned citizens•Required: Systematic, pro-active exploration of stakeholder views and experiences and constructive debate to develop shared understanding of management issues and optionsComplements systematic use of biological information in stock assessments and management!

Goliath Grouper Stakeholder Project ActivitiesStakeholder survey:Stakeholder survey:Stakeholder survey:Stakeholder survey: An internet-based survey of diverse stakeholders views and experiences regarding goliath grouper and its management.

Stakeholder workshop:Stakeholder workshop:Stakeholder workshop:Stakeholder workshop: A project workshop with invited representatives of diverse stakeholder groups, aimed at developing a shared understanding of management issues and options.

Presentation of outcomes Presentation of outcomes Presentation of outcomes Presentation of outcomes of the survey and workshop to: Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council (June 2013•South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council (September 2013• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (October 2013•.

EvaluationEvaluationEvaluationEvaluation of stakeholder views on the effectiveness of the engagement process developed in the project.

Who are the Stakeholders?

People interacting directly with goliath Fishers (recreational and commercial• Divers

Businesses serving the aboveFishing and dive charter operatorsDive shops, tackle shops etc.

Others with an interest in goliathConservationistsScientists

Stakeholder Survey

Survey implementation

Open: May 3rd –June 13th, 2013

Respondents approached through:

Samples of FL fishing license holders:Recreational saltwater license holdersCommercial license holdersCharter license holders

Email lists, websites, forums, personal contacts:Dive community (dive shops, clubs, PADI Facebook)Sea Grant networkProject websiteCCA Email listOcean Conservancy Email list

Responses received:5882, with representation of all major stakeholder groups

Commercial fishersCommercial fishersCommercial fishersCommercial fishers Recreational fishersRecreational fishersRecreational fishersRecreational fishers Sightseeing Sightseeing Sightseeing Sightseeing diversdiversdiversdivers(e•(e•(e•(e•

All Bandit gear(a•

Spear fishers(b•

All Hook & line(c•

SpearFishers(d•

(Non-fishing•

Respondents (n•Respondents (n•Respondents (n•Respondents (n• 697 117 146 3005 1518 574 352Encountered goliath in the Encountered goliath in the Encountered goliath in the Encountered goliath in the past 12 months (%•past 12 months (%•past 12 months (%•past 12 months (%•

61 75 90 25 20 59 inshore 20 reef 50

Targeted goliath for: Targeted goliath for: Targeted goliath for: Targeted goliath for: Catch & release fishing (%• Catch & release fishing (%• Catch & release fishing (%• Catch & release fishing (%• Diving/viewing (%•Diving/viewing (%•Diving/viewing (%•Diving/viewing (%• 18

12 1116 54

Take measures to avoid Take measures to avoid Take measures to avoid Take measures to avoid goliath interaction (%•goliath interaction (%•goliath interaction (%•goliath interaction (%•

42 43 87 21 15 56 (not asked•

Judge measures effective Judge measures effective Judge measures effective Judge measures effective (%•(%•(%•(%•

52 38 59 60 68 64 (not asked•

Interested in harvesting (%•Interested in harvesting (%•Interested in harvesting (%•Interested in harvesting (%• 68 82 80 78 72 81 (not asked•

View goliath encounters as: View goliath encounters as: View goliath encounters as: View goliath encounters as: Desirable (%•Desirable (%•Desirable (%•Desirable (%•Neutral (%•Neutral (%•Neutral (%•Neutral (%•Undesirable (%•Undesirable (%•Undesirable (%•Undesirable (%•

323335353535

283339393939

253243434343

525252523216

505050503515

494949492625

8787878767

Goliath encounters, responses and perceptions

Proportion of recreational anglersrecreational anglersrecreational anglersrecreational anglers having caught at least one goliath in the past 12 months

Frequency of goliath encounters

Florida

Commercial fishersCommercial fishersCommercial fishersCommercial fishers Recreational fishersRecreational fishersRecreational fishersRecreational fishers Sightseeing Sightseeing Sightseeing Sightseeing diversdiversdiversdivers(e•(e•(e•(e•

All Bandit gear(a•

Spear fishers(b•

All Hook & line(c•

SpearFishers(d•

(Non-fishing•

Respondents (n•Respondents (n•Respondents (n•Respondents (n• 697 117 146 3005 1518 574 352Encountered goliath in the Encountered goliath in the Encountered goliath in the Encountered goliath in the past 12 months (%•past 12 months (%•past 12 months (%•past 12 months (%•

61 75 90 25 20 59 inshore 20 reef 50

Targeted goliath for: Targeted goliath for: Targeted goliath for: Targeted goliath for: Catch & release fishing (%• Catch & release fishing (%• Catch & release fishing (%• Catch & release fishing (%• Diving/viewing (%•Diving/viewing (%•Diving/viewing (%•Diving/viewing (%• 18

12 1116 54

Take measures to avoid Take measures to avoid Take measures to avoid Take measures to avoid goliath interaction (%•goliath interaction (%•goliath interaction (%•goliath interaction (%•

42 43 87 21 15 56 (not asked•

Judge measures effective Judge measures effective Judge measures effective Judge measures effective (%•(%•(%•(%•

52 38 59 60 68 64 (not asked•

Interested in harvesting (%•Interested in harvesting (%•Interested in harvesting (%•Interested in harvesting (%• 68 82 80 78 72 81 (not asked•

View goliath encounters as: View goliath encounters as: View goliath encounters as: View goliath encounters as: Desirable (%•Desirable (%•Desirable (%•Desirable (%•Neutral (%•Neutral (%•Neutral (%•Neutral (%•Undesirable (%•Undesirable (%•Undesirable (%•Undesirable (%•

323335353535

283339393939

253243434343

525252523216

505050503515

494949492625

8787878767

Goliath encounters, responses and perceptions

Commercial fishersCommercial fishersCommercial fishersCommercial fishers Recreational fishersRecreational fishersRecreational fishersRecreational fishers SightseeinSightseeinSightseeinSightseeing diversg diversg diversg divers(e•(e•(e•(e•

All Bandit gear(a•

Spear fishers(b•

All Hook & line(c•

SpearFishers(d•

(Non-fishing•

Respondents (n•Respondents (n•Respondents (n•Respondents (n• 697 117 146 3005 1518 574 352View goliath as a nuisance View goliath as a nuisance View goliath as a nuisance View goliath as a nuisance species (%•species (%•species (%•species (%•

42 61 57 20 14 37 9

Perceive negative impact of Perceive negative impact of Perceive negative impact of Perceive negative impact of goliath on biodiversity (%•goliath on biodiversity (%•goliath on biodiversity (%•goliath on biodiversity (%•

49 59 68 27 19 51 13

Goliath and biodiversity:Goliath and biodiversity:Goliath and biodiversity:Goliath and biodiversity:Contributes positively (LS•Contributes positively (LS•Contributes positively (LS•Contributes positively (LS•Impacts negatively (LS•Impacts negatively (LS•Impacts negatively (LS•Impacts negatively (LS•

2.963.363.363.363.36

2.753.543.543.543.54

2.753.783.783.783.78

3.493.493.493.492.83

3.593.593.593.592.67

3.083.383.383.383.38

4.214.214.214.211.95

Reasons for participation in Reasons for participation in Reasons for participation in Reasons for participation in decision making:decision making:decision making:decision making:Impacts own livelihood (LS•Impacts own livelihood (LS•Impacts own livelihood (LS•Impacts own livelihood (LS•Impacts ecosystem (LS•Impacts ecosystem (LS•Impacts ecosystem (LS•Impacts ecosystem (LS•

3.263.913.913.913.91

3.634.064.064.064.06

3.694.224.224.224.22

2.333.743.743.743.74

2.233.603.603.603.60

2.533.993.993.993.99

2.474.444.444.444.44

Views on goliath, biodiversity & reasons for participation in decision making

Fishing Fishing Fishing Fishing charterscharterscharterscharters

Dive Dive Dive Dive charterscharterscharterscharters

Respondents (n•Respondents (n•Respondents (n•Respondents (n• 191 116Perceive present business impact of goliath as:Perceive present business impact of goliath as:Perceive present business impact of goliath as:Perceive present business impact of goliath as:Positive (%•Positive (%•Positive (%•Positive (%•Neutral (%•Neutral (%•Neutral (%•Neutral (%•Negative (%•Negative (%•Negative (%•Negative (%•

195656565624

75757575178

Expect business impact of allowing harvest to be:Expect business impact of allowing harvest to be:Expect business impact of allowing harvest to be:Expect business impact of allowing harvest to be:Positive (%•Positive (%•Positive (%•Positive (%•Neutral (%•Neutral (%•Neutral (%•Neutral (%•Negative (%•Negative (%•Negative (%•Negative (%•

56565656368

108

82828282View goliath as a nuisance species (%•View goliath as a nuisance species (%•View goliath as a nuisance species (%•View goliath as a nuisance species (%• 42 5Perceive negative impact of goliath on biodiversity (%•Perceive negative impact of goliath on biodiversity (%•Perceive negative impact of goliath on biodiversity (%•Perceive negative impact of goliath on biodiversity (%• 51 10Goliath and biodiversity:Goliath and biodiversity:Goliath and biodiversity:Goliath and biodiversity:Contributes positively (LS•Contributes positively (LS•Contributes positively (LS•Contributes positively (LS•Impacts negatively (LS•Impacts negatively (LS•Impacts negatively (LS•Impacts negatively (LS•

3.053.403.403.403.40

4.454.454.454.451.63

Reasons for participation in decision making:Reasons for participation in decision making:Reasons for participation in decision making:Reasons for participation in decision making:Impacts own livelihood (LS•Impacts own livelihood (LS•Impacts own livelihood (LS•Impacts own livelihood (LS•Impacts ecosystem (LS•Impacts ecosystem (LS•Impacts ecosystem (LS•Impacts ecosystem (LS•

3.214.094.094.094.09

4.054.664.664.664.66

Fishing and dive charters

Preferences for management measures

Agreement with opening the fishery and fundamental ecological beliefs

Stakeholder WorkshopStakeholder WorkshopStakeholder WorkshopStakeholder WorkshopMay 21-22, Tampa

Stakeholder WorkshopStakeholder WorkshopStakeholder WorkshopStakeholder WorkshopMay 21-22, Tampa

ObjectivesObjectivesObjectivesObjectivesShared understanding of management issues and likely outcomes of different management options as perceived by stakeholders. Brainstorm a menu of management options and explore the pros, cons and uncertainties of each option

MethodMethodMethodMethodFacilitated workshop

ParticipantsParticipantsParticipantsParticipantsInvited based on a situation assessment & interviews; criteria included knowledge of subject and willingness to engageInvited: 24, able to attend: 16Recreational and commercial fishing sectors, recreational divers, fishing and dive charter operators, conservation organizations, outdoor writers.

Menu of options with pros and consMenu of options with pros and consMenu of options with pros and consMenu of options with pros and consOptionOptionOptionOption ProsProsProsPros ConsConsConsCons

Fishery closed to Fishery closed to Fishery closed to Fishery closed to harvest (status harvest (status harvest (status harvest (status quo•quo•quo•quo•

Good for dive tourismAvoid returning to overexpl.GG will increase abundanceStability of regulations

User conflictExclusion of certain user groupsLeads to negative attitude by some user groups

Limited take for Limited take for Limited take for Limited take for science, by science, by science, by science, by scientistsscientistsscientistsscientists

Scientific benefitsTake limited to research needsEasier to control than other take options

Likely criticism of scientists for consumptive research

Limited take for Limited take for Limited take for Limited take for science, science, science, science, collaborative with collaborative with collaborative with collaborative with fishersfishersfishersfishers

Scientific benefitsInclusion of user groupsCost sharingPerception of managers listening

Potential for abuse Difficulty of controlling harvestLikely criticism from general public

Limited take for Limited take for Limited take for Limited take for harvestharvestharvestharvest

Stakeholder perception of pro-active managementSome economic benefits to fishers and fishing charters

User conflictNegative attitude by some groups Neg. econ. imp. on dive charters Management costsEnforcement concerns Any revenue will not go back to the resource

Stakeholder workshop participants:

Felt the situation was often misunderstood - universally advocated more education and communication.Considered continued closure of the fishery and a limited take for research by scientists or cooperatively with fishers as possible options in the current situation where no accepted scientific (stock• assessment is available. Overall participants were more supportive of continued closure but felt that they could agree to a limited take for research if a solid scientific case for such a take was made. (Consideration of the scientific case for a limited take is beyond the scope of this project, which focused on the assessment of stakeholder perspectives.•

Overall project recommendations

Consideration of the future management of the goliath grouper fishery may benefit from

more in-depth consideration of the differentiated and nuanced stakeholder perspectives stakeholder perspectives stakeholder perspectives stakeholder perspectives detailed in this study in conjunction with scientific assessments scientific assessments scientific assessments scientific assessments of population status and ecological interactions of goliath.continued continued continued continued dialogue dialogue dialogue dialogue among stakeholder groups and participatory research may help in defining and defining and defining and defining and measuring a shared set of indicatorsmeasuring a shared set of indicatorsmeasuring a shared set of indicatorsmeasuring a shared set of indicators for population status and ecological effects.

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgementsAcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

All 5882 survey respondents!

Workshop participants

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for funding support

http://www.aquaticresources.org/goliath.htmlhttp://www.aquaticresources.org/goliath.htmlhttp://www.aquaticresources.org/goliath.htmlhttp://www.aquaticresources.org/goliath.html

Contact: Kai Lorenzen (klorenzen@ufl.edu•

Questions?