elizabeth north, michael wilberg, jeff blair, jeffrey ... · jeff blair, jeffrey cornwell, troy...
TRANSCRIPT
Elizabeth North, Michael Wilberg,
Jeff Blair, Jeffrey Cornwell, Troy Hartley, Raleigh Hood, Robert Jones,
Lisa Wainger, Rasika Gawde, Chris Hayes, Melanie Jackson, Taylor Goelz,
Matthew Damiano, Dylan Taillie, Emily Nastase
We are testing a new approach for
developing fishing regulations and
restoration policies that
• are integrated
• meet the needs of major stakeholders
OysterFuturesis a research program
funded by the National Science Foundation
Why did we choose oysters?
Maryland’s oysters and oyster
fishery could use some help…
One year’s worth of shell from
one shucking house
Oysters covered by sediment
More oysters are needed to …
• Support a sustainable wild oyster fishery
• Improve the health of Chesapeake Bay
• Maintain and create jobs
• Stimulate the economy
• Preserve our cultural heritage
• Provide habitat for reef creatures
• Improve water quality
• Enhance recreational fishing opportunities
• Make more oysters
State, federal, waterman and citizen group
partnerships have taken significant steps
toward restoration of oysters …
Paynter Lab
Horn Point
Oyster Hatchery Oyster Recovery Partnership
MD DNR, ACOE, NOAA
CBF, TNC, CCA
Yet there remains significant disagreements
over restoration and management of oysters…
By Alex Mann, August 13, 2017
• focus on collective knowledge
• hold respectful discussions
• find common ground, and
• work together
…. and create management solutions
that will last
Therefore, a new process could help to:
Method: apply the FishSmart process to oysters
Jeff Blair, Tom Ihde, Robert
Jones, Tom Miller, David
Secor, Mike Wilberg
Stakeholder-centered process
Stakeholders propose
objectives, options,
and performance measures
Stakeholders
Stakeholder-centered process
Stakeholders propose
objectives, options,
and performance measures
Model development
and modification
Stakeholders
Scientists
Stakeholder-centered process
Stakeholders propose
objectives, options,
and performance measures
Revise options and
performance
measures
Model development
and modification
Stakeholders
ScientistsReview
model results
Stakeholder-centered process
Stakeholders propose
objectives, options,
and performance measures
Revise options and
performance
measures
Model development
and modification
Stakeholders
Make
recommendations
to managers
ScientistsReview
model results
Goal: test the FishSmart process by
developing recommendations for
oyster policies and management that
meet the needs of industry, citizen,
and government stakeholders in the
Choptank and Little Choptank Rivers.
Elizabeth North
Jeff Blair
Jeffery Cornwell
Troy Hartley
Raleigh Hood
Robert Jones
Thomas Miller
Lisa Wainger
Michael Wilberg
Simulation
model
of oysters
Stakeholder
workshops Social
science
study
Integrate
scientific and
stakeholder
knowledge
Improve
methods for
stakeholder
involvement
in fisheries
management
Recommend
fishing regulations
and restoration
strategies
Three parts to the research program:
Elizabeth North
Jeff Blair Jeffery Cornwell
Troy Hartley
Raleigh Hood
Robert JonesThomas Miller
Lisa Wainger
Michael Wilberg
Stakeholder
workshops
Recommend
fishing regulations
and restoration
strategies
Stakeholder’s
collective
vision guides
the process
which is:
• fair
• collaborative
• transparent
• powerful
1
Stakeholder Workgroup
Workgroup has 16 members:
• 6 commercial fishers
• 1 oyster buyer
• 2 aquaculturists
• 5 nonprofit group representatives
• 2 agency representatives
Invitations to participate based on phone interviews
during which we asked for names of people who are
well respected, knowledgeable, and collaborative
CCA
CBFORP
NOAA/ACOE TNC
DNR Phillips Wharf
Seafood buyer
Aquaculture
Aquaculture
Waterman
Waterman
Waterman
Waterman
Waterman
Waterman
OysterFutures
stakeholder
workgroup
CCA
CBFORP
NOAA/ACOE TNC
DNR Phillips Wharf
Seafood buyer
Aquaculture
Aquaculture
Waterman
Waterman
Waterman
Waterman
Waterman
Waterman
OysterFutures
stakeholder
workgroup
Key Points
• Consensus-driven
• Facilitated
• 60% Industry
• 75% Agreement
• Science-based
OysterFutures Stakeholders
February 27, 2016
Process• Stakeholders agree on their vision, what management
options to evaluate, and what metrics to use to evaluate
them
• Data and model components are presented to
stakeholders with uncertainties clearly acknowledged;
stakeholders provide missing information when possible
• Stakeholders use a formal ratings process to move ideas
forward
• All ratings and comments are compiled and available
through the whole process
• No decision is final until the final recommendations are
made
Photos by Dylan Taillie
and Emily Nastase
The goal of the OysterFutures Workgroup is to develop a package of
consensus recommendations informed by a model collaboratively
developed by the Workgroup and the OysterFutures project research
team. The model will be designed so that it can be used to evaluate
oyster fishery practice and management options and restoration
policies in the Choptank and Little Choptank Rivers. The Workgroup’s
recommendations will be directed to Secretary Mark Belton of the
Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The project’s ultimate
goal is to ensure that the regulation and management of the
oyster fishery and oyster restoration polices are informed by the
best available science and shared stakeholder stewardship
values, resulting in an economically viable, healthy and
sustainable Choptank and Little Choptank Rivers oyster fishery
and ecosystem.
Group decision making leads to iterative
improvements
Economics SUPPORT
LEVEL
(%)
4—Acceptable 3—Minor
Reservations
2—Major Reservation
s
1—Not Acceptab
leJuly 2017 Rating 100% 7 3 0 0
March 2017 Rating 85% 7 4 2 0
Nov. 2016 Rating 77% 3 7 3 0
Ratings changed over time as model acceptability improved:
• Nov. 2016: flawed cost information
• March 2017: new cost information better but needs to be
incorporated into model along with more recent price of diesel
• July 2017: needs a different price per bushel, based on recent
buy-ticket data
Elizabeth NorthJeff Blair
Jeffery CornwellTroy Hartley
Raleigh HoodRobert Jones,
Thomas Miller
Lisa Wainger
Michael Wilberg
Simulation
model
of oysters
Stakeholder
workshops
Integrate
scientific and
stakeholder
knowledge
Recommend
fishing regulations
and restoration
strategies
Scientists
serve as
consultants
1
2
Elizabeth NorthJeff Blair
Jeffery CornwellTroy Hartley
Raleigh HoodRobert Jones,
Thomas Miller
Lisa Wainger
Michael Wilberg
Simulation
model
of oysters
Integrate
scientific and
stakeholder
knowledge
Model integrates:
• Population dynamics
• Larval transport
• Habitat
• Water quality
• Economics
OysterFutures Model
For example:
Status quo
Rotational harvest
Change sanctuary boundaries
Manage using shell supplements
Shell additions with rotation
Plant hatchery-reared oysters
Increase compliance with regulations
Modify size limits
OptionsSimulation
Model
Performance
Measures
OysterFutures Model
Reproduction
Transport
Growth
Mortality
Bottom habitat
Fishing effort
Etc.
OptionsSimulation
Model
Performance
Measures
• Tracks separate
populations on each of
1,132 habitat polygons
• Connectivity between
polygons estimated with
larval transport model
• Projects 25 yrs into
future
OptionsSimulation
Model
Performance
Measures
OysterFutures Model
Oyster abundance
Harvest
Number of participants
Profit
Amount of shell on reefs
Water clarity
Nitrogen reduction
Etc.
OptionsSimulation
Model
Performance
Measures
OysterFutures Model
Elizabeth North
Jeff Blair
Jeffery Cornwell
Troy Hartley Raleigh Hood
Robert Jones
Thomas Miller
Lisa Wainger
Michael Wilberg
Simulation
model
of oysters
Stakeholder
workshops Social
science
study
Integrate
scientific and
stakeholder
knowledge
Improve
methods for
stakeholder
involvement
in fisheries
management
Recommend
fishing regulations
and restoration
strategies
1
2 3
Evaluation
• Surveys before each workshop are used
to track changes in stakeholders'
attitudes and networks due to
participation in the OysterFutures
process
• Will use information to make
recommendations about how to
improve the process and apply it in
other places
Timeline
2016
February 1st workshop: visioning
May 2nd workshop: model directives
November 3rd workshop: model development
2017
March 4th workshop: model development
July 5th workshop: model development
Sept workshop postponed
Nov 6th workshop: recommendations
?Dec 7th workshop: recommendations
?Dec Submit recommendations to DNR
Timeline
2016
February 1st workshop: visioning
May 2nd workshop: model directives
November 3rd workshop: model development
2017
March 4th workshop: model development
July 5th workshop: model development
Sept workshop postponed
Nov 6th workshop: recommendations
?Dec 7th workshop: recommendations
2018 Future change: sea level, nutrients
Winter 8th workshop: visioning and directives
• We have the right people at the table
• I really like how this “consensus solutions”
approach promotes collaboration and creative
problem solving, and includes everyone’s
knowledge
• This is the best process that I have ever
experienced
I hope that the State of MD will find the process
and the recommendations of our stakeholders
useful.
Concluding testimonial:
https://oysterfutures.wordpress.com/
and
www.facebook.com/oysterfutures
More information available on the web
Videos of speakers and discussion
from OysterFutures symposium
Questions, comments, advice?
Images
IAN symbol Library
Paynter Lab
OysterFutures Stakeholders and Research Team Members
Many thanks to: