Skip to main content

Patricia Clay

Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA, Social Sciences Branch, Department Member

Followers

195

Following

105

Co-authors

17

Public Views

I am an anthropologist with NOAA Fisheries' Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole MA, but work from HQ in Silver Spring MD. I am on the leads team of a federal inter-agency task force on Ocean Societal Indicators and chair of the Soc. for Applied Anthropology's Topical Interest Group for Fisheries and Coastal Communities. I am also a co-chair of the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas Working Group on Maritime Systems. My interests include ecosystem-based management and marine spatial planning, fishing communities, catch shares, food systems, adaptive management and governance, and the impacts of climate change..
Phone: 301-427-8116

less

University of California, Santa Cruz

Francisco E Werner

NOAA Fisheries

Sebastian Villasante

Ana Rita Jordao Fraga

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Curry Cunningham

University of Massachusetts, Boston

Christian Möllmann

University of Hamburg

InterestsView All (67)

Uploads

Papers by Patricia Clay

Implementation of integrated ecosystem assessments in the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea-conceptualizations, practice, and progress

With increasing activities of multiple sectors in marine spaces, management of marine social-ecol... more With increasing activities of multiple sectors in marine spaces, management of marine social-ecological systems requires more holistic approaches. Adopting such an approach, however, presents difficult institutional and disciplinary challenges. Here, we use the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) as a case study on the implementation of ecosystem-based management (EBM) and integrated ecosystem assessments (IEAs). ICES includes EBM and IEAs in its Science Priorities and established IEA Working Groups (WGs) to carry out regional IEAs. But to what degree does this IEA WG work follow best practices? We examine policy documents, academic literature, and interview data from chairs of all IEA WGs. Results indicate mixed success. All groups acknowledge the holistic goals of IEA, and many use the IEA model as laid out by Levin et al. However, we found a significant variation in the degree to which the full model is applied. We identified two primary areas for improvement: (1) integration of social and economic issues and (2) involvement of stakeholders. We offer examples of how WGs have been making progress towards full IEAs, discuss how ICES can further support this transition, and suggest lessons with respect to the adoption of EBM and IEAs more broadly.

Ocean and coastal indicators: understanding and coping with climate change at the land-sea interface

The U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) encompasses approximately 3.4 million square nautical mile... more The U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) encompasses approximately 3.4 million square nautical miles of ocean and a coastline of over 12,300 miles. Along with the Great Lakes, this vast area generates~US 370 billion of U.S. gross domestic product, 617 billion in sales and 2.6 million jobs each year. These ocean and coastal ecosystems also provide many important nonmarket services including subsistence food provisioning, health benefits, shoreline protection, climate regulation, conservation of marine biodiversity, and preservation of cultural heritage. As climatic changes occur, these benefits or ecosystem services may be significantly reduced Climatic Change

Fisheries, food, and health in the USA: the importance of aligning fisheries and health policies

Agriculture & Food Security, 2017

Background: Food availability, access, and utilization are the three pillars of food security and... more Background: Food availability, access, and utilization are the three pillars of food security and need to be aligned in order to support a healthy population. United States (US) fisheries policy plays an important role in seafood availability. US health policy impacts access and utilization of seafood in various ways; however, health policies are often disconnected from fisheries policy. Aligning fisheries and health policies is imperative to improve food security. We address two questions with our work: (1) how would US federal fisheries policy be different if our fisheries were managed with beneficial health outcomes for Americans as clear objectives; and (2) how would US health policy be different if one of its goals was to support sustainable domestic fisheries and aquaculture? Results: We report how fisheries policies and health policies are additive, synergistic, or antagonistic with regard to seafood, and provide illustrative examples of collaboration between health and fisheries communities at different levels of the food system (federal and state policies, corporate partnerships, and civil society). We also develop a list of topics for future research, and opportunities to align and integrate fisheries and health policies. Conclusions: Managing fisheries to promote optimal nutrition and efficient food production likely requires a different approach to fisheries management-new outcomes will need to be monitored, new approaches found, and fisheries, aquaculture, and health policies better integrated. Health policies rarely consider the source of fish, their connections with US fisheries systems, and global distribution of seafood. Change can begin where the most promising opportunities exist, such as institutional food procurement, Farm to School programs, social marketing campaigns, and private sector start-ups. Continued development in fisheries and health policies, however, will need to occur at multiple levels of federal policy, and across the different domains and dimensions of the food system (e.g., social, political, biophysical, economic).

Indigenous peoples and salmon stewardship: a critical relationship

Ecology and Society

Behavioural economics in fisheries: A systematic review protocol

PLOS ONE

Background The field of behavioural economics holds several opportunities for integrated fisherie... more Background The field of behavioural economics holds several opportunities for integrated fisheries management and conservation and can help researchers and managers alike understand fisher behaviour and decision-making. As the study of the cognitive biases that influence decision-making processes, behavioural economics differentiates itself from the classical field of economics in that it does not assume strictly rational behaviour of its agents, but rather looks for all mechanisms that influence behaviour. This field offers potential applications for fisheries management, for example in relation to behavioural change, but such applications require evidence of these mechanisms applied in a fisheries context. Thus, we have developed a systematic literature review protocol focusing on the primary question: “Which behavioural economics mechanisms influence fisher behaviour?” The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of these different mechanisms and how they have been applied in t...

Using Integrated Ecosystem Assessments to Build Resilient Ecosystems, Communities, and Economies

Coastal Management

This material is published by permission of ECS Federal LLC, for the National Oceanic and Atmosph... more This material is published by permission of ECS Federal LLC, for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under Contract No. EA-133F-15-BA-0045. The US Government retains for itself, and others acting on its behalf, a paid-up, non-exclusive, and irrevocable worldwide license in said article to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, and perform publicly and display publicly, by or on behalf of the Government.

Assessing the sustainability and equity of Alaska salmon fisheries through a well-being framework

Ecology and Society

Eating the Ocean. Elspeth Probyn. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2016. 200 pp

American Ethnologist

Operationalizing integrated ecosystem assessments within a multidisciplinary team: lessons learned from a worked example

ICES Journal of Marine Science

Between 2014 and 2016, an interdisciplinary team of researchers including physical oceanographers... more Between 2014 and 2016, an interdisciplinary team of researchers including physical oceanographers, biologists, economists and anthropologists developed a working example of an Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (IEA) for three ecologically distinct regions of the Northwest Atlantic; Georges Bank, the Gulf of Maine and the Grand Banks, as part of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Working Group on the Northwest Atlantic Regional Sea (WGNARS). In this paper, we review the transdisciplinary and collaborative process by which the IEA was developed, with a particular focus on the decision points arising from the IEA construct itself. The aim is to identify key issues faced in developing any IEA, practical decisions made to address these issues within the working group and lessons learned from the process.

The Regional Fishery Management Council System in the US: Is It Co-Management?

Equity and dependence: social impacts

This report provides technical advice and recommendations to NMFS fishery managers and the region... more This report provides technical advice and recommendations to NMFS fishery managers and the regional fishery management councils on the development and implementation of limited access programs (which are discussed more fully in Section I.B.). Almost all Federally managed marine fisheries in the United States today are under some form of limited access, ranging from simple restricted permit programs and limited entry schemes to more detailed transferable quota and effort programs. This is a dramatic change from the 1980s, when only a handful of Federally managed marine fisheries had limited entry programs, and even from the mid-1990s when less than a majority had any form of limited access. Many of these systems, especially the simpler ones, are likely to evolve into more sophisticated (and potentially more complicated) systems. This evolution poses a challenge to the agency and the regional fishery management councils. This report identifies important principles which fishery manage...

Perceived adaptive capacity and natural disasters: A fisheries case study

Fishermen may be increasingly impacted by natural disasters, given sea level rise and the likely ... more Fishermen may be increasingly impacted by natural disasters, given sea level rise and the likely increased frequency and severity of storms associated with climate change. Planning for resiliency in the face of these disasters requires understanding the factors that influence fishermen's capacity to adapt. The paper examines perceptions of adaptive capacity of New York and New Jersey commercial and for-hire fishermen one year after Hurricane Sandy. Subjective adaptive capacity to changes in the fishery in general and those caused by natural disasters was assessed. A comparison between commercial and forhire fishermen revealed important differences and similarities with regard to attributes influencing their perceived adaptive capacity. While both groups show high levels of coping capacity in general, for-hire fishermen presented more confidence in their ability to obtain work and income outside the fishery while commercial fishermen were more confident in their ability to remain in fishing. For both groups, those that suffered more intense impacts from the storm had more negative levels of perceived adaptive capacity. Understanding the perceived adaptive capacity of commercial and for-hire fishermen can help researchers and policy makers better understand and address each sector's response to impacts of future natural disasters and human driven changes. 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Ocean and coastal indicators: understanding and coping with climate change at the land-sea interface

The U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) encompasses approximately 3.4 million square nautical mile... more The U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) encompasses approximately 3.4 million square nautical miles of ocean and a coastline of over 12,300 miles. Along with the Great Lakes, this vast area generates~US 370 billion of U.S. gross domestic product, 617 billion in sales and 2.6 million jobs each year. These ocean and coastal ecosystems also provide many important nonmarket services including subsistence food provisioning, health benefits, shoreline protection, climate regulation, conservation of marine biodiversity, and preservation of cultural heritage. As climatic changes occur, these benefits or ecosystem services may be significantly reduced Climatic Change

Compliance with marine mammal protection: Focus groups reveal factors in commercial fishermen's decisions

In researching non-compliance with use of an acoustical device (a pinger), required under the Mar... more In researching non-compliance with use of an acoustical device (a pinger), required under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to protect harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in the Northeast U.S., focus group research provided insight on facets of non-compliance not previously considered. This method of group interview can reveal individuals' knowledge and perceptions of the legitimacy of a problem, process and solution along with social (including legitimacy) and economic factors, and cultural norms that can influence compliance or other decisions. In addition, each participant filled out a short survey on topics we already expected to be of interest. We investigate how these factors from the focus group discussion and the survey influence a fisherman's decision to comply with marine mammal regulations. Prior to the focus groups we expected participants to either fully comply or not comply at all with pinger requirements. By using multi-method research, we found that there was a third group that included fishermen that mostly complied but eliminated one mandatory pinger for safety reasons. Using harbor porpoise as a case study, we provide insight on approaches to improve compliance, a key component of a successful management plan designed to reduce marine mammal bycatch in commercial fisheries.

Behavioral responses to competing incentives and disincentives: Compliance with marine mammal protection

In 2010, the Northeast U.S. sink gillnet fleet faced threats of indefinite closures to fishing if... more In 2010, the Northeast U.S. sink gillnet fleet faced threats of indefinite closures to fishing if compliance rates with acoustic deterrent devices did not increase. Simultaneously, a catch share program with multiple "sectors" was implemented for groundfish, an important target for this fleet. This research examines whether the threat of closures, the transition to sectors, or both, influenced the increased compliance rate after 2010. We learned in focus groups [9], that some fishers left off one pinger for safety reasons. A multinomial logit model using deterrent (perceived likelihood of the detection of non-compliance), economic, and normative (social, cultural, legitimacy) factors was developed to understand three responses: full compliance, non-compliance (multiple pingers missing), and non-compliance presumed to be related to safety (single pinger missing). At-sea observers collect compliance data. Results suggest observed vessels in the single-pinger-missing violation group were not responsive to the threat of consequence closures, while the multiple-pingers-missing group were. This reveals the importance of fisher input in constructing models. The model did not find sector membership to be significant. We suspect there may be an influence that varies across sectors. Non-compliant vessels with lower inconsistent observer coverage were more likely to be non-complaint, suggesting compliance overall may be increased through "nudging," a behavioral economics concept, via increased observer coverage. Increased observer coverage may be more cost-effective than increased enforcement. It is important to understand that regulatory change can introduce multiple incentives and disincentives influencing behavioral responses, as implemented in the 2010 Northeast U.S. groundfish gillnet fleet.

Defining Social and Economic Performance Measures for Catch Share Systems in the Northeast U.S

Catch share systems are being encouraged and considered in a variety of United States (U.S.) fish... more Catch share systems are being encouraged and considered in a variety of United States (U.S.) fisheries. Scientists, policy makers, and stakeholders (including fishermen and non-governmental environmental organizations) have different views about potential social and economic impacts and outcomes of these output-oriented systems. Thus identifying and evaluating impacts over time is essential to assess and improve such systems and determine whether intended outcomes are realized. During 2009-2010 Social Sciences Branch (SSB) staff at the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts engaged in a multiphase process to identify and define meaningful measures of social and economic performance of catch share systems, as well as indicators and information sources to guide the ongoing evaluation of these programs. The principal performance measures identified in this process are financial viability, distributional outcomes, stewardship, governance, and well-being. Here we review the current state of catch shares in the Northeast U.S., describe the methodology used in identifying performance measures and associated indicators, and present the social and economic performance measure monitoring plan that will guide future investment in social science research at the NEFSC.

Anthropological Applications in the Management of Federally Managed Fisheries: Context, Institutional History, and Prospectus

Human Organization, 2006

This special issue of Human Organization provides a selection of articles addressing the use of a... more This special issue of Human Organization provides a selection of articles addressing the use of applied anthropology in fisheries management in the United States today. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 1 has employed anthropologists and sociologists internally and externally to support fisheries management since 1974, although it used economists earlier; recent expansion of NMFS' sociocultural analysis effort is generating new initiatives and findings of interest to the wider social science community. This introduction provides the background for this issue through a brief account of past, present, and future directions of this new growth area within applied anthropology. The origins and intent of the special issue are discussed first, followed by the institutional history of the integration of anthropologists and sociologists into fisheries management at NMFS and an outline of NMFS' developing sociocultural analysis program. Finally, the specific policies and themes addressed in the individual papers are related to broader policy issues and themes within fisheries anthropology and fisheries management.

Social bonds and recovery: An analysis of hurricane Sandy in the first year after landfall

Marine Policy, 2016

Hurricane Sandy was one of the most devastating hurricanes to hit US shores. The brunt of the imp... more Hurricane Sandy was one of the most devastating hurricanes to hit US shores. The brunt of the impact was felt in New York and New Jersey, especially among coastal towns such as fishing communities. A survey of these two states assessed social and economic impacts to 958 commercial and recreational fishermen and fishing-related business owners 12 months post-storm. Many businesses and communities were still struggling, due to heavy infrastructure damages and revenue losses with low insurance coverage, but also to disrupted fishing patterns for some species. Social bonds were credited by many as a key aid to recovery. Social bonds (sometimes called bonding social capital) have been shown to be critical for evacuation and recovery in other disasters. However, few studies examine social bonds and disasters within the context of fisheries. This paper expands upon that topic.

Defining Social & Economic Performance Measures for Catch Share Systems in the Northeast U.S

Building Better Social Impact Assessments

Fisheries, 1997

Implementation of integrated ecosystem assessments in the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea-conceptualizations, practice, and progress

With increasing activities of multiple sectors in marine spaces, management of marine social-ecol... more With increasing activities of multiple sectors in marine spaces, management of marine social-ecological systems requires more holistic approaches. Adopting such an approach, however, presents difficult institutional and disciplinary challenges. Here, we use the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) as a case study on the implementation of ecosystem-based management (EBM) and integrated ecosystem assessments (IEAs). ICES includes EBM and IEAs in its Science Priorities and established IEA Working Groups (WGs) to carry out regional IEAs. But to what degree does this IEA WG work follow best practices? We examine policy documents, academic literature, and interview data from chairs of all IEA WGs. Results indicate mixed success. All groups acknowledge the holistic goals of IEA, and many use the IEA model as laid out by Levin et al. However, we found a significant variation in the degree to which the full model is applied. We identified two primary areas for improvement: (1) integration of social and economic issues and (2) involvement of stakeholders. We offer examples of how WGs have been making progress towards full IEAs, discuss how ICES can further support this transition, and suggest lessons with respect to the adoption of EBM and IEAs more broadly.

Ocean and coastal indicators: understanding and coping with climate change at the land-sea interface

The U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) encompasses approximately 3.4 million square nautical mile... more The U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) encompasses approximately 3.4 million square nautical miles of ocean and a coastline of over 12,300 miles. Along with the Great Lakes, this vast area generates~US 370 billion of U.S. gross domestic product, 617 billion in sales and 2.6 million jobs each year. These ocean and coastal ecosystems also provide many important nonmarket services including subsistence food provisioning, health benefits, shoreline protection, climate regulation, conservation of marine biodiversity, and preservation of cultural heritage. As climatic changes occur, these benefits or ecosystem services may be significantly reduced Climatic Change

Fisheries, food, and health in the USA: the importance of aligning fisheries and health policies

Agriculture & Food Security, 2017

Background: Food availability, access, and utilization are the three pillars of food security and... more Background: Food availability, access, and utilization are the three pillars of food security and need to be aligned in order to support a healthy population. United States (US) fisheries policy plays an important role in seafood availability. US health policy impacts access and utilization of seafood in various ways; however, health policies are often disconnected from fisheries policy. Aligning fisheries and health policies is imperative to improve food security. We address two questions with our work: (1) how would US federal fisheries policy be different if our fisheries were managed with beneficial health outcomes for Americans as clear objectives; and (2) how would US health policy be different if one of its goals was to support sustainable domestic fisheries and aquaculture? Results: We report how fisheries policies and health policies are additive, synergistic, or antagonistic with regard to seafood, and provide illustrative examples of collaboration between health and fisheries communities at different levels of the food system (federal and state policies, corporate partnerships, and civil society). We also develop a list of topics for future research, and opportunities to align and integrate fisheries and health policies. Conclusions: Managing fisheries to promote optimal nutrition and efficient food production likely requires a different approach to fisheries management-new outcomes will need to be monitored, new approaches found, and fisheries, aquaculture, and health policies better integrated. Health policies rarely consider the source of fish, their connections with US fisheries systems, and global distribution of seafood. Change can begin where the most promising opportunities exist, such as institutional food procurement, Farm to School programs, social marketing campaigns, and private sector start-ups. Continued development in fisheries and health policies, however, will need to occur at multiple levels of federal policy, and across the different domains and dimensions of the food system (e.g., social, political, biophysical, economic).

Indigenous peoples and salmon stewardship: a critical relationship

Ecology and Society

Behavioural economics in fisheries: A systematic review protocol

PLOS ONE

Background The field of behavioural economics holds several opportunities for integrated fisherie... more Background The field of behavioural economics holds several opportunities for integrated fisheries management and conservation and can help researchers and managers alike understand fisher behaviour and decision-making. As the study of the cognitive biases that influence decision-making processes, behavioural economics differentiates itself from the classical field of economics in that it does not assume strictly rational behaviour of its agents, but rather looks for all mechanisms that influence behaviour. This field offers potential applications for fisheries management, for example in relation to behavioural change, but such applications require evidence of these mechanisms applied in a fisheries context. Thus, we have developed a systematic literature review protocol focusing on the primary question: “Which behavioural economics mechanisms influence fisher behaviour?” The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of these different mechanisms and how they have been applied in t...

Using Integrated Ecosystem Assessments to Build Resilient Ecosystems, Communities, and Economies

Coastal Management

This material is published by permission of ECS Federal LLC, for the National Oceanic and Atmosph... more This material is published by permission of ECS Federal LLC, for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under Contract No. EA-133F-15-BA-0045. The US Government retains for itself, and others acting on its behalf, a paid-up, non-exclusive, and irrevocable worldwide license in said article to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, and perform publicly and display publicly, by or on behalf of the Government.

Assessing the sustainability and equity of Alaska salmon fisheries through a well-being framework

Ecology and Society

Eating the Ocean. Elspeth Probyn. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2016. 200 pp

American Ethnologist

Operationalizing integrated ecosystem assessments within a multidisciplinary team: lessons learned from a worked example

ICES Journal of Marine Science

Between 2014 and 2016, an interdisciplinary team of researchers including physical oceanographers... more Between 2014 and 2016, an interdisciplinary team of researchers including physical oceanographers, biologists, economists and anthropologists developed a working example of an Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (IEA) for three ecologically distinct regions of the Northwest Atlantic; Georges Bank, the Gulf of Maine and the Grand Banks, as part of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Working Group on the Northwest Atlantic Regional Sea (WGNARS). In this paper, we review the transdisciplinary and collaborative process by which the IEA was developed, with a particular focus on the decision points arising from the IEA construct itself. The aim is to identify key issues faced in developing any IEA, practical decisions made to address these issues within the working group and lessons learned from the process.

The Regional Fishery Management Council System in the US: Is It Co-Management?

Equity and dependence: social impacts

This report provides technical advice and recommendations to NMFS fishery managers and the region... more This report provides technical advice and recommendations to NMFS fishery managers and the regional fishery management councils on the development and implementation of limited access programs (which are discussed more fully in Section I.B.). Almost all Federally managed marine fisheries in the United States today are under some form of limited access, ranging from simple restricted permit programs and limited entry schemes to more detailed transferable quota and effort programs. This is a dramatic change from the 1980s, when only a handful of Federally managed marine fisheries had limited entry programs, and even from the mid-1990s when less than a majority had any form of limited access. Many of these systems, especially the simpler ones, are likely to evolve into more sophisticated (and potentially more complicated) systems. This evolution poses a challenge to the agency and the regional fishery management councils. This report identifies important principles which fishery manage...

Perceived adaptive capacity and natural disasters: A fisheries case study

Fishermen may be increasingly impacted by natural disasters, given sea level rise and the likely ... more Fishermen may be increasingly impacted by natural disasters, given sea level rise and the likely increased frequency and severity of storms associated with climate change. Planning for resiliency in the face of these disasters requires understanding the factors that influence fishermen's capacity to adapt. The paper examines perceptions of adaptive capacity of New York and New Jersey commercial and for-hire fishermen one year after Hurricane Sandy. Subjective adaptive capacity to changes in the fishery in general and those caused by natural disasters was assessed. A comparison between commercial and forhire fishermen revealed important differences and similarities with regard to attributes influencing their perceived adaptive capacity. While both groups show high levels of coping capacity in general, for-hire fishermen presented more confidence in their ability to obtain work and income outside the fishery while commercial fishermen were more confident in their ability to remain in fishing. For both groups, those that suffered more intense impacts from the storm had more negative levels of perceived adaptive capacity. Understanding the perceived adaptive capacity of commercial and for-hire fishermen can help researchers and policy makers better understand and address each sector's response to impacts of future natural disasters and human driven changes. 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Ocean and coastal indicators: understanding and coping with climate change at the land-sea interface

The U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) encompasses approximately 3.4 million square nautical mile... more The U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) encompasses approximately 3.4 million square nautical miles of ocean and a coastline of over 12,300 miles. Along with the Great Lakes, this vast area generates~US 370 billion of U.S. gross domestic product, 617 billion in sales and 2.6 million jobs each year. These ocean and coastal ecosystems also provide many important nonmarket services including subsistence food provisioning, health benefits, shoreline protection, climate regulation, conservation of marine biodiversity, and preservation of cultural heritage. As climatic changes occur, these benefits or ecosystem services may be significantly reduced Climatic Change

Compliance with marine mammal protection: Focus groups reveal factors in commercial fishermen's decisions

In researching non-compliance with use of an acoustical device (a pinger), required under the Mar... more In researching non-compliance with use of an acoustical device (a pinger), required under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to protect harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in the Northeast U.S., focus group research provided insight on facets of non-compliance not previously considered. This method of group interview can reveal individuals' knowledge and perceptions of the legitimacy of a problem, process and solution along with social (including legitimacy) and economic factors, and cultural norms that can influence compliance or other decisions. In addition, each participant filled out a short survey on topics we already expected to be of interest. We investigate how these factors from the focus group discussion and the survey influence a fisherman's decision to comply with marine mammal regulations. Prior to the focus groups we expected participants to either fully comply or not comply at all with pinger requirements. By using multi-method research, we found that there was a third group that included fishermen that mostly complied but eliminated one mandatory pinger for safety reasons. Using harbor porpoise as a case study, we provide insight on approaches to improve compliance, a key component of a successful management plan designed to reduce marine mammal bycatch in commercial fisheries.

Behavioral responses to competing incentives and disincentives: Compliance with marine mammal protection

In 2010, the Northeast U.S. sink gillnet fleet faced threats of indefinite closures to fishing if... more In 2010, the Northeast U.S. sink gillnet fleet faced threats of indefinite closures to fishing if compliance rates with acoustic deterrent devices did not increase. Simultaneously, a catch share program with multiple "sectors" was implemented for groundfish, an important target for this fleet. This research examines whether the threat of closures, the transition to sectors, or both, influenced the increased compliance rate after 2010. We learned in focus groups [9], that some fishers left off one pinger for safety reasons. A multinomial logit model using deterrent (perceived likelihood of the detection of non-compliance), economic, and normative (social, cultural, legitimacy) factors was developed to understand three responses: full compliance, non-compliance (multiple pingers missing), and non-compliance presumed to be related to safety (single pinger missing). At-sea observers collect compliance data. Results suggest observed vessels in the single-pinger-missing violation group were not responsive to the threat of consequence closures, while the multiple-pingers-missing group were. This reveals the importance of fisher input in constructing models. The model did not find sector membership to be significant. We suspect there may be an influence that varies across sectors. Non-compliant vessels with lower inconsistent observer coverage were more likely to be non-complaint, suggesting compliance overall may be increased through "nudging," a behavioral economics concept, via increased observer coverage. Increased observer coverage may be more cost-effective than increased enforcement. It is important to understand that regulatory change can introduce multiple incentives and disincentives influencing behavioral responses, as implemented in the 2010 Northeast U.S. groundfish gillnet fleet.

Defining Social and Economic Performance Measures for Catch Share Systems in the Northeast U.S

Catch share systems are being encouraged and considered in a variety of United States (U.S.) fish... more Catch share systems are being encouraged and considered in a variety of United States (U.S.) fisheries. Scientists, policy makers, and stakeholders (including fishermen and non-governmental environmental organizations) have different views about potential social and economic impacts and outcomes of these output-oriented systems. Thus identifying and evaluating impacts over time is essential to assess and improve such systems and determine whether intended outcomes are realized. During 2009-2010 Social Sciences Branch (SSB) staff at the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts engaged in a multiphase process to identify and define meaningful measures of social and economic performance of catch share systems, as well as indicators and information sources to guide the ongoing evaluation of these programs. The principal performance measures identified in this process are financial viability, distributional outcomes, stewardship, governance, and well-being. Here we review the current state of catch shares in the Northeast U.S., describe the methodology used in identifying performance measures and associated indicators, and present the social and economic performance measure monitoring plan that will guide future investment in social science research at the NEFSC.

Anthropological Applications in the Management of Federally Managed Fisheries: Context, Institutional History, and Prospectus

Human Organization, 2006

This special issue of Human Organization provides a selection of articles addressing the use of a... more This special issue of Human Organization provides a selection of articles addressing the use of applied anthropology in fisheries management in the United States today. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 1 has employed anthropologists and sociologists internally and externally to support fisheries management since 1974, although it used economists earlier; recent expansion of NMFS' sociocultural analysis effort is generating new initiatives and findings of interest to the wider social science community. This introduction provides the background for this issue through a brief account of past, present, and future directions of this new growth area within applied anthropology. The origins and intent of the special issue are discussed first, followed by the institutional history of the integration of anthropologists and sociologists into fisheries management at NMFS and an outline of NMFS' developing sociocultural analysis program. Finally, the specific policies and themes addressed in the individual papers are related to broader policy issues and themes within fisheries anthropology and fisheries management.

Social bonds and recovery: An analysis of hurricane Sandy in the first year after landfall

Marine Policy, 2016

Hurricane Sandy was one of the most devastating hurricanes to hit US shores. The brunt of the imp... more Hurricane Sandy was one of the most devastating hurricanes to hit US shores. The brunt of the impact was felt in New York and New Jersey, especially among coastal towns such as fishing communities. A survey of these two states assessed social and economic impacts to 958 commercial and recreational fishermen and fishing-related business owners 12 months post-storm. Many businesses and communities were still struggling, due to heavy infrastructure damages and revenue losses with low insurance coverage, but also to disrupted fishing patterns for some species. Social bonds were credited by many as a key aid to recovery. Social bonds (sometimes called bonding social capital) have been shown to be critical for evacuation and recovery in other disasters. However, few studies examine social bonds and disasters within the context of fisheries. This paper expands upon that topic.

Defining Social & Economic Performance Measures for Catch Share Systems in the Northeast U.S

Building Better Social Impact Assessments

Fisheries, 1997