by MREP-SE staff and Ed Lallo/Gulf Seafood News Editor
Navigating the marine science and management process of our wild fisheries is not easy – and there is a lot at stake. The Marine Resource Education Program Southeast (MREP-SE), an organization created by fishermen for fishermen, will attempt to demystify the acronyms and vocabulary and equip fisherman with the tools needed to engage tough issues at a Fisheries Science Workshop to be held April 14-16 at the Hilton Bayfront in St. Petersburg, FL.
“There are a lot of tough issues facing the managers of our wild fisheries,” said Gulf Seafood Institute’s Bob Gill, co-Director of MREP-SE. “In a neutral setting, fishermen will work through the ‘how’ of the whole process, meet the people behind agency jobs, and share important feedback from the fishing community.” Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
“There are a lot of tough issues facing the managers of our wild fisheries,” said Gulf Seafood Institute’s Bob Gill, co-Director of MREP-SE. “In a neutral setting, fishermen will work through the ‘how’ of the whole process, meet the people behind agency jobs, and share important feedback from the fishing community.”
According to Gill, profound changes are happening in our waters across many regions, some due to natural variations and others due to man-made disasters. “It is clear that we are seeing economic impacts to our fisheries and tensions have risen about who has the right to fish and about how much can be taken from the sea,” he said.
Presenters are drawn from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Regional Office and Science Center, Regional Fishery Management Councils, research institutions, and the fishing community. Workshops are designed and held as a collaborative effort, and they provide an industry moderator to help inject questions and keep the discussion real.
Program Goals
The goal of the program is to break down historical barriers to cooperation, forge new areas of involvement for fishermen in the regulatory system, and fully engage the industry in the development of the best available science.
Guiding Objectives of MREP
- Bring fishermen, scientists and managers together in a neutral setting outside the regulatory process.
- Increase the number of people at work in Southeastern fisheries who are comfortable working with the fishery data and management systems.
- Help policy makers and scientists become more familiar with the inner workings of the fishing community.
- Increase the number of fishermen involved in collaborative research and pursuit of best available science.
Curriculum
The program’s success hinges on sensitivity to the cultural differences that impede communication. Program moderators work with content presenters to translate course material into approachable English and to develop novel ways to illustrate complex concepts.
“Our curriculum receives regular evaluation and upgrades to maintain relevance for fishermen,” explained Gill. “MREP emphasizes the importance of fishermen’s information and knowledge as a primary source of data. This builds confidence for individuals to contribute to effective fishery management.”
Results
The three-day Fishery Science Workshop is designed to provide participants with a core foundation in the fundamentals of fisheries science.
Participants are provided a basic working knowledge of concepts in population biology and the stock assessment process, including survey sampling techniques, statistical tools, models and their uses, as well as biological reference points used in management. Information presented in this section helps relate fishing effort to stock assessments and shows how fishermen’s knowledge, fishery-dependent data, and collaborative science partnerships help to strengthen stock assessment models and results.
Participants are provided a basic working knowledge of concepts in population biology and the stock assessment process, including survey sampling techniques, statistical tools, models and their uses, as well as biological reference points used in management. Photo:MREP-SE
“ We examine developments in conservation engineering, as well as principles of ecosystem-based management and environmental influences on stock assessments,” said the GSI board member. “The program includes tours of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute facilities, and participants are given small group activities designed to allow direct application of the concepts learned.”
This 21st century professional development program is provided at no cost to fisherman. MREP-SE reimburses participants for room & board, as well as mileage for travel to and from their homeport. Participants are expected to commit to attending all days of the workshop and will be awarded a certificate of completion for each session.
“Participants leave this workshop prepared to engage confidently in fishery management and to critically evaluate the science affecting their fishery,” said Gill about the program.
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