331
Y. Sadovy de Mitcheson and P.L. Colin (eds.), Reef Fish Spawning Aggregations:
Biology, Research and Management, Fish & Fisheries Series 35,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-1980-4_10, © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012
Abstract Knowledge of the existence, location and timing of reef fi sh spawning
aggregations is largely obtained from Local Ecological Knowledge in the fi shing
communities that exploit, or once exploited them. This information is typically collected by interviewing, followed, ideally, by validation by visiting and surveying
reported aggregation sites. Conducting interviews is a relatively simple process that
can be extremely productive but only if the interviewees are engaged and selected
carefully (by gear, location, age, etc.), the interviewer is knowledgeable, prepared
and gains the respect of the interviewee, and the various limitations of interviews as
a source of information are clearly understood. Moreover, to ensure that information cannot potentially be misused and can be effectively applied to management
and conservation, it is important that it is not only validated, and shared and communicated appropriately, but that it is integrated into the relevant scientifi c framework, and that confi dentiality is respected as necessary. We review a range of studies
from around the tropics based on the interview approach, evaluate its effectiveness
against validated aggregations, and provide guidelines for what we believe to be
good interview practices .
R. Hamilton (*)
The Nature Conservancy , Indo-Pacifi c Resource Centre , 51 Edmondstone St , Brisbane ,
QLD 4101 , Australia
e-mail: rhamilton@tnc.org
Y. Sadovy de Mitcheson
School of Biological Sciences , University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China
e-mail: yjsadovy@hku.hk
A. Aguilar-Perera
Departamento de Biología Marina , Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán ,
Km. 15.5, carretera Mérida-Xmatkuil, A.P. 4-116, Itzimná , C.P. 97315 Mérida ,
Yucatán , Mexico
Chapter 10
The Role of Local Ecological Knowledge
in the Conservation and Management
of Reef Fish Spawning Aggregations
Richard Hamilton , Yvonne Sadovy de Mitcheson ,
and Alfonso Aguilar-Perera
Y. Sadovy de Mitcheson and P.L. Colin (eds.), Reef Fish Spawning Aggregations:
Biology, Research and Management, Fish & Fisheries Series 35,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-1980-4_10, © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012
Abstract Knowledge of the existence, location and timing of reef fi sh spawning
aggregations is largely obtained from Local Ecological Knowledge in the fi shing
communities that exploit, or once exploited them. This information is typically collected by interviewing, followed, ideally, by validation by visiting and surveying
reported aggregation sites. Conducting interviews is a relatively simple process that
can be extremely productive but only if the interviewees are engaged and selected
carefully (by gear, location, age, etc.), the interviewer is knowledgeable, prepared
and gains the respect of the interviewee, and the various limitations of interviews as
a source of information are clearly understood. Moreover, to ensure that information cannot potentially be misused and can be effectively applied to management
and conservation, it is important that it is not only validated, and shared and communicated appropriately, but that it is integrated into the relevant scientifi c framework, and that confi dentiality is respected as necessary. We review a range of studies
from around the tropics based on the interview approach, evaluate its effectiveness
against validated aggregations, and provide guidelines for what we believe to be
good interview practices .
R. Hamilton (*)
The Nature Conservancy , Indo-Pacifi c Resource Centre , 51 Edmondstone St , Brisbane ,
QLD 4101 , Australia
e-mail: rhamilton@tnc.org
Y. Sadovy de Mitcheson
School of Biological Sciences , University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China
e-mail: yjsadovy@hku.hk
A. Aguilar-Perera
Departamento de Biología Marina , Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán ,
Km. 15.5, carretera Mérida-Xmatkuil, A.P. 4-116, Itzimná , C.P. 97315 Mérida ,
Yucatán , Mexico
Chapter 10
The Role of Local Ecological Knowledge
in the Conservation and Management
of Reef Fish Spawning Aggregations
Richard Hamilton , Yvonne Sadovy de Mitcheson ,
and Alfonso Aguilar-Perera