349
10 The Role of Local Ecological Knowledge in the Conservation and Management...
of these sites ‘private’ from other fi shers, and will paddle off the site if they see another
canoe approaching (RH personal observation 2004). In Mexico, fi shers are often
secretive about the locations of recently discovered sites. However, once the site
becomes widely known, these fi shers typically communicate. Currently, fi shers
from the Mexican Caribbean are collaborating with researchers to fi nd ways to protect Nassau grouper spawning aggregations after learning from Honduran fi shers
about major declines in catches of this grouper (AA-P personal observation 2007).
Where illegal fi shing methods such as cyanide or dynamite are extensively used, as
in parts of Indonesia or in the Philippines, it was hard to fi nd cyanide fi shers to
agree to participate in interviews (YSM personal observation 2006).
Overall, where communities have effective local controls or where resources are not
considered to be in short supply, we encountered little reluctance to answer general
questions. However, questions that relate to money, especially when the interviewee is
a trader or middleman, where catches are subject to taxation, or when government
offi cers are present, may not be welcome. Government offi cials are sometimes wary
or defensive, especially when they have little knowledge of the resources in question.
10.5.7 Basic Points to Remember When Interviewing
Basic points to remember when preparing for interviews and conducting interviews
in the fi eld are outlined in Appendix 10.1 and elaborated below.
10.5.8 Confi dentiality
Most aggregation sites, revealed through fi sher interviews, continue to be exploited
but not managed. Although the interview process itself is often closely linked to
ongoing local management initiatives and awareness-raising, this is by no means
always the case. Management can take many years to implement, and even then
enforcement may be weak or non-existent, hence release of detailed aggregation
site information (including on maps and in fi nal project reports) into the public
domain is likely ill-advised, until a management framework is in effect. Moreover,
the general question of the release of indigenous knowledge where there is no direct
benefi t to the source communities or consensus from the communities on the matter,
and where this could possibly lead to increase in exploitation from outside pressures, is not only a practical but also an ethical issue.
The issues of confi dentiality and accountability in marine studies in relation to
sensitive areas or species have received little attention to date; certainly not to the
same extent as in terrestrial situations where such concerns are often addressed.
However, several fi sheries agencies (for example the Great Barrier Reef Marine
Park Authority in Australia and the Seychelles Fishing Authority) have a policy not
to publicly release fi sh aggregation site locations (Jan Robinson, Martin Russell
10 The Role of Local Ecological Knowledge in the Conservation and Management...
of these sites ‘private’ from other fi shers, and will paddle off the site if they see another
canoe approaching (RH personal observation 2004). In Mexico, fi shers are often
secretive about the locations of recently discovered sites. However, once the site
becomes widely known, these fi shers typically communicate. Currently, fi shers
from the Mexican Caribbean are collaborating with researchers to fi nd ways to protect Nassau grouper spawning aggregations after learning from Honduran fi shers
about major declines in catches of this grouper (AA-P personal observation 2007).
Where illegal fi shing methods such as cyanide or dynamite are extensively used, as
in parts of Indonesia or in the Philippines, it was hard to fi nd cyanide fi shers to
agree to participate in interviews (YSM personal observation 2006).
Overall, where communities have effective local controls or where resources are not
considered to be in short supply, we encountered little reluctance to answer general
questions. However, questions that relate to money, especially when the interviewee is
a trader or middleman, where catches are subject to taxation, or when government
offi cers are present, may not be welcome. Government offi cials are sometimes wary
or defensive, especially when they have little knowledge of the resources in question.
10.5.7 Basic Points to Remember When Interviewing
Basic points to remember when preparing for interviews and conducting interviews
in the fi eld are outlined in Appendix 10.1 and elaborated below.
10.5.8 Confi dentiality
Most aggregation sites, revealed through fi sher interviews, continue to be exploited
but not managed. Although the interview process itself is often closely linked to
ongoing local management initiatives and awareness-raising, this is by no means
always the case. Management can take many years to implement, and even then
enforcement may be weak or non-existent, hence release of detailed aggregation
site information (including on maps and in fi nal project reports) into the public
domain is likely ill-advised, until a management framework is in effect. Moreover,
the general question of the release of indigenous knowledge where there is no direct
benefi t to the source communities or consensus from the communities on the matter,
and where this could possibly lead to increase in exploitation from outside pressures, is not only a practical but also an ethical issue.
The issues of confi dentiality and accountability in marine studies in relation to
sensitive areas or species have received little attention to date; certainly not to the
same extent as in terrestrial situations where such concerns are often addressed.
However, several fi sheries agencies (for example the Great Barrier Reef Marine
Park Authority in Australia and the Seychelles Fishing Authority) have a policy not
to publicly release fi sh aggregation site locations (Jan Robinson, Martin Russell