Fishermen - Is collaborative research for you?
“Fishermen know that the information content is better with collaborative research. There is no cheating.”
- a scientist
“I always want to learn more about what is going on out there. It intrigues me.”
- Rhett Weber, owner of sport fishing boat, WA
Fishermen who have participated say this:
- We get paid for time on the water without fishing
- The knowledge we have amassed through fishing gets used in the science
- We know how the research was done so we know what is being used for management decisions
- We get to know scientists and it helps break down stereotypes, both ways
- We get to influence our own future
Read advice from other fishermen:
Chartering your vessel for research
You need to be open minded
- You have to play by the rules of science. You have to be willing to learn. If you want your results to be accepted by scientists and managers, the research has to be done in a way that follows the scientific method . That is why partnering with a scientist is so important.
- You hope that the research will show healthy stock levels, or otherwise go in your favor. But it might not. As one fisherman said, "Being shut down on good data is better than being shut down on no data."
- Fishermen and scientists come from two different worlds. One scientist said, "We need marriage counseling." You will need to be patient and persistent with each other.
Logistics
- Additional or different insurance may be needed. Click to read about insurance.
- If the scientist is affiliated with an organization, that organization may have safety requirements that are tougher than what you are used to.
- Fishermen often block out times they know will be prime fishing days so that research days don't interfere with fishing.
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