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MARINFORSKFISK-Marine ressurser og miljø - fiskeri

PARTICIPATORY MODELLING OF INTEGRATED ECOSYSTEM-BASED MANAGEMENT REGIME FOR INVASIVE CRABS

Alternative title: DELTAKENDE MODELLERING AV INTEGRATERT ØKOSYSTEM-BASERT FORVALTINGSREGIMET FOR INVASIVE KRABBER

Awarded: NOK 11.9 mill.

Project Number:

302114

Application Type:

Project Period:

2020 - 2024

Subject Fields:

Partner countries:

Most people think of invasive species only as a nuisance with negative impacts on biodiversity and costs to society. However, some invasive species may also bring benefits, making it difficult to decide on the management strategy. Both the red king crab and the snow crab are invasive in the Barents Sea affecting native ecosystems. While initially only a nuisance getting entangled in fishing nets, the red king crab has become a significant source of income to fishers that have been allocated quotas. The snow crab has also evolved into a valuable fishery, attracting interest from commercial fishers in Norway, Russia and internationally and has even created conflicts regarding its ownership. While the ecosystem impact is regulated through fishing on red king crab, the management hardly accounts for ecosystem impacts of the snow crab invasion. This project aims at identifying suitable compromises in managing these two invasive crabs. The project underscores the importance of bringing stakeholders together to co-create new knowledge. The aim is to find solutions that reconcile different value systems. In the first project period, we have focused on understanding the knowledge status on the potential ecological impacts of the crabs, developed theoretical models, and tested surveys that will be used to captured people's opinions. In the second project period we have conducted surveys to get insight into risk perceptions of stakeholders with respect to the impacts the crabs could have on ecosystem services and the opportunities the crabs represent, as well as the estimated value of the ecosystem services these crabs represents a threat to. Inclusion of these values in theoretical modelling is important to understand the different trade-offs in managing the crabs. Managers have given input to the models, and a stakeholder workshop was organized to discuss different dilemmas related to the management of the king crab. Data collected in 2022 and 2023 is being processed in the final phase of the project, which will be used to answer questions within the different disciplines in the project as well as across the disciplines. This will include integrating different types of knowledge in the bioeconomic models, discussions regarding how uncertainty can be included in different types of decision-making frameworks, and reflections from our efforts to explore and bring together different types of knowledge. We organized a stakeholder workshop in 2022 that discussed dilemmas related to the management of the king crab, and followed up with a new workshop and public events in October 2023, sharing key findings and experiences with stakeholders. We received further input on how the involvement of stakeholders in these kind of complex economic analyses may contribute to the development of a cost effective regulatory instrument that includes environmental and other concerns and result in a more far-sighted management of these invasive species. We are working to complete a short report summarizing main findings and implications for stakeholders in 2023.

The main objective of the proposed project is to co-create new knowledge through participatory modelling and design an integrated ecosystem-based management (EBM) regime for Red King crab (RKC) and Snow crab (SC) in the Barents Sea. Invasive species that are both harmful and valuable at the same time, such as the RKC and the SC are difficult to manage since preferences and risk perceptions for impacts of these species differ among different interest groups. Therefore, effective management of these species must consider these heterogeneities for which new knowledge is required. The project will combine theoretical, applied and interdisciplinary approaches. Among the project partners are natural and social scientists, fisheries managers and stakeholders from the crab fishing industry. The dissemination of results targets relevant users of the knowledge created. First, the project will use stakeholder workshops for knowledge co-creation and knowledge dissemination among the managers of invasive species and RKC and SC stakeholders in Norway. Secondly, Forskningdagene, an annual event for science dissemination, will be used to disseminate the results of the project. Social media and project webpage will be used in the dissemination of both activities and results of the project. The project will also target managers of invasive species in other countries, international organisations and fisheries scientists through scientific publications and a Special Session on management of invasive species at the 2022 International Institute of Fisheries Economics and Trade (IIFET) conference. Overall, the project will significantly improve the understanding and management of the growing RKC and SC fisheries in northern Norway, contribute to UN sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and develop management guidelines for RKC and SC in Norway which will be available for use by managers of invasive species in other countries.

Funding scheme:

MARINFORSKFISK-Marine ressurser og miljø - fiskeri

Funding Sources