Major themes from Marianas fisher-shark interaction interviews

Descriptions of different problems and problem framings related to sharks.

Stakeholder problem framings directly related to sharks, including the impacts of fisher-shark interactions to fisheries and regulatory and management considerations.

Problem framings indirectly related to sharks that emerged from shark-related discussions, including those related to social, political, and economic context.

Descriptions of different solutions and solution framings related to sharks.

Stakeholder solutions directly related to sharks, including strategies to mitigate the impacts of shark interactions or control shark populations directly.

Solution discussions focused on HOW outcomes would be achieved, for example with a focus on relationships or collaborative research processes.

Discussions of metrics that would indicate shark-related problems were resolved, or indicate some other outcome satisfying to stakeholders.

Commentary on the feasibility of different solution approaches.

Descriptions of fishing and fishing culture in the Marianas.

A tracking node for the various areas within and outside the Marianas that came up in interviews. Within-Marianas areas included islands, ports, and points of interest within Guam and the CNMI.

A tracking node for the various fishing areas that came up in interviews, including banks, offshore reefs, and northern islands.

Descriptions of fishing practices in the Marianas, including fishing methods, crew, processing methods, target species, trip length, and time of day.

Descriptions of fishing materials used in the Marianas, including vessel size and gear.

Descriptions of change in Marianas fisheries through time, including environmental, ecological, economic, and fisher behavior changes.

Descriptions of participation in Marianas fisheries, including commentary on increasing or decreasing participation trends.

References to fisheries infrastructure, includign Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) and marinas.

Descriptions of competitive dynamics within Marianas fisheries.

Descriptions of cooperative dynamics within Marianas fisheries.

References to potential differences in the way that fishers with more or less experience perceive ecological health and change (e.g., those with fishing experience dating back further in time describe greater declines in fish abundance).

Descriptions of the economic context surrounding Marianas fisheries.

References to the cost of fishing (e.g., materials) in the Marianas, including increasing costs throught time and a lack of market competition for fishing supplies.

References to demand for fisheries products, including market and subsistence values for target reef and pelagic species and sharks.

References to strategies fishers apply in an effort to maintain financial security or a lack of financial security associated with fishing lifestyles associated with a lack of governmental support for fishers.

References to the contribution of fishing to local food security, or fishing restrictions as a threat to local food security.

References to drivers of human migration to and from the Marianas from other Pacific islands.

Descriptions of the mechanisms that facilitate the sale of locally caught seafood products, and different types of recipients/buyers.

Descriptions of people maintaining their role as a fisher or relationship to the seafood by relying on the fish provided by other community members, sometimes in an effort to avoid fishing expenses and financial risk.

References to the supply of fisheries products and fishing gear, including imported versus local product and market flooding.

Descriptions of cultural context for fisheries in the Marianas, including values that center on community, sustainability, and not wasting resources.

Descriptions of various facets of research participant identities.

References to research participant/fisher demographic variables, including age, frequency of fishing activity, occupation, years of fishing experience, gender, ethnicity, and place of origin.

Descriptions of the type of fishing a fisher might identify with, with respect to the scale, frequency, or commercialization of their fishing (e.g., commercial, non-commercial, charter, weekend warrior, provider of fish, steward, etc.).

References to personality traits exhibited by or described by research participants.

Descriptions of the various reasons for fishing activities and behaviors.

Descriptions of the various reasons why people fish, including food, money, pleasure, or sharing fish.

References different aspects of human well-being, mostly physical (e.g., safety and health consierations).

Descriptions of different types of information shared and mechanisms for sharing.

References to people guarding (more often not actively publicizing) fishing information, including gear preferences and location.

Descriptions of different sources of information and methods of information sharing, including interpersonal relationships, social media, and videos/photos.

Types of information shared between stakeholders/fishers, especially shark-related information given the focus of this study.

References to sharks and shark interactions.

References to different species of reef and pelagic shark species.

Perceptions of shark abundance (e.g., high, low) and trends through time (e.g., unchanging, decreasing, increasing).

References to shark behavior, primarily around fishing activity (e.g., conditioning).

References to the size of sharks.

References to changes in shark behavior and interactions through time, including relevant time frames.

References to various things that characterize any given fisher-shark interaction, including the type of species depredated, depth of interaction, interaction frequency, and timing relative to fishing cues (e.g., arrival to site).

References to factors perceived to influence the likelihood of a shark interaction, including location, depth, intensity of fishing effort in a given area, season, and target species abundance.

Descriptions of the decision-making processes fishers undergo upon encountering a shark, including factors affecting their decision-making process, goals of actions taken, and potential actions (e.g., moving, gear modification, boat maneuvers, etc.).

Descriptions of various perceptions and concepts of what a shark means to society, to them, and to their fishing opportunities.

References to other types of marine life encountered during fishing that occupy similar roles as sharks (e.g., in their impact to fishing activity).

References to the sex of sharks.

References to sharks as a prominent thought in the minds of fishers.

Descriptions of various facets of fisheries management.

References to enforces around fisheries management.

References to fisheries monitoring efforts.

Perceptions of the equity, legitimacy, or necessity of fisheries management.

References to fisheries data reporting from community members.

References to self-managing principles and practices of fishers.

References to various management tools, including shark finning bans or protections, marine reserves, and gear restrictions.

References to stakeholder engagement.

Descriptions of factors motivating fisher participation in stakeholder engagement, including supporting fishing or having the opportunity to express voices.

Descriptions of factors deterring fisher participation in stakeholder engagement, including mistrust, fear of engagement resulting in negative outcomes, or a scarcity of outcomes relative to the level of effort put in.

References to different stakeholder engagement forums, including cooperative research efforts, Council-hosted meetings, and creel survey efforts.

References to helpful engagement strategies, including those related to communication, convenience, and transparency.

Descriptions of political and power dynamics relevant to fisheries and shark interactions.

Types of power referenced by research participants, including influence in fisheries management and research, livelihood security or financial capital, and access to data.

Examples of individuals or groups shifting alliances or redirecting blame depending on the situation.

A tracking node for the various stakeholders referenced during data collection, including fishers, fish buyers, managers, scientists, governmental entities, and environmentalists.

Types of knowledge wielded by different stakeholders, including experiential, formal, inherited, and cultural.

A tracking node for illustratie stories.

A tracking node for illustrative quotes and key points.