Major themes from interview and observational data collected around territorial bottomfish stock assessment and stakeholder engagement, primarily relevant to Guam and Hawaii

A tracking node for the various geographic areas referenced during interviews and meetings, within and beyond the Pacific Islands Region.

References to the state of Hawai'i and its fisheries during data collection.

References to the mainland United States and its fisheries during data collection.

References to the Northwest Hawaiian Islands and its fisheries during data collection.

References to Pacific Islands territories (e.g., American Samoa, Guam, and the CNMI) and their fisheries during data collection.

Descriptions of various facets of research participant identities.

References to research participant/fisher demographic variables, including age, education, gender, ethnicity, and place of origin.

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

Descriptions of the type of fishing a fisher might identify with, with respect to the scale or commercialization of their fishing (e.g., commercial, non-commercial, charter, expense).

Descriptions of how research participants entered into fisheries.

References to science and management frameworks that contextualize bottomfish fisheries and their stock assessment in the Pacific Islands region.

Descriptions of the scientific data streams relevant to bottomfish fisheries and their stock assessment in the Pacific Islands region.

References to historical events and interpersonal relationships that contextualize bottomfish fisheries and their stock assessment in the Pacific Islands region.

References to the schedules and timelines within which bottomfish stock assessment operates.

References to the sampling designs that bottomfish data collection initiatives are based on, primarily creel survey design.

References to management tools and initiatives relevant to bottomfish fisheries and their stock assessment in the Pacific Islands region, including bottomfish rebuilding plans, community development plans, and Fishery Management Plans.

Descriptions of the economic context surrounding bottomfish fisheries in the Pacific Islands region.

References to government-provided economic relief as a tool to mitigate impacts to managed fishing communities.

References to the financial costs associated with fishing.

References to market dynamics relevant to bottomfish fisheries in the Pacific Islands region, including supply, demand, and market prices.

Descriptions of cultural context for bottomfish fisheries in the Pacific Islands region, including references to the relatively small size of territorial fisheries, a lack of regulatory precedent, dynamics that favor deferral to mentors and elders, and, with regard to fisheries sciene, a commitment to traditional methods of modeling.

A tracking node for terminology associated with stock assessment and resulting management measures.

References to Annual Catch Limits.

References to Annual Catch Targets.

References to Catch Per Unit Effort and the factors that may impact it, including fisher experience, weather, fishign effort, depredation, and fish presence versus bite.

References to different types of models that can be used in stock assessment, including age structured, biomass, length-based, spawning potential ratio, and production models.

References to Maximum Sustainable Yield.

Commentary on the overall accuracy or quality of stock assessment.

References to Total Allowable Catch.

Commentary on the difficulty of estimating bottomfish stock status as a function of total catch in the territories.

Commentary on opportunities to improve bottomfish stock assessment, especially in the territories.

Descriptions of incorporating additional data streams into stock assessment models as an opportunity to improve stock assessment.

Commentary on alternative management tools that may better suit the Pacific Islands region's unique challenges in bottomfish data collection and stock assessment.

Commentary on exploring and applying alternative stock assessment models as an opportunity to improve stock assessment.

Commentary on efforts to evaluate existing territorial data streams as an opportunity to improve stock assessment.

Commentary on recognizing and accounting for uncertainty and probability as an opportunity to improve stock assessment.

Commentary on improving data collection protocols and systems as an opportunity to improve stock assessment.

Commentary on implementary mandatory licensing and reporting in the territories as an opportunity to improve stock assessment.

Commentary on revising the list of Bottomfish Management Unit Species as an opportunity to improve stock assessment.

Descriptions of the unique approach applied by the NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center, which convenes a panel including industry members to approve data for use in stock assessment.

Commentary on splitting or otherwise dividing territorial bottomfish complexes into smaller units for stock assessment (e.g., shallow v. bottom, individual species).

Descriptions of benefits that have been or could be derived from engagement between bottomfish stakeholders (e.g., fishers, scientists, managers, etc.).

References to relationship-building as a goal/benefit of engagement between bottomfish stakeholders.

References to capacity building as a goal/benefit of engagement between bottomfish stakeholders, including references to the capacity to engage effectively with other stakeholders, local capacity for fisheries science and engagement, and capacity within stakeholder groups to better understand and deliver on their role in fisheries, science, and management.

References to improving the perceived legitimacy of fisheries science and management as a goal/benefit of engagement between bottomfish stakeholders.

References to improving fisheries science and management processes as a goal/benefit of engagement between bottomfish stakeholders, including data collection and submission, stock assessment modeling, management decision-making, and incorporating stakeholder input into such processes.

References to taking stock of all existing efforts to study bottomfish as a goal/benefit of engagement between bottomfish stakeholders.

References to sharing information and building shared understanding as a goal/benefit of engagement between bottomfish stakeholders.

References to improving the sustainability of fisheries as a goal/benefit of engagement between bottomfish stakeholders.

Descriptions of various challenges either encountered during multi-stakeholder engagement around (territorial bottomfish) fisheries, or that complicate bottomfish stock assessment.

Communication challenges that impede effective engagement between stakeholders, including a lack of communication and issues with the translation of language and concepts between stakeholders.

Issues with compliance and participation, especially with respect to data reporting, that complicate fisheries stock assessment. Also issues with management compliance.

Issues related to a recent transition in the territories away from Coral Reef Ecosystem Management Unit Species toward Bottomfish Management Unit Species for federal science and management.

Issues related to the disconnect in information, language, thought processes, and efforts between stakeholders.

Issues related to the bottomfish fisheries data, including data accuracy, availability and collection, reporting, and treatment by fisheries scientists.

References to the inconsistencies in scientific outputs that affect the perceived legitimacy of related fisheries science and management.

Challenges related to the geographical spread of stakeholders across the Pacific Islands region, particularly the concentration of resources and personnel in Honolulu.

Engagement challenges related to historical fisheries management decisions and outcomes.

Perceptions of the fisheries stock assessment as inadequate that impede effective engagement.

Constraints placed on individuals within an institution (e.g., a fishing community, federal organization, or territorial agency) that impede effective communication and engagement.

References to the pandemic, including its role in limiting stakeholder engagement.

Descriptions of political and power dynamics that contextualize bottomfish fisheries science, including the differential access, influence, and financial capital that stakeholders wield in fisheries science and management, feelings of being dismissed or marginalized by stakeholders or institutions in power (e.g., federal government), and high costs of engagement.

Descriptions of relationship dynamics that contextualize bottomfish fisheries and its science and management, including stakeholder mistrust and conflict, blaming and defensive posturing, and the challenges introduced by transient actors.

A tracking node for the different types of stakeholder engagement that were mentioned in interviews and meetings, including collaborative research, Council meetings, social media, virtual meetings, formalized workshops, and community-centered meetings.

Descriptions of various approaches to engagement that can or may benefit its efficacy.

References to communication-centered strategies to improve engagement, including those related to tailoring messaging and language, transparency, setting clear expectations, and listening.

Descriptions of efforts to expect, understand, and prepare for conflict between participants during stakeholder engagement for the benefit of an engagement effort.

Descriptions of consistency and demonstrated commitment to communication and engagement as important for success.

Descriptions of the diverse incentives that motivate stakeholders' engagement with one another, including access to data, financial incentives, intrinsic interest or motivation, and negative triggers like fisheries restrictions or rejection of a scientific product.

References to meeting structure, design, and facilitation tools that may benefit engagement, including meeting participants where they are mentally and physically, focusing on solutions, setting clear goals and using directed questions to guide discussion, and considering group size.

References to the strategy of engaging with small, cohesive groups first, then integrating different stakeholders and ideas into subsequent meetings, to work toward large multi-stakeholder meetings.

References to the importance of delivering some tangible return or product of engagement efforts to validate and incentivize the efforts of participants.

Commentary on the level of participation and influence interviewees expect other stakeholders to derive from their engagement efforts.

References to the value of local mediators or participants in meetings to help bridge cultural divides.

References to intangible, relationship- and trust-building principles critical for effective engagement, including respect, commitment, collaboration, sincerity, and face-to-face time.

References to the timing of various processes relevant to territorial bottomfish fisheries and their stock assessment.

References to the timing of processes that are planned to or should precede formal engagement.

References to the timing of processes that initiate formal engagement.

References to the timing of processes that should follow engagement.

References to the timing of management processes.

References to the timing of future stock assessments.

Commentary on who should be included in engagement related to (territorial bottomfish) fisheries and their stock assessment.

References to various characteristics and considerations that determine who to include in engagment endeavors, including representation (e.g., of a fishing community of interest), fisher experience or skill level, the ability of individuals to commit to an engagement process, and individuals' ability to bridge disconnects between other stakeholders.

References to the order in which stakeholders should be contacted in preparation for engagement.

Commentary on balancing the benefits and drawbacks of incusivity and exclusivity in deciding who to engage.

Commentary on the role of key stakeholders in engagement.

Types of knowledge wielded by different stakeholders, including experiential, technical/formalized, inherited, and institutional.

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

A tracking node for the different roles stakeholders occupy, as they are relevant to bottomfish fisheries, their science, and management.

A tracking node for the various institutions mentioned during meetings and interviews, to which research participants belong. These include academic institutions, fisher organizations, federal institutions like NMFS, territorial and state agencies, NGOs, and the Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council.

A tracking node for illustrative quotes and key concepts.

A tracking node for new contacts mentioned during data collection.

A tracking node for miscellaneous topics not directly related to this project.