OCN 780 Seminar | Collaborative Fisheries Science: Working with Community and Stakeholders in Development of Ecological Models | Mukai

Presenter: Dr. Gabriella Mukai

Title: Collaborative Fisheries Science: Working with Community and Stakeholders in Development of Ecological Models

Fisheries is an important, multifaceted aspect of social, cultural, and economic life in Hawai‘i. As such, knowledge and experience related to fisheries in Hawaiʻi comes with a variety of perspectives. Through engagement with the community and stakeholders, I aim to make these voices heard and incorporated into our research. I worked with local fishers to learn about the drivers of ‘ōpelu abundance and catchability. I then evaluated the environmental factors influencing ‘ōpelu aggregation behavior and catchability by combining fisher knowledge and fishery-dependent data to create a model of ‘ōpelu catch. Model results generally aligned with interviews, mutually enhancing their contextual understanding. The integration of interviews and modeling not only facilitated a more insightful analysis of the fishery but also allowed fishers to contribute their perspectives to the research conducted on their fishery. Our group is working with the longline fishers and stakeholders to develop HICast, a tool to identify fishing spots with high occurrence of bigeye tuna (targeted species) and low occurrence of protected species in near real-time. As we finalize the models used in HICast, open discussions with longline fishers and management agencies are necessary to make an effective and useful tool. ExPLORE (Experience and Participate in Local Opportunities for Research and Engagement) is a program at Leeward Community College to provide research and career opportunities to students, particularly local students, at the community college level. Introducing research at the early stages of students’ undergraduate education can promote students’ academic success and participation in local research. Together this research highlights examples of ways fisheries science can presently work with
stakeholders and ways fisheries science can create pathways for local students to become scientists in their home.

Location: MSB-100

Time: 3:00 pm to 4:15 pm