![\"\"](\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2017\/09\/boats-300x199.jpg\")
<\/p>\nConnecting critical concepts in marine conservation and management Ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) has been widely touted as the future of fisheries conservation and stewardship, appearing prominently in an array of highly visible policy documents in the United States and internationally. The shift towards EBFM parallels growing interest in coastal and marine spatial planning, and recognition that single-species management consistently fails to sustain living marine resources, and that marine systems are highly complex and dynamic. In an effort to transition from EBFM in theory to practice, a multitude of technical challenges and persistent misconceptions that range from concerns about the cost of data collection to uncertainty about regulatory authority have been made. Despite progress, however, limited attention has been devoted to assessing the theoretical and practical linkages between EBFM and co-management, even though there are important connections. This raises important questions that we hope to explore at the upcoming workshop, including: To what extent are these concepts in marine conservation and management linked? How does co-management facilitate (or impede EBFM)? Is EBFM possible without co-management and local feedback (and vise versa)?<\/p>\n
This two-day workshop, which is closed to the public, will bring together a small group of creative thinkers with expertise in the theory and practice of EBFM and co-management. Each participant will contribute a short (10-15 minute) presentation reflecting on either: 1) What are the theoretical and applied linkages between EBFM and co-management, or (2) How \u2013 from a community, science, management, or technology perspective \u2013 how can\/are\/should these ideas integrated in practice? Each presenter also will prepare a short white paper summarizing their presentation. These papers\/presentations will serve as the starting point for an engaging discussion with the group and (ultimately) lead to a co-authored paper on EBFM and co-management.<\/p>\n
Funding for this workshop was provided by the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, which also funds Stoll’s current\u00a0Nested\u00a0Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management project<\/a>.<\/p>\n