Improving communication: the key to more effective MSE processes

Abstract

The use of management strategy evaluation (MSE) to design and test candidate fisheries management approaches is expanding globally. Participation of managers, scientists, and stakeholders should be an integral component of the MSE process. Open and effective communication among these groups is essential for the success of the MSE and the adoption of the management approach based on it. The highly technical nature of MSE and newness of the approach to many audiences present considerable communication challenges and have, unfortunately, slowed progress in some cases. We draw on diverse experiences with MSE to identify two areas in which the implementation of MSE in multinational fora may be improved: (i) the use of formally constituted “intermediary groups” as a forum for exchange at the management–science interface and (ii) the development of engaging, yet uncomplicated, visual communication tools for conveying key results to different audiences at each stage. While our focus is the MSE processes underway in the regional fisheries management organizations for tunas and tuna-like species, the advice provided is also pertinent for other fisheries, international and domestic alike, pursuing MSE.