Science for sustainable fisheries management: An interdisciplinary approach

One of the greatest weaknesses of the current research system is that it remains fragmented, introspective and lacking in creative connectivity, both between the participating disciplines and with wider sources of knowledge and expertise. It has been apparent for many years that the future for policy related research in fisheries and the marine environment lies in an interdisciplinary approach incorporating the natural, economic and social sciences. This will be central to broadening the objectives of policy to include such diverse notions as ecosystem integrity, economic viability and social equity, and to develop effective approaches to integrated management and marine spatial planning. But why are truly interdisciplinary perspectives still slow to develop, and how can such an approach to knowledge production be enabled and realised? In this paper we review the case for interdisciplinary research and call for renewed and deliberate efforts to build capacity for interdisciplinary working within research projects, programmes and institutions.

► Monodisciplinary research in fisheries is reaching its limits in terms of cost and utility.
► Integrated management and marine spatial planning warrant interdisciplinary inquiry between social and natural sciences.
► Deliberate actions are needed to increase the scope and prospects for interdisciplinary research.
► Attention needs to be given to the project and programme design and capacity building measures.