Fisheries as learning systems: Interactive learning as the basis for improved decision making

Calls for the increasing involvement of the industry in the governance of fisheries come at a time when fishermen feel estranged from the decision making process and confidence in the outcomes of policy making is low. Against the background of changing perspectives on fisheries management and an increasing emphasis on interactive learning as a social process, this paper examines the role of stakeholder forums in stimulating shared understanding of the issues confronting a range of stakeholders. Using four case studies from the UK, the analysis suggests that while interactive learning is almost always beneficial in terms of promoting better understanding, the achievement of tangible outcomes is likely to depend on duration of the exercise, the extent to which relations are close knit or at arms length, together with success in closing the gap between the early stages of reflection and the emergence of a shared forward vision.