Resolving conflicts in selecting a programme of fisheries science investigation

Key findings include a reluctance of fishermen to participate in meetings but a high level of participation through completion of questionnaires (in excess of 50%) after considerable personal contact with the research team. Partly reflecting the determination of those few who attended the meetings is the finding of the hostility they expressed towards fisheries science and research while a notably less hostile view was expressed in the returned confidential questionnaires. Cluster analysis identified four groups of fishers expressing differing priorities for four possible research programmes. A lesson for policy makers is the nature of the approach to gain the benefit of the fishing community's participation into research policy decisions. Determined individuals in public forums may not reflect majority opinions and other avenues of participation might be more reflective of conflict management potential.