Fisheries governance and information pathways in fisheries management are exceptionally complex. At the same time, large quantities of fisheries information on numerous subjects are available from a wide range of providers for a diversity of users. These points were emphasized in a public lecture at Dalhousie University on 20 September 2013 by Dr. Richard Grainger, […]
Marine & Ocean Issues
EIUI Attends NAFO’s Annual Meeting as Official Observer
The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) – a regional, intergovernmental fisheries management body that conducts scientific research, provides advice, and facilitates cooperation among member states on management and conservation of fisheries resources – held its 35th annual meeting in Halifax on 22-27 September 2013. As a recently accredited official Observer, the Environmental Information: Use and […]
Information Mobilization in the Science-Policy Interface for Integrated Coastal Management
A recent paper by Bremer and Glavovic (2013) reviews the practice and theory of the science-policy interface in integrated coastal management (ICM). They describe two interpretations of the science-policy interface: the science-based interface and the participatory interface. Advocates of the science-based interface see the inherent uncertainty in science as a lack of available information, warranting […]
Scientific Communication and the Problems of Scale
I love to solve puzzles. It has been a fascination of mine ever since I was a child, and my thoughts were and are consumed by new stratagem to resolve any puzzle placed before me. I am fortunate, I guess, that as time goes on, new and more challenging ones keep emerging. I came to […]
Does the global focus on Marine Protected Area (MPA) targets undermine long-term conservation objectives?
Elizabeth De Santo, a member of the EIUI research team, has published a paper in the Journal of Environmental Management titled “Missing marine protected area (MPA) targets: How the push for quantity over quality undermines sustainability and social justice.” The paper takes a critical look at the global trend towards designating enormous swaths of marine […]
Suzuette Soomai and François Bregha win awards at the 2013 Sustainable Oceans Conference
Suzuette Soomai and François Bregha, two research students in the EIUI research team, were named winners of awards for papers presented at the recent 2013 Sustainable Oceans Conference. Interdisciplinary PhD student, Suzuette Soomai, won the Building Bridges award for her paper on “Understanding the Science-Policy Interface: Measuring Use and Influence of Information in Policy-Making,” and […]
Grey Literature in the Marine Sciences: Recognizing Its Importance, Retaining It for Canadians
We have been pursuing research on awareness and use of marine scientific information, especially grey literature, at the science-policy interface for several years and have been focussing on the significance of enablers and barriers to information use. Lately, we have become increasingly concerned about recent federal government decisions to substantially reduce the number of government […]
EIUI Gives Presentation to Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment Working Group
Bertrum MacDonald and Peter Wells gave a presentation about the Environmental Information: Use and Influence research initiative to the Working Group of the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment, which met in Halifax on 5 March 2013. The presentation outlined the recent history of the EIUI initiative and, in particular, research undertaken collaboratively […]
Special issue of Marine Policy on Governing Marine Protected Areas guest edited by Elizabeth De Santo and colleagues
A special issue of the journal Marine Policy is now in press, guest edited by EIUI team member Elizabeth De Santo and her colleagues Peter Jones, Wanfei Qiu and Julian Clifton. writing business reports The special issue is entitled: Governing Marine Protected Areas: towards social-ecological resilience through institutional diversity. This study aimed to explore […]
Expert Panel Working on 40 Priority Research Questions for Ocean Science in Canada
February 12-13, the Expert Panel on Canadian Ocean Science held its third meeting, at which it discussed a draft report on 40 Priority Research Questions for Ocean Science in Canada. Recognizing that the world’s oceans are undergoing unprecedented changes, this initiative is examining Canada’s needs and capacities with regard to the major research questions in […]