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2017 Spring | Arts & Humanities, Education & Outreach, Environmental Justice

Using workshops to discuss management opportunities for blue king crab

Student(s):

Matt Sedlacek

Program or Department(s):

  • Program on the Environment
  • University of Washington

Site supervisor(s):

Kirstin Holsman

Partner(s):

  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Faculty advisor(s):

PhilliLevin Marine ecologist and Professor-of-Practice at the University of Washington

The blue king crab stock surrounding the Pribilof Islands collapsed in the 1980’s, with no clear reason for lack of recovery, despite western science and management practices. However, traditional and local ecological knowledge (TEK, LEK) are abundant on Pribilof Islands but not utilized in management practices. Therefore, there is a need for participation of TEK and LEK in fisheries management process. Through my internship with NOAA, I used our workshop as a case study and administered both a pre and post-workshop survey. My findings conclude that by actively using participatory science we build trust between native communities and researchers by offering voices to the community.