Posted By
ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
James Cook University Townsville
Queensland 4811 Australia
Phone: 61 7 4781 4000
Email: info@coralcoe.org.au
Posted By
A group of international researchers, led by scientists at Coral CoE, have issued advice that more research is urgently required to better understand the complex and dynamic nature of fishery conflict and determine their potential causes.
The team, led by cotutelle PhD student Jessica Spijkers from Coral CoE at James Cook University and Stockholm Resilience Centre at Stockholm University, has delivered key recommendations for future research.
“Conflict over marine fishery resources is a growing security concern,” said Ms. Spijkers.
“Conditions in the ocean are changing rapidly, instigating discernible shifts in fisheries stocks across the globe. Our understanding, and subsequent informed policy, needs to keep pace with these changes.”
Looking across the research landscape, the scientists were able to identify four major knowledge gaps around fisheries conflict studies.
“Fisheries conflict is not a new problem, but like so many other environmental concerns, its geographic scale and intensity are increasing. With fewer fish feeding more people, and climate change altering where fish stocks occur, we’ve gone from one-on-one international competition for fish to the world cup,” said co-author Professor Graeme Cumming of Coral CoE.
“Science-based solutions are required to promote sustainable and cooperative use of fisheries resources.”
The authors identify a strong need for a more precise understanding of conflict intensity (e.g. low conflict vs. violent conflict), and propose a scale for categorizing conflict intensity based on observed behaviours and actions. For example, an intensity of “1,” is typified by verbal expressions displaying “discord or hostility” such as threatening sanctions or civilian protests. An intensity of “5,” is defined by military acts causing death, such as an attack of foreign vessels, with resulting deaths.
Further recommendations for researchers include: developing a more detailed, complexity-focused understanding of how conflicts emerge and escalate; pooling existing research and conflict data to better understand relationships, patterns and trends, towards the development of predictive fisheries conflict modelling; and taking a more systematic view of fisheries conflict that considers interactions between the climate system, natural resources, human security and societal stability.
“These recommendations provide an essential road map for future research and policymaking,” said Associate Professor Tiffany Morrison of Coral CoE.
“For example, understanding the mechanisms and drivers of fisheries conflict can enable nations and regions to better predict and cope with these sorts of resource disputes.”
The authors of the paper, in addition to Spijkers, Cumming and Morrison, are: Robert Blasiak and Henrik Österblom of the Stockholm Resilience Centre and The University of Tokyo; Matthew Osborne of Stockholm Environment Institute; and James Watson, now at Oregon State University.
CITATION: Jessica Spijkers, Tiffany H Morrison, Robert Blasiak, Graeme S Cumming, Matthew Osborne, James Watson, Henrik Österblom. Marine fisheries and future ocean conflict. Fish and Fisheries 2018; 1-9. DOI: 10.1111/faf.12291
James Cook University researchers have found brightly coloured fish are becoming increasingly rare as coral declines, with the phenomenon likely to get worse in the future. Christopher Hemingson, a
Researchers working with stakeholders in the Great Barrier Reef region have come up with ideas on how groups responsible for looking after the reef can operate more effectively when the next bleaching
A new study has delivered a stark warning about the impacts of urban growth on the world’s coral reefs. As coastal developments expand at pace around the world, a year-long study of coral on a reef
Alarming new research shows global warming of 1.5°C relative to pre-industrial levels will be catastrophic for almost all coral reefs – including those once thought of as refuges. Associate Profes
Abstract: Molecular approaches have revolutionised our understanding of the systematics and evolution of most branches on the tree of life, including corals. Over the last twenty-five years molecula
Abstract: Outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) are a major driver of coral decline across the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and compound upon the impacts of increasingly frequent and severe coral
Abstract: Being a new staff member at JCU, I will start with a short overview of my research. Next I will zoom in on a specific topic that I have been interested in for a long time: the impact of e
Abstract: The harsh truth is that, despite exciting innovations and increases in activity, ocean conservation is not succeeding, at least not fast enough. This is my conclusion from the last decad
This talk is the last of the parachute science seminar series organized by the ARC CoE Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) committee. Abstract Universities and institutions across th
This talk is the second of three on parachute science being organized by the ARC CoE Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) committee. Abstract For millenia, Traditional Owners have hel
This talk is the first of three on parachute science being organized by the ARC CoE Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) committee. Abstract Parachute science is the practice whereby
ABSTRACT Climate change loss and damage is known as the “third pillar” of international climate governance in addition to mitigation and adaptation. Although there is no agreed upon definition,
Partner Research Institutions
ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
James Cook University Townsville
Queensland 4811 Australia
Phone: 61 7 4781 4000
Email: info@coralcoe.org.au