Extension approaches applied to contentious marine-fisheries management issues

Three collaborations between the California Sea Grant Extension Program (SGEP), the California Department of Fish and Game, university researchers, and the fishing industry address controversial issues in fishery management. The cases illustrate the role of SGEP in implementing the state comprehensive marine-life management legislation, improving management of the sea urchin fishery, and using extension methods to improve socioeconomic research relative to the Dungeness crab fishery. The characteristics related to success were identified as trust, independence, nonadvocacy, a scientific foundation, and communication.