Complementary Role of Fishers’ Experiential Knowledge to Conventional Science in Terms of Species-Specific Biological Traits and Population Changes in Azorean Waters

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Combining scientific data with knowledge held by fishers may be a good way to help people make decisions about marine ecosystem conservation. The goal of this study was to assess how much fishers in the Azores know about the biology and ecology of six commercially important marine species. This knowledge was then compared to the scientific information already out there to understand its value and complementarity. In the nine islands that make up the archipelago, 105 fishers were interviewed. Findings revealed a reasonable level of agreement between the information provided by fishers and the scientific literature. This reinforced how useful fishers’ experiential knowledge is, especially when scientific information is limited. However, more research should be conducted to ensure the results are more reliable and consistent. ABSTRACT: Combining scientific information with fishers’ perceptions may be a robust approach for directing decision-makers working with marine ecosystems. This is particularly the case when baseline data on a vulnerable stock are poor, as the integration of fishers’ experiential knowledge can help fill data gaps, as well as inform legitimate management actions, and empower fishing communities in resource management. This study aimed to analyze fishers’ knowledge regarding the biology (reproduction, growth, and maximum size) and temporal changes in the abundance and size of six commercially important marine species (red porgy Pagrus pagrus, veined squid Loligo forbesii, blue jack mackerel Trachurus picturatus, blackspot seabream Pagellus bogaraveo, blackbelly rosefish Helicolenus dactylopterus, and European conger Conger conger) in the Azores small-scale communities. Additionally, a comparison between fishers’ knowledge and available scientific information was performed to determine the former’s value and its possible complementarity with the latter. A total of 105 fishers were surveyed in the nine islands of the archipelago. The results demonstrated a reasonable level of agreement between the information from fishers and scientific literature on the species-specific spawning seasons and growth rates. The median values of size at maturity and maximum length were not statistically different between data sources. Most participants indicated size and abundance trends that were consistent with the literature. This study highlights the usefulness of fishers’ perceptions in improving knowledge about species characteristics and temporal changes in commercially exploited stocks, especially when scientific research is limited, but further research should be encouraged to improve the reliability and consistency of these results.