Fish Futures: Social-ecological feedbacks in freshwater fish management
MBIE Endeavour
2021-2026
Team
Ed Challies, Robin Holmes, Kiely McFarlane, Calum MacNeil, Jason Arnold, Brittany Earl
This project applies a social-ecological systems lens to freshwater fish management in Aotearoa New Zealand with the aim of identifying social-ecological feedbacks that underpin cycles of degradation and restoration, in order to inform holistic and just management of native and introduced freshwater fish. We aim to characterise key feedback processes between fish, communities, and ecosystem change. To this end we will review direct and indirect ecological impacts of fish introductions and removals in NZ and internationally, as well as feedbacks between human values and practices and fish introductions/removals. Detailed social-ecological system analysis of human-fish-ecosystem interactions for three species will illuminate how human actions, values, and institutions have created the conditions for fish to be sustained or lost from our waterways. Interviews with landowners and managers will investigate social barriers to restoring fish passage and apply feedback analysis in real time to assist infrastructure managers in designing implementation. We will identify how supportive relationships among key parties can foster ecological restoration and inform management.
Project Partners:
Cawthron Institute
Kauati Consulting
