Ocean policy on the water—incorporating fishers’ perspectives and values

Abstract As the profound and complex impacts of climate change on marine and coastal ecosystems in turn affect human communities, conservation scientists predicting future oceans have been encouraged to consider social dimensions, particularly those pertaining to fishing communities. Understanding fishers’ needs, concerns, and values may make research both more accurate and more actionable, and conservation interventions more effective and equitable. In this chapter I argue for the need for research that centers on fishers’ perspectives and outline approaches that conservation scientists and practitioners hoping to engage fishing communities in their research may find useful. While most relevant for individuals trained in natural or physical sciences, these approaches are aimed to be broad enough that they may be applicable for anyone working across disciplines or across sectors.