Entangled Sensemaking at Sea: Bycatch Management That Makes Good Social and Ecological Sense

Sustainable commercial fishing, species conservation, and bycatch are contentious topics. This book provides a framework to improve understanding, research, and regulation of frontline organizing processes in commercial fisheries, which can be generalized to other resource extraction industries. It explores how the commercial fishing industry entangles itself with natural phenomena to extract resources, and how regulations, natural phenomena, human sensemaking processes, and market forces entangle at sea to materialize fish on our plates.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 222 pages
Publication date: 02 September 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Sustainable commercial fishing, species conservation, and bycatch are complex and contentious topics that have garnered significant attention in recent years. While there has been a great emphasis on ensuring the sustainable sourcing of specific species that we purchase from stores and order in restaurants, there remains a question about the broader system-wide perspective of fish sourcing. Even in what are commonly considered to be the best-managed fisheries globally, such as Alaskan fisheries, thousands of tons of fish are wasted annually to meet the demands of providing certain species in specific ways to specific individuals at specific prices. This raises concerns about whether the management practices and regulations in place are actually achieving the desired outcomes in terms of the effective use of natural resources.

To address these challenges, this book presents a comprehensive framework that enhances our understanding, research, and regulation of frontline organizing processes in commercial fisheries. This framework can be generalized to other resource extraction industries as well. By providing readers with a deeper grasp of these processes, the book enables them to better respond to the need for developing practices and regulations that prioritize the effective use of all natural resources, rather than just a select few.

The book is particularly valuable to researchers and practitioners actively involved in the fishing industry, as well as natural resource managers and regulators seeking to improve their management systems. It also holds relevance to organization and management researchers interested in coupled human and natural systems, ecological sensemaking, the role of quantum mechanics in organizational phenomena, sociomateriality, and sustainability.

The book employs the real-world case of an Alaskan fishing fleet to explore how the commercial fishing industry, comprising businesses, management agencies, regulatory bodies, and markets, among others, operates and interacts with the broader natural environment. Through this case study, the book sheds.

• Examines the complex dynamics and interactions between the fishing industry, the broader social and economic systems in which it operates, and the natural environment.
• Highlights the challenges and opportunities that arise from the complex interplay between human decision-making, technological advancements, and ecological constraints.
• Discusses the role of frontline organizing processes in shaping the sustainability of commercial fishing practices and regulations.
• Offers insights into the strategies and practices employed by different actors within the fishing industry to navigate these challenges and achieve sustainable outcomes.
• Provides a roadmap for policymakers, industry practitioners, and researchers to develop and implement effective practices and regulations that promote the sustainable use of natural resources in commercial fishing and other resource extraction industries.

In conclusion, this book offers a valuable contribution to the field of sustainability by providing a comprehensive framework for understanding and regulating frontline organizing processes in commercial fisheries. By highlighting the importance of effective resource use and promoting sustainable practices, the book aims to contribute to the development of a more sustainable and equitable future for the fishing industry and other resource extraction industries.

Weight: 370g
Dimension: 156 x 231 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783537457