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| Fishermen and Scientists Research Society | |
|---|---|
| Name | Fishermen and Scientists Research Society |
| Abbreviation | FSRS |
| Formation | 1994 |
| Headquarters | St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Region served | Atlantic Canada |
Fishermen and Scientists Research Society
The Fishermen and Scientists Research Society operates as a Newfoundland and Labrador-based collaboration linking practitioners and researchers to study marine biology, fisheries, oceanography, and coastal ecology. It engages stakeholders from the Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Memorial University of Newfoundland, and local fishing organizations to coordinate monitoring, stock assessment, and marine technology projects. The society works with international partners such as the North Atlantic Fisheries Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea to inform policy, conservation, and industry practices.
Founded in 1994 amid regional debates following the Cod moratorium, 1992 and shifts in Atlantic Canadian fisheries policy, the organization emerged from networks involving Memorial University of Newfoundland, the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour, and community groups in St. John's and Bonavista. Early activities intersected with initiatives from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (Canada), the Canadian Coast Guard, and researchers linked to the Ocean Sciences Centre (Memorial University of Newfoundland). Project collaborations often referenced methodologies from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and lessons from the North Atlantic Fisheries Organization treaty discussions. The group’s evolution paralleled regional developments such as the restructuring of the Atlantic fishing industry, the rise of aquaculture ventures associated with companies like Cooke Aquaculture and policy debates tied to the Fisheries Act (Canada). Over time it established formal ties with universities including Dalhousie University, University of New Brunswick, and institutions such as the Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland.
The society’s mission centers on bridging experiential knowledge from harvesters with scientific inquiry practiced by researchers at Memorial University, Dalhousie, and global centers like the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Objectives include improving stock assessment used by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, enhancing fishery-independent surveys aligned with protocols from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the European Commission Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, and advancing gear technology inspired by innovations associated with the International Maritime Organization standards. It aims to support communities impacted by policy outcomes tied to the Cod moratorium, 1992, to inform trade and tariff discussions connected to the North American Free Trade Agreement, and to promote sustainable practices advocated by the Marine Stewardship Council.
Programs span fish population monitoring, bycatch reduction experiments, and oceanographic measurements integrated with models from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and datasets used by the Global Ocean Observing System. Species-focused projects address groundfish like Atlantic cod, Atlantic halibut, and yellowtail flounder, as well as shellfish such as Northern shrimp and American lobster. Research employs techniques developed at the Atlantic Veterinary College and laboratories affiliated with the Canadian Wildlife Service and uses acoustic methods paralleling those in studies by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the World Wildlife Fund. Programs have included tagging initiatives comparable to work by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and habitat mapping efforts similar to projects undertaken by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
The society partners with academic institutions including Memorial University, Dalhousie University, and the University of Prince Edward Island, and with governmental agencies like the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard. International links have included the North Atlantic Fisheries Organization, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, and research centers such as the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Scottish Association for Marine Science. Industry collaborators range from local harvesters represented by the Fish, Food and Allied Workers union to processors and exporters engaging with organizations such as the Canadian Fish and Seafood Exporters Association and fisheries advisory groups that coordinate with entities like the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance.
Fieldwork is supported by vessels and shore-based facilities in Newfoundland and Labrador, including small offshore research platforms, wet labs at the Ocean Sciences Centre, and access to ships operated by the Canadian Coast Guard and chartered vessels used in conjunction with Memorial University and the Marine Institute. Equipment and gear are comparable to systems used by the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory and acoustic arrays modeled after deployments by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The society has coordinated cruises that interfaced with ports such as St. John's and Bonavista and has utilized docks linked to regional harbors overseen by agencies analogous to the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Government marine infrastructure programs.
Outputs include technical reports, peer-reviewed papers submitted to journals like the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences and presentation materials for conferences such as the World Fisheries Congress and meetings of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Data management follows standards compatible with the Global Ocean Observing System and repositories similar to those maintained by the Ocean Biogeographic Information System and national datasets curated by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Collaborative publications have involved co-authors from Memorial University, Dalhousie, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and international partners engaged with the North Atlantic Fisheries Organization.
Outreach programs connect harvesters, students, and policymakers through workshops held at Memorial University, public talks linked to institutions like the Marine Institute, and community meetings in towns such as Bonavista and Trinity. Educational initiatives include student internships aligned with Memorial University and Dalhousie summer programs, seminars echoed in curricula at the Atlantic Veterinary College, and participatory science projects reminiscent of citizen science schemes promoted by the World Wildlife Fund and the Pew Charitable Trusts. The society has contributed to policy dialogues involving the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, conservation planning connected to the Marine Stewardship Council, and regional development discussions involving provincial authorities.
Category:Organizations based in Newfoundland and Labrador Category:Fisheries organizations