The St. Georges Bay Ecosystem Project (GBEP): An Illustration of Building Partnerships in Fisheries Management through Interdisciplinary and Stakeholder Participation in Ecosystem Analyses Anthony Davis Coordinator/Professor Interdisciplinary Studies in Aquatic Resources/ Department of Sociology and Anthropology Nell den Heyer Programme Officer Interdisciplinary Studies in Aquatic Resources St. Francis Xavier University, PO Box 5000 Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada B2G 2W5 Abstract Over the last 12 months a group of university-based social and natural science researchers has developed a collaboration with native and non-native marine harvesting organisations and a branch of the fisheries science agency of the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) that is focused on providing an ecological understanding of the St. Georges Bay system and fisheries. St. Georges Bay, centred in the Northeastern Nova Scotian shore of the southern reaches of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, is a large and complex system that remains the site of fisheries ranging from First Nations estuarine eel harvesting, through various pelagic and demersal fisheries to major lobster harvesting activities. The St. Georges Bay Ecosystem Project (GBEP), facilitated by the Interdisciplinary Studies in Aquatic Resources (ISAR) programme at St. Francis Xavier University, is building an interdisciplinary and 'working' collaboration between university researchers, native and non-native harvesters and governmental scientists. This collaboration was initiated through several ecological concerns posed by marine harvesters and their organisational leadership. Both ISAR and DFO linked researchers recognised this as an opportunity to participate in building a problem-centred and research-focused collaboration with native and non-native marine harvesters. This collaboration has been approached by all partners as a ways and means to developing an ecologically-referenced approach to understanding fisheries and to achieving sustainable marine resource management. The poster will detail the GBEP process and its substantive developments to date, as well as review some of the key expected outcomes.   Partners An interdisciplinary, research-focused collaboration between: Interdisciplinary Studies in Aquatic Resources (ISAR) at St. Francis Xavier University all Native and commercial marine harvester organisations within the the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, St. Georges Bay and the related estuarine systems * Gulf Nova Scotia Bone Fide Fishermen's Organisation * Inverness South Fishermen's Association * Maritime Fishermen's Union (MFU) * Mi'Kmaq Fish and Wildlife Commission Canadian government's Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Gulf Region Science Branch.   Goals The St. Georges Bay Ecosytem Project goals are: 1. to develop and employ an ecosystem approach to understanding marine resource dynamics, marine harvester activities and harvester understandings of species behaviours and the ecosystem. 2. to develop an ecosystem understanding among collaborators of St. Georges Bay to better inform resource and environmental management plans 3. to build research capacity among all marine harvester organisations while fostering research-focused and positive working relations and experiences involving university- and government-seated researchers and commercial and Native marine harvesters.   Critical Factors for Success   focus collaboration from the outset on specific, research-focused goals proceed as quickly as possible to conduct the research specified within a strategy that engages participation on the part of all partners commitment on the part of all project collaborators to inclusivity, transparency, and open discussion all participants and collaborating groups have a similar sense of 'ownership' of both research processes and outcomes all participants and collaborating groups have access to research results as soon as possible. All data gathered, descriptions of research designs and methodologies, research instruments, and research results as developed and delivered in working papers, technical reports, and draft essays must be made available to the project partners through the web site as soon as it is possible   Project Plan   Identify project partners who are actively involved and have a stakeholder interest in the resources of the St. Georges Bay ecosytem.   Identify specific research issues and strategies through an on-going series of partnership discussions and meetings in which the perspectives and questions of all are voiced and heard. It is critical to frame perspectives and questions in terms of specific, researchable issues. It may also be necessary to priorise developed research questions with respect to partner perceptions of immediate needs.   Gather and archive information respecting the physical and biological qualities associated with the ecosystem. This information is critical to building an ecosystem model as well as to enabling development of informed questions requiring and benefiting from further research.   Develop a user-friendly project website and listserv, in which all materials gathered and generated through research processes are archived and made available for inspection and discussion.     Develop computer workshops for introducing the web-site and its capacity to those unfamiliar with accessing and using PC technology and web-based information.   Develop ecosystem model.     Make policy recommendations based on the ecosystem approach and collaborative partnerships.   Listserv & Website Map   Home page http://www.mystfx.ca/people/gbayesp/welcome.htm Project Partners Overview Reports: Fisheries Science Marine Biology Marine Ecology Oceanography Social Research Economic Analysis Data Sets: Maps Fisheries Science Marine Biology Marine Ecology Oceanography Social Research Economic Analysis Links Listserv GBEP Outcomes   A working model of the St. Georges Bay ecosystem Literacy and capacity within Native and commercial marine harvesting organisations Established and productive collaborations between university, community and government stakeholders Enhancement of commercial and Native harvester participation, as conservers and caretakers, in the management strategies and practices within the St. Georges Bay ecosystem. Development of explicit linkages between knowledge of the St. Georges Bay ecosystem and the development of environmental and resource management strategies with an emphasis on enhancing the ecological sustainability of livelihoods. Such as the development of marine protected areas (MPAs) and the development of an integrated approach to coastal management, alternative approaches to management that would necessarily and centrally involve commercial and Native marine harvester organisations.   Acknowledgement  Special thanks for web page design to Ms. Erin Breen, second year ISAR student.