The meeting point between fisheries science and traditional ecological knowledge in fisheries

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is the sum of data and ideas acquired by a human group on its environment. Over the years, there has been a growing lack of confidence in centralized scientific fisheries management. Traditional ecological knowledge is recognized as a valuable tool for understanding trends of marine resources, ecosystem management and conservation. Some reseachers and policy-makers have called for TEK to play an increased role in fisheries management decisions. TEK helps to develop management practices which allow economic development without the over-exploitation of natural resources. However, the acceptance of TEK in fisheries management has been partly hindered by difficulties in translating local ecological knowledge into a form that can be applied dierectly to conventional top down approach of western fisheries management. For full integration of TEK and scientific knowledge in fisheries management, there must be constant communication, continuous education, mutual trust, collaborative validation of knowledge and respect for a workmg relationship to be sustained