Bay de Verde, Newfoundland, Canada | Photo credit: Joonas Plaan

Who we are

WHO WE ARE

Ocean Frontier Institute's 'Informing Governance Responses in a Changing Ocean' is a collaborative research initiative that examines the consequences of social, ecological, economic and institutional changes for the future of fisheries, coastal communities and the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

It also explores alternative options for governments and other governing actors to respond to these changes in order to help achieve a sustainable future.

MEET OUR TEAM

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WHAT WE DO

FROM TAKING STOCK

The first phase of the project hosted a Taking Stock Dialogue, bringing together stakeholders from research, government, industry and the community to appraise changes that occurred (e.g. regulatory, industry, resources) leading up to and since the groundfish moratoria, critically assess current fisheries, and identify where research is required to fill knowledge gaps.

TO GETTING IT RIGHT

The final phase of the project will use the research results as a basis to develop and host a Getting it Right Dialogue, where stakeholders will be invited to discuss options for Newfoundland and Labrador's fisheries and to develop short- and long-term governance responses.

What we do

How we do it

HOW WE DO IT

The research program includes five projects critical to informing current and future governance:

ACCESS TO RESOURCES & MARKETS

Sub-module I-1 investigates access to resources and markets in Newfoundland and Labrador in the context of changing certification and international trade agreements.

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RECRUITMENT, TRAINING

& RETENTION

Sub-module I-2 aims to learn about recruitment and retention in Newfoundland and Labrador, within small scale fisheries and intergenerational transfer of fishing enterprises.

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PERCEPTIONS, VALUES

& KNOWLEDGE

Sub-module I-3 explores the perceptions, values and knowledge of people living in Newfoundland and Labrador.

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MARINE HEALTH

& SAFETY

Sub-module I-4 is about addressing known or suspected fleet design, operation and related marine safety training, technological and governance challenges to help reduce risk in future Newfoundland and Labrador's fisheries.

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VULNERABILITY

& VIABILITY

Sub-module I-5 is focused on addressing questions of vulnerability and viability in Newfoundland and Labrador, bringing sustainability, rural, gender, aboriginal and social power lenses to research and consultations.

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Sub-module I-A aims to understand how all organizations and communities understand the commercial fishing industry in Nunatsiavut, and to build convergence on a vision for the future of fisheries management in the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area.

nunatsiavut fisheries

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fish harvesters' knowledge

Sub-module I-B is focused on expanding on previous research conducted by FFAW on flounder fishers’ knowledge into other key flounder fishing areas along the northeast Newfoundland coast in order to ensure representativeness of the region’s historical flounder fisheries.