Combining local and scientific knowledge

A change in attitude is urgently required to provide credibility to, and to devise methods for, combining and utilizing non-scientific information (local knowledge) together with more typical scientific data. In the midst of vast uncertainty about fish stocks, the climate is right for this change in attitude. Expert systems offer one tool to combine different sources of information in a meaningful way. We believe that through the simple communication required to gather knowledge for an expert system, the development of mutual respect will foster cooperation and responsibility of resource users, scientists and managers, thus providing the basis for improved and more responsible management.