The authors of this book have considered, from different theoretical perspectives, how science and knowledge can be useful in many different contexts and over a broad range of sectors.
The foreword is written by Professor Michael H. Depledge, Chair of Environment and Human Health at the University of Exeter Medical School.
The book’s chapters are organized into four sections. Section I is an introduction to the book and the general context of Integrated coastal and ocean management (ICOM). Section II gives insights into the concepts and principles introduced in the first chapter. Here, several examples provide insight into the question of scale, and how different scales impact the use of science and other information. While fisheries remains the key sector throughout the book, how it compares with different sectors is also described. Importantly, the book helps readers to develop an understanding of the role of information: who produces knowledge, who uses it and what the barriers and possibilities are. The six chapters that makes up Section III present case studies, putting to work the issues introduced in Sections I and II. Section IV consists of one chapter, synthesizing the authors’ reflections on the existing challenges and future developments.
The main thread throughout the book is how science and other forms of information are used in coastal and ocean management, focusing on barriers to and possibilities for more effective management. This includes considering how stakeholders’ participation can improve the credibility, reliability and saliency of the knowledge used. A significant strength of this book is that it is multidimensional with regards to theory and scale and combines this with practical examples. It offers insights and rich descriptions of the sectors that are important to coastal and ocean management.
Because the book offers such a variety of perspectives and approaches – combined with a comprehensive structure – it makes a good reference point for various topics of interest for both newcomers and those more knowledgeable about the issues. The aim of the book is described as being suitable for anyone addressing the science, information and policy interface: the book achieves this goal and works well as a reference book. This is also supported by the rather strict format of the chapters of the book which are all kept quite similar and to the point.
The book draws on different theories and concepts, going beyond governance theory (where stakeholder participation is a key principle) and venturing into the world of post-normal science (Chapters 3 and 14). ‘Complex’ or ‘wicked’ risk is also discussed (Chapters 3, 5 and 14). In general, fisheries is at the core of the discussion, but some chapters (4, 5, 6 and 13) provide a comparative perspective into other sectors such as shipping and tourism. These cases also provide a more international context to the issues. Different forms of knowledge can be useful for management processes (Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11), and the co-production of knowledge is another important issue addressed from a legitimacy, and hence trust, perspective. The importance of non-governmental organizations as stakeholders and practices such as labelling/certification are addressed (Chapters 6 and 18). The final chapter of the book (Chapter 19) introduces the importance of having two thoughts at the same time: expansion of our knowledge base, plus understanding of how to use the information available in the best possible way. A number of issues are introduced that still need to be explored. These are related to the credibility, reliability and saliency as well as use of knowledge. In today’s post-factual society this book is an important contribution.
This is a very compact book. It is packed with information about complex theories, processes and a variety of contexts – this is also its strength. There are several dives into the different forms of knowledge that could be useful for management as well as barriers to and possibilities for its use. These issues, concepts and perspectives are quite difficult to grasp and one imagines that newcomers to these approaches would need to read up from other sources. While there is a limit to what one can fit in a book, a more active use of references would have been helpful, for instance in the form of a box in the same style as in Chapter 17, where COFI and SOFIA are introduced. Here, the interested (novice) reader could be pointed in the right direction for more detailed information. In some chapters there is no outside information nor reflections with regards to methods used to obtain data.
It is a strength that the book has a multi-sectoral approach and takes into account sectors besides fisheries, such as petrol, shipping and tourism. It provides insightful accounts from all levels (local, regional, national and international) and some of the senior authors manage to convey their personal experiences – also in relation to conflicts beyond the institutionalized frames in science – in a way that is very fruitful for new scientists.
Taken together the book is an accomplishment in that it has managed to include a variety of key theoretical perspectives as well as empirical richness. It is a valuable book for anyone interested in the science information and policy interface in general, as well as those with a more particular interest in fisheries and its related sectors, and the concepts and theories that are both described and used throughout the book.