Public Forum with Dr. Kiki Jenkins

Conservation technologies are increasingly being used to address marine issues, such as bycatch (i.e. the incidental catch of non-target organisms). How can these technologies be invented more effectively and how is adoption best galvanized? This study uses a comparative case study analysis of the efforts to reduce sea turtle bycatch in the U.S. shrimp trawl fishery and dolphin bycatch in the U.S. tuna purse seine fishery. I identify a common profile shared by fishers who invented successful bycatch reduction devices. Namely, they have extensive experience in fishing and fabrication and have the ability to mentally-model prototypes. The common hindrances in engaging fishers include: selecting fishers as partners based on convenience rather than relevant bycatch solving ability, differences in cultures of communication between partners, and failure to appropriately "court" fishers in accordance with their cultural norms.

This presentation offers recommendations for how to identify potential partners that fit the Successful Fisher/Inventor Profile and how to initiate partnerships so as to avoid the common stumbling blocks. This presentation will also present one of the outreach activities yielded by this research: an award-winning science dance about sea turtle conservation. I will discuss the participatory processes I used to co-create the dance; preliminary findings about the impact of the dance on participants; and a new experimental research project to examine the impact of science dance on learning about, empathy toward, and action to protect sea turtles.

The Estuary & Ocean Science Center welcomes persons with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations upon request. If you would like reasonable accommodations for this event, please contact Rebecca Johnson at 415-338-3543 or RebeccaJohnson@sfsu.edu as soon as possible so your request may be reviewed.