Resource Management in the Face of Uncertainty

Uncertainty in the state of nature and how nature will react to management actions is unavoidable in natural resource management. We present three case studies that highlight common situations encountered by fishery managers and fishery scientists, and provide advice for new professionals. First, we contend that because uncertainty is unavoidable, you need to develop a level of comfort working in an uncertain world. Once you accept that uncertainty is part of our profession, you need to communicate this clearly to the public, while working with them to develop realistic expectations about reducing uncertainty. Finally, avoid “hiding in the shadows of uncertainty” and refine your ability to determine when others are using uncertainty as a delay tactic to promote their own agenda.  We encourage you to allocate more of your time and energy on developing management approaches that minimize the risks that an uncertain world poses than on complaining about how variable things are and how there isn’t enough money to sample “sufficiently”.