Huh, What Did You Say? Do Fisheries and Land-Use Managers Understand Each Other: Network and Discourse Analyses in the Chesapeake Bay

Professional norms and organizational cultures are often distinguishable by their specialized language, jargon, acronyms, etc. While such terminology can enhance efficiency and understanding within a profession, it can contribute to misunderstanding and potentially, suspicion and mistrust between different professionals. To assess the extent of connectivity and linguistic similarity between fisheries and land-use, we conducted two social science research projects: 1) network analyses among fisheries science, fisheries management, and land-use management in the Chesapeake Bay and 2) linguistics discourse analysis comparing fisheries and land-use policy documents, specifically their framing of habitat-relevant concepts. The network analysis among Bay fisheries scientists and managers illustrated a tight professional network, but with limited connection to two, less densely connected land-use management networks between Maryland and Virginia. The discourse analysis compared habitat-specific language in the fisheries management plan for shad and river herring with land-use comprehensive plans, watershed and habitat protection plans, and Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, wetlands, erosion and sediment ordinances in Virginia communities. We found a substantial divide between terminology overall, although some concepts were more overlapping than others.  We will discuss these findings in more detail, their ramifications, and strategies for enhancing connectivity and understanding between fisheries and land-use managers.