Exploring the Tensions Challenging Asian Carp Management: The Role of Social and Scientific Uncertainty

A growing body of scholarship is revealing the importance of social and political factors in invasive species management.  Values-based judgments influence whether changes from exotic species are considered harmful, which species are prioritized for management, and what degree of collateral damage from management is deemed acceptable.  While these values-based judgments are often sites where conflict emerges, they are also often intertwined with scientific findings and uncertainties.  Yet there has been a lack of research examining just how scientific and social factors influence one another in invasive species management.  We contribute to this research by studying the tensions facing Asian carp management in Minnesota.  We conducted 16 in-depth interviews with individuals involved with Asian carp management in Minnesota, including state and federal agency officials, academics, and stakeholders.  Interviewees discussed the tensions and conflicts they saw as challenging Asian carp management and how they could be addressed.  A qualitative analysis of these interviews revealed three key areas of tension: scientific uncertainty, social uncertainty, and the direction of research & management.  After reviewing these areas of tension and how they interact with one another, we conclude by discussing how deliberation can help address these tensions.