The use of science in marine resource management: can we reconcile the paradigms of science, law and politics?

To make sound marine resource management decisions, agency personnel needs and the law require reliance on accurate and timely scientific data. However, agencies face a multitude of difficult decisions regarding use of scientific data, such as what and how much data to use, what weight to give the data, how to determine when they have enough data, and how to proceed with incomplete data. The answers to those questions can and do affect the policy decisions of agencies, which in turn affect the economic situations of people who make a livelihood from harvesting the ocean's resources and the ability of a host of marine creatures to survive. The answers to those questions often differ depending upon whether you are viewing them as a scientist, a policymaker or a court. This paper explores the differing paradigms of science, law and policy in marine resource management decision making and looks at how they can be reconciled to improve ocean policy decisions.