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Stakeholder Participation in Research Design and Decisions: Scientists, Fishers, and Mercury in Saltwater Fish

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Abstract

Individuals who fish and eat self-caught fish make decisions about where to fish, the type to eat, and the quantity to eat. Federal and state agencies often issue consumption advisories for some fish with high mercury (Hg) concentrations, but seldom provide either the actual metal levels to the general public, or identify the fish that have low contaminant levels. Community participatory research is of growing importance in defining, studying, and resolving complex exposure and risk issues, and this paper is at the intersection of traditional stakeholder approaches and community-based participatory research. The objective of this paper is to describe the process whereby stakeholders (fishers), were involved in directing and refining research questions to address their particular informational needs about mercury levels in fish, potential risks, and methods to maintain health, by balancing the risks and benefits of fish consumption. A range of stakeholders, mainly individual fishers, fishing organizations, and other scientists, were involved at nearly every stage. Community participants influenced many aspects of the design and implementation of the research, in the determination of which fish species to sample, in the collection of the samples, and in the final analyses and synthesis, as well as the communication of results and implications of the research through their fishing club publications, talks and gatherings. By involving the most interested and affected communities, the data and conclusions are relevant to their needs because the fish examined were those they ate and wanted information about, and directly address concerns about the risk from consuming self-caught fish. Although mercury levels in fish presumed to be high in mercury are known, little information was available to the fishermen on mercury levels in fish that were low and thus provided little risk to their families. While community participatory research is more time-consuming and expensive than traditional scientific research, both the process and results are better scientifically in terms of community relevance.

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Acknowledgments

This research was partly supported by the Jersey Coast Anglers Association (JCAA), the Jersey Coast Shark Anglers Association (JCSA), NIEHS Center grant (P30ES005022), Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation (Department of Energy, # DE-FC01-06EW07053), Wildlife Trust, and EOHSI. This research was conducted under Rutgers University protocols, and fish samples were obtained from recreational anglers and NJ DEP trawls. We particularly thank C. Jeitner, M. Donio, and T. Pittfield for field and laboratory assistance, and the many anglers in New Jersey who allowed us to collect samples from their fish, or who collected the samples for us. The views and conclusions expressed in this paper are solely those of the authors, and do not reflect the funding agencies.

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The views and conclusions expressed in this paper are solely those of the authors and do not reflect the funding agencies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Life Sciences, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI), Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation (CRESP), Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854-8082, USA

    Joanna Burger

  2. EOHSI and CRESP, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA

    Michael Gochfeld

  3. Jersey Coast Anglers Association, 22 Cruiser Court, Tom’s River, NJ, 08753, USA

    Tom Fote

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  1. Joanna Burger
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Correspondence to Joanna Burger.

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Burger, J., Gochfeld, M. & Fote, T. Stakeholder Participation in Research Design and Decisions: Scientists, Fishers, and Mercury in Saltwater Fish. EcoHealth 10, 21–30 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-013-0816-8

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