Item

Salmon "framing" in New Zealand: How differing "frames of reference" of chinook/quinnat salmon (Oncorhynchus tschawatscha) influence current management approaches

Carle, Christopher J.
Date
2007
Type
Thesis
Fields of Research
Abstract
Chinook / quinnat salmon (Oncorhynchus tschawytscha) is unique to New Zealand insofar as it is an introduced species that receives special provisions for conservation and enhancement under the Conservation Act 1987 and habitat protection under the Resource Management Act 1991. In the past, however, the species has held differing statuses. Over 100 years ago, salmon were imported and released into New Zealand rivers to establish a commercial wild fishery, but since then their status has generally shifted between commercial product and recreational resource due to environmental limitations and pressures from various interest groups. More recently, 'wild' salmon have been promoted for their significant conservation role for conserving rivers and water. This has added further complexity to assessing their perceived status in wildlife management in New Zealand. In order to better understand how salmon have arrived at such a unique position in the context of wildlife management in New Zealand, a review of the social, cultural, political, and economic pressures to management are necessary. As the management of this species has become a very topical issue, it is becoming increasingly important to better understand the social dimensions involved in the management of salmon. Thus, it is appropriate to draw on a theoretical position offered by the social sciences. The momentum in social constructivist work provides a fitting starting point. Increasingly, social constructivists are constructing views of wildlife species and their management to develop understandings and make transparent the influences and interactions between society and wildlife management. This thesis roots itself in social construction theory and attempts to adopt an interdisciplinary approach towards constructing salmon from a "moderate constructivist" position. By assessing the historical and current literature as well as deploying quantitative surveys in respect to the New Zealand Salmon Anglers Association and qualitative interviews with targeted stakeholder groups, this thesis illustrates the historical and current constructions of salmon in New Zealand. The thesis provides an in-depth understanding of how salmon are currently framed, lending insight to the most recent management movement; Fish & Game New Zealand's proposed salmon management plan. The thesis then makes recommendations and offers an interpretation on the proposed salmon management plan from a moderate constructivist position, suggests areas for further research, and discusses what lies ahead for salmon management in New Zealand. The thesis concludes with a brief commentary on how this thesis may contribute towards social construction theory.