Transfer of knowledge within the Lake Ontario salmonid sport fishery

This paper describes a new method which facilitates more focused and effective transfer of information among people using or influencing management of marine resources. A recently developed construct, Concept Mapping, is used to analyze primary scientific reports on Salmonid distribution and to assess the knowledge of charter boat captains´ operations on Lake Ontario. This analysis revealed key concepts and important facts concerning the distribution of fish populations in Lake Ontario. These were then combined to form a comprehensive basis for future educational efforts in the area of sportfishing. The resulting Theory of Structure Fishing, derived from New York Sea Grant salmonid research and interviews with upstate New York charter boat captains, reveals extensive indigenous knowledge, based on scientific research, concerning the distribution of salmonids in Lake Ontario. This study provides a model for the generation of valid and reliable information about available scientific research and people´s understandings and beliefs. This leads to the comprehensive design of natural resource programming and transfer of information through the fishery.