The role of a social network in the functioning of the Grand Haven charter boat fishery, Lake Michigan

Great Lakes charter captains targeting salmon and trout species operate under unpredictable and competitive environmental and socioeconomic conditions. Social interactions that generate social capital and assist in locating and catching salmonids may prove important in decreasing these fishery-related uncertainties and thereby increase the success of the charter industry and individual charter operations. An evaluation of the fishing-related informational exchanges between charter captains and their relationship to fishing success was thus performed in the port of Grand Haven, Lake Michigan, during 2003. This evaluation detected the presence of distinct information-sharing subgroups within the Grand Haven fleet. Although docking location played an important role in determining the frequency at which charter captains communicated with each other, a history of mutual support and trust, regardless of docking location, were factors that captains considered before they exchanged fishing-related information with others. Furthermore, captains usually communicated with those who had a similar or higher success at catching salmonids. This study has implications for both fisheries professionals and stakeholders by providing a mechanism to evaluate the flow of information within networks and how it can be utilized to enhance fishery resource management and stakeholder communication. Network analysis is thus highly valuable in understanding stakeholder groups and in the management of fisheries resources.