The principles of transdisciplinary research in small-scale fisheries

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The diverse characteristics, values, and importance of small-scale fisheries imply at least two key considerations. First, there is no tailor-made, one-size-fits-all solution to the problems and challenges facing small-scale fisheries; thus, policy and governance must be sensitive to the contexts. Second, the close relationship and interactivity between the natural and the social dimensions of small-scale fisheries suggests that knowledge and understanding about small-scale fisheries may need to transcend the boundaries of academic disciplines. These are the premises for research and activities conducted in the Too Big To Ignore (TBTI) – Global Partnership for Small-Scale Fisheries Research. Taking a transdisciplinary approach to research, training, and learning about small-scale fisheries can help address real-world problems and reveal opportunities to move towards pragmatic solutions. In this chapter, we discuss what transdisciplinarity involves, what the underlying principles are, and what makes it distinct from other perspectives. We argue that transdisciplinarity in small-scale fisheries requires institutional and academic innovation at local and national scales that facilitates interactive and transformative learning. eng