Social-ecological goals and outcomes of public engagement for recovery of endangered and threatened rockfishes (Sebastes spp.)

Natural resource management agencies commonly conduct outreach and engagement with the public, with the goals of raising awareness, educating constituents, encouraging compliance with rules, and supporting future participation in management processes. In Washington, USA, significant effort was invested over more than a decade to inform and engage recreational anglers and divers, and the broader public, in recovery efforts related to rockfish species (Sebastes spp.) listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We developed a novel evaluative framework using mixed methods to assess outreach and engagement efforts related to ESA-listed rockfishes from 2010 to 2022. We triangulated qualitative and quantitative data from interviews and surveys to: summarize the scope, content, goals, and intended audiences for rockfish-related outreach and engagement; examine practitioner perspectives regarding the effectiveness and challenges of rockfish-related outreach and engagement; assess anglers' current understanding about rockfish management status and fishing regulations, drawing comparisons to the time of the ESA listings where possible; and synthesize strengths and weaknesses of past outreach and engagement to guide future efforts. We found that a portfolio of outreach and engagement approaches will likely be most effective for reaching a diverse audience and meeting multiple social goals. Additionally, community-engaged collaborations allow for a deeper discourse that builds trust, knowledge, and shared stewardship. Finally, strategic partnerships and capacity-building will continue to be important for meeting outreach and engagement goals. These results will help guide future efforts that are tailored to best meet the evolving needs of rockfish recovery.