High Cost and Low Trust: Insights From Qualitative Commercial Fishing Cost Data in the Northeast United States

ABSTRACT In fisheries management, socioeconomic data, specifically qualitative data analysis, is often underutilized. This study qualitatively analyzed a primary federal data collection effort in the Northeast United States, The Greater Atlantic Region Commercial Fishing Business Cost Survey. This analysis focused on how commercial harvester perceptions of business costs and the industry evolved during 2006–2022. The results show that harvesters initially described perceptions of not generating enough profit to sustain a livelihood, as well as feelings of industry uncertainty, mismanagement, and dissatisfaction. These perceptions became drivers of increased harvester distrust of managers and management processes. This research demonstrates the need for incorporating harvester perceptions in future policy analyses to understand and reduce financial and systemic burdens. Use of harvester perceptions illuminates areas of concern that need to be addressed to strengthen relationships while simultaneously encouraging knowledge co‐production, co‐management, and increasing sustainability of fishery resources. Here, we exemplify the importance of utilizing qualitative data to provide valuable insights such as a deeper understanding of social dynamics and stakeholder perspectives and go on to explore the root causes and evolution of distrust between harvesters and managers. This study offers applications to better assess, address, mitigate, and rebuild trust to meet complex resource management goals.