Bertrum H. MacDonald

Grey Literature in the Life of GESAMP, an International Marine Scientific Advisory Body

Preprint. The original publication is available at http://www.springerlink.com. The final published version appears in Publishing Research Quarterly 20(1), 25.

The Gulfwatch contaminants monitoring program in the Gulf of Maine: Are its data being used for ocean protection, with special reference to Nova Scotia, Canada?

The Gulfwatch Contaminants Monitoring Program is part of the Canada-US, Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment (GOMC). Programs monitoring legacy toxic substances, i.e., chemical contaminants, such as Gulfwatch, collect and analyse environmental samples (e.g., blue mussels), interpret the data, and report on chemical levels and trends (spatial and temporal) in coastal waters. This study explored the extent to which its extensive information (data, reports, papers) has been used broadly and by Nova Scotia, a GOMC member. A mixed-methods study was conducted, using quantitative and qualitative metrics. Citations to some Gulfwatch papers and analysis of use of the Gulfwatch website showed that its data and information were accessed, mostly by government departments. However, interviews revealed that the departments were not using the data to inform Nova Scotia provincial coastal policy or practices. Recommendations are presented to improve the visibility and use of information provided by long-term, environmental monitoring programs.

Environmental Research and Knowledge Production Within Governmental Organizations

For decades, governmental organizations have produced large numbers of research publications designed to explain and overcome deteriorating environmental conditions. This chapter describes characteristics of research products created by governments that facilitate their use in marine environmental management. In operational decision-making contexts, technical reports produced by governments may be favored over academic research owing to their relevance, timeliness, and authority. However, governmental organizations increasingly partner with external groups, such as academic researchers, to produce research publications in response to expectations for greater transparency in decision-making and decreasing public resources for research. Whether originating solely in governmental organizations or in collaboration with academic researchers, the knowledge generated by and for governments can satisfy multiple purposes.

Science, information, and policy interface for effective coastal and ocean management

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