Science and ecosystem management in the Albemarle–Pamlico Estuarine Study

Ecosystem management seeks to integrate interdisciplinary science to inform complex environmental decision making. Proponents of ecosystem management often expect that science will resolve disputes among stakeholders, reduce uncertainty, and reveal the most prudent course of action. However, the traditional institutions of science are not structured to fulfill this expectation. Failure to account for this difference may be one of the reasons why implementation of ecosystem management lags behind its acceptance as a concept. In this paper, the role of science in the Albemarle–Pamlico Estuarine Study (APES) is analyzed with respect to an ideal model for the use of science in ecosystem management. At the outset, APES appeared to be a promising opportunity to implement science-based ecosystem planning. However, many participants and observers look back on the APES research program as a waste of money that did not significantly improve estuarine management. This paper explains this apparent failure by showing how the model for the use of science in ecosystem management conflicted with the traditional modes of scientific inquiry applied by APES. Understanding these challenges can inform choices about how to better use scientific knowledge in ecosystem management.