Fisheries scientists interested to better understand local fishing practices, interactions with the
environment, and how fishing practices vary over space could use this tool to identify local communities of fishers who share specific fishing practices and ecological knowledge relevant to particular locations. Also, the tool would allow scientists to better discriminate broad categories of fishing (e.g. trawling) by location, community, boat size, and utilization history (given logbook data over time). Finally, to the degree scientists are interested in cooperative research relative to specific habitats/locations, the tool would suggest within which fishing communities to solicit collaboration.

The tool would be of use to fisheries managers interested to explore the possibility of enrolling
local fishing communities in management more directly. As management becomes more area based, the possibility for community involvement increases and, many argue, is increasingly necessary relative to compliance. Indeed, participation in either fisheries science or management is unlikely without knowing which communities utilize which resources within the management region. Importantly, managers would use this tool for the analysis of impacts due to area-based initiatives such as rolling closers or marine protected areas. Knowing just which communities might be displaced or which might benefit from area-based schemes (and to what degree) is vital if managers are to avoid the uneven effects of area-based management.

Fishing communities will use this tool to respond to proposals from managers that are areabased.
The tool will indicate the degree to which a community might be affected and will provide a clear foundation (and quantification) for discussion and intervention in decisionmaking. Beyond responding to management,management, the tool will make clear the areas at sea upon which a given community depends; it will make visual to all the spatial experience of fishermen and will, hopefully, serve to foster a community-based knowledge of specific areas at sea. While communities might already appreciate the ocean ecosystem as their source of livelihood, defining and visualizing specific areas of dependence will enhance a sense of stewardship and a desire to participate in decision-making concerning those areas specifically.