Adaptive co-management for collaborative commercial pest management: the case of industry-driven fruit fly area-wide management

Area-wide management is recommended for managing several mobile pests. With limited on-ground government assistance available, several Australian local industry groups drive such initiatives to minimise Queensland Fruit Fly impacts on production and market access. This qualitative study investigates how adaptive co-management thinking can assist industry-driven area-wide management. The concepts of social learning, communication, adaptive capacity, shared decision-making and shared authority can make valuable contributions to strengthening collaborative pest management. The tension between “top-down” market requirements and “bottom-up” adaptive co-management principles is best addressed if local industries focus primarily on minimising pest infestation and view market requirements as a bolt-on component.