CAPTIVES OF CONFLICT - THE TEDS CASE

A brief history of the conflict over the initially voluntary and subse quently mandated turtle excluder devices (TEDs) is given. Using survey s, focused interviews, and documentary evidence, the major stakeholder s in the marine environment are profiled. Analysis is focused on the w ay each party to the environmental controversy over the protection of sea turtles contributed to escalating the conflict. It is argued that contenders for the resource became ''captured'' by the conflict in tha t emphasis shifted away from protecting sea turtles to debating the ef ficacy of TEDs and continuing the conflict became functional for stake holders. The ''capturing '' process was not limited to user groups (sh rimpers and environmentalists), but involved managers and scientists a s well. Implications for the management process and the role of scienc e are explored.