The Grand Barachois lagoon in Saint-Pierre-and-Miquelon has experienced over the last two decades of summer algal blooms (Chaetomorpha sp.), with no formal management response despite signs of clear ecological degradation. In 2024, the BarachoiSPM project was initiated to fill this gap, combining ecological diagnosis with a socio-ecosystemic approach, aiming to consider human and environmental dynamics together. Twenty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders—managers (8), politicians (5), users (7), and scientists (1)—to explore their perceptions and knowledge of the lagoon, its evolution, institutional responsibilities, and future hopes. This qualitative analysis, supplemented by historical archival research (photographs, newspaper articles, letters, etc.) gives insight into the reasons for inactions and the current threats to the ecosystem. Findings suggest that a lack of coordinated management stems from overlapping obstacles, including previous political tensions, shifting baseline syndrome and fragmented knowledge. Reintegrating local ecological knowledge in management is critical. The project highlights the need for social-ecological governance and adaptive co-management that empowers inhabitants to participate in the decision-making processes.
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