Local ecological knowledge and traditional ecological knowledge can enhance fisheries science and management, particularly as it contributes information about species range, diet, behavior, seasonal patterns, habitats, and fishing gear. It can support existing scientific knowledge, draw attention to inconsistencies between the two, and provide information that can lead to the creation of testable hypotheses and collaborative research.

Local and traditional ecological knowledge can also contribute to many other coastal and marine science and management issues, such as dam removal, siting of wind turbines and offshore platforms, and effluent discharge into marine waters from factories and sewage treatment plants.