Scientists dealing with stakeholders' demand for coral reef management indicators: methodological approach and issues Martine Antona* CIRAD, UPR Green, Montpellier, France E-mail: martine.antona@cirad.fr *Corresponding author Gilbert David and Emilie Mirault IRD, US 140 Espace, ReÂunion Island, France E-mail: gilbert.david@la-reunion.ird.fr E-mail: emilie.mirault@la-reunion.ird.fr Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to analyse how to relate scientific supply to demand regarding sustainable management indicators. This discussion is based on coastal zone management in ReÂunion Island, for which socioeconomic indicators have been developed. This research allows us to establish conditions to connect social demand with the scientific supply of indicators: * to develop an iterative process, which associates stakeholders, for identifying and selecting indicators * to strengthen the coherence between demand and supply of indicators: this should be achieved through better connections between the representations developed by stakeholders and scientists of the system to be managed * to consider the issue of environmental decision making and responsibility. Environmental research must focus on the design of the process of selection of relevant indicators. This research must also assess and monitor the use of indicators for the decision-making process. This involves the development of methodologies enabling this co-elaboration between users and scientists, while considering areas of public policy action and assessment. Keywords: coastal zone management; coral reef; environmental crisis; sustainability indicators; participatory research; sustainable development. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Antona, M., David, G. and Mirault, E. (2007) `Scientists dealing with stakeholders' demand for coral reef management indicators: methodological approach and issues', Int. J. Sustainable Development, Vol. 10, Nos. 1/2, pp.46±60. Biographical notes: Martine Antona is an economist with CIRAD. Her field of research is natural resources and environmental economics, especially related to resilient natural resources and biodiversity policies: assessing the implementation of management tools, community-based learning and management, and support to negotiation processes. She has 20 years of experience on management issues for marine and coastal resources. Int. J. Sustainable Development, Vol. 10, Nos. 1/2, 2007 46 Copyright # 2007 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.