Abstract
The propensity for fisheries management agencies in the United States to collect or request stakeholder‐based data has grown considerably in the last decade. While systems are in place for the review and use of biological data in management, there is far less structure to the integration of non‐economic social data. Here, we present a framework for characterizing the applicability of various forms of social data in regulatory processes, documents, and decisions. The social data landscape is presented as a simple framework for understanding the temporal, spatial, and impact scope of policy actions and how different kinds of social data can inform an array of action types and play important roles in management. We conclude with recommendations for practitioners and managers who seek to incorporate different types of stakeholder input into their processes and provide researchers with guidelines when weighing the trade‐offs of unique methodologies.