Drivers of social acceptability for bivalve aquaculture in Atlantic Canadian communities

Aquaculture is a growing sector because of increased global demands for seafood; bivalve aquaculture production is also increasing in specific regions because of its perceived sustainability and similar environmental interactions across ecosystems. As socioeconomic impacts on prospective sites may d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecology and society 2022-09, Vol.27 (3), p.9, Article art9
Main Authors: Wood, Shannon E., Filgueira, Ramón
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acceptability
Aquaculture
Aquaculture products
atlantic canada
bivalve farming
Bivalvia
coastal communities
Communication
Community
Economics
Ecosystems
Environmental effects
Eutrophication
Farmers
Farming
Farms
Food safety
Information management
Information sources
Leases
Mollusks
Perceptions
Plankton
Seafood
Shellfish
shellfish aquaculture
social acceptance
Social organization
socioeconomic impacts
Socioeconomics
Tourism
Transparency
Workforce
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Summary:Aquaculture is a growing sector because of increased global demands for seafood; bivalve aquaculture production is also increasing in specific regions because of its perceived sustainability and similar environmental interactions across ecosystems. As socioeconomic impacts on prospective sites may differ, this research aimed to perform a high-level scoping of environmental, social, and economic drivers informing social acceptability of bivalve aquaculture in two communities in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Canada. Communities were surveyed through online questionnaires designed to examine bivalve farming perceptions, information sources, and potential deviations between communities. Results suggested that community perceptions of environmental effects were both positive and negative, social effects were mostly negative, and economic effects were somewhat positive. Results further suggested that insufficient transparency regarding industry practices and the local communication network may have a role in shaping bivalve farming perceptions. Variation between communities regarding perceived social and economic drivers of social acceptability emphasized the importance of community-based research to understand emerging and existing conflicts, including the role information sources may have in driving acceptability. Accordingly, aquaculture regulators and managers should consider community socioeconomic priorities and improved transparency about industry practices when evaluating prospective sites.
ISSN:1708-3087
1708-3087
DOI:10.5751/ES-13358-270309