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Interactions between finfish aquaculture and American lobster in Atlantic Canada

Milewski, I.; Smith, R.E.; Lotze, H.K.

Ocean and Coastal Management

Globally, lobsters are one of the most economically valuable wild species caught in capture fisheries. Catches are dominated by American lobster (Homarus americanus) landed entirely in Atlantic Canada and northeastern United States. In Atlantic Canada, lobster fishing and marine finfish aquaculture take place in the same coastal waters creating the potential for negative environmental, as well as social, interactions. We review the state of knowledge of environmental interactions between American lobster, their habitat and fishery, and marine finfish aquaculture. We first provide a brief overview of key biological, behavioural, and ecological processes and environmental stressors of American lobster at different life-history stages followed by an overview of the pathways of effects of marine finfish aquaculture on coastal ecosystems in general and on American lobster. Our review found that certain finfish aquaculture-lobster interactions have received considerable study (e.g., chemical use), whereas knowledge of other interactions are either limited (e.g., net pens, waste discharges) or lacking (e.g., disease, noise, lights, and odours). An ecosystem-based approach to aquaculture has been proposed for managing these interactions but implementing this approach has proven to be a challenge in part because of complex multi-sector, multi-stakeholder and multi-agency governance issues. While governance solutions await development, practical measures based on the results of scientific research identified in this review, such as better use of existing oceanographic and bathymetric data, habitat and human impact assessment tools, and toxicity information offer regulators ample information and management tools, at least at the farm- and bayscale, to avoid negative finfish aquaculture-lobster interactions in Atlantic Canada. Bridging the governance gap will likely require new community-based management models that more effectively identify, generate, and integrate local community and fisher knowledge and concerns.

American lobster; Marine finfish aquaculture; Life-history stages; Environmental impacts; Management tools

We review the state of knowledge of environmental interactions between American lobster, their habitat and fishery, and marine finfish aquaculture.

Environmental change and conservation

Atlantic Canada

Coastal,Offshore

Content Analysis

Governance Structures and Process

Governance Outcomes

Decision-making

Aquaculture Management

Milewski, I., Smith, R. E., & Lotze, H. K. (2021). Interactions between finfish aquaculture and American lobster in Atlantic Canada. Ocean & Coastal Management, 210, 105664.

Bridging fragmented knowledge between forecasting and fishing communities: Co-managed decisions on weather delays in Nova Scotia’s lobster season openings

Reid-Musson, E.; Finnis, J.; Neis, B.

Applied Geography

Commercial fish harvesters are one of the primary users of marine forecasts, and rely heavily on these reports to manage weather hazards in their work at sea. Despite the intrinsic user-producer connection between forecasters and fish harvesters, there are minimal opportunities for these groups to interact directly. The article draws from findings from a qualitative, partnership-based study conducted in Atlantic Canada on the role of marine forecasts in fishing safety. Lobster fishing is an economically lucrative sector in Atlantic Canada, in which the opening day of the commercial season is particularly hazardous. ‘Weather briefings’ are a co-managed decision-making process held immediately prior to planned lobster opening dates, in which harvesters collectively decide if anticipated weather conditions warrant a delay in the season opening. Weather briefings are notable as the sole existing channel where meteorologists and fish harvesters come into direct contact with one another. Meteorologists play a key role in the briefings insofar as they directly inform harvesters’ decisions whether to delay the season. The findings highlight how these interactions represent a form of co-produced weather knowledge between lobster harvesters, forecasters, and managers, which can support fishing safety via broader fishing co-management processes.

Weather; Fishing safety; Forecasting; American lobster; User–producer interactions; Fisheries co-management

The need to bridge the gap and the minimal interactions between between forecasters and fish harvesters

Atlantic Canada

Content Analysis

Health and Well-being

Governance Outcomes

Resource Management and Licensing

Reid-Musson, E., Finnis, J., & Neis, B. (2021). Bridging fragmented knowledge between forecasting and fishing communities: Co-managed decisions on weather delays in Nova Scotia's lobster season openings. Applied Geography, 133, 102478.

"Two-Eyed Seeing": An Indigenous framework to transform fisheries research and management

Reid, Andrea J.; Eckert, Lauren E.; Lane, John-Francis; Young, Nathan; Hinch, Scott G.; Darimont, Chris T.; Cooke, Steven J.; Ban, Natalie C.; Marshall, Albert

Indigenous Studies

Fish and Fisheries

Increasingly, fisheries researchers and managers seek or are compelled to “bridge” Indigenous knowledge systems with Western scientific approaches to understanding and governing fisheries. Here, we move beyond the all-too-common narrative about integrating or incorporating (too often used as euphemisms for assimilating) other knowledge systems into Western science, instead of building an ethic of knowledge coexistence and complementarity in knowledge generation using Two-Eyed Seeing as a guiding framework. Two-Eyed Seeing (Etuaptmumk in Mi’kmaw) embraces “learning to see from one eye with the strengths of Indigenous knowledges and ways of knowing, and from the other eye with the strengths of mainstream knowledges and ways of knowing, and to use both these eyes together, for the benefit of all,” as envisaged by Elder Dr. Albert Marshall. In this paper, we examine the notion of knowledge dichotomies and imperatives for knowledge coexistence and draw parallels between Two-Eyed Seeing and other analogous Indigenous frameworks from around the world. It is set apart from other Indigenous frameworks in its explicit action imperative— central to Two-Eyed Seeing is the notion that knowledge transforms the holder and that the holder bears a responsibility to act on that knowledge. We explore its operationalization through three Canadian aquatic and fisheries case-studies that co-develop questions, document and mobilize knowledge, and co-produce insights and decisions. We argue that Two-Eyed Seeing provides a pathway to a plural coexistence, where time-tested Indigenous knowledge systems can be paired with, not subsumed by, Western scientific insights for an equitable and sustainable future.

co-production, Etuaptmumk, indigenous knowledge, knowledge coexistence, pluralism, Western science

In this paper, we examine the notion of knowledge dichotomies and imperatives for knowledge coexistence and draw parallels between Two-Eyed Seeing and other analogous Indigenous frameworks from around the world

Indigenous fisheries and ways of knowing

Saskatchewan; Slave River Delta

Legal Obligations and Other Commitments

Governance Structures and Process

Indigenous fisheries management

Reid, A. J., Eckert, L. E., Lane, J. F., Young, N., Hinch, S. G., Darimont, C. T., ... & Marshall, A. (2021). “Two‐Eyed Seeing”: An Indigenous framework to transform fisheries research and management. Fish and Fisheries, 22(2), 243-261.

Normative beliefs and economic life: A case study of the fishing industry in two communities in rural Newfoundland

Frost, Rebecca

Environmental Economics

This paper seeks to outline the normative beliefs that fish harvesters in two communities in rural Newfoundland -Twillingate and Fogo Island, have about their economic lives. These beliefs have the potential to substantively affect communities’ engagement with resource governance and regulatory policies. Specifically, this paper examines three sets of beliefs. The first is how harvesters view the relationship between the resources they extract and the towns those resources sustain. The second looks at when inequality is acceptable or unacceptable in these communities. The third concerns the circumstances under which people should be able to buy or sell their right to harvest a resource. This paper uses 21 interviews with fish harvesters in Twillingate and Fogo Island, as well as evidence from previous anthropological and economic studies, to examine the harvesters’ normative beliefs and what impact they might have on policies and policymakers.

Normative beliefs; Moral economy; Newfoundland and Labrador; Fishing ITQs; Fisheries policy

This paper seeks to outline the normative beliefs that fish harvesters in two communities in rural Newfoundland -Twillingate and Fogo Island, have about their economic lives. For objectives: The first is how harvesters view the relationship between the resources they extract and the towns those resources sustain. The second looks at when inequality is acceptable or unacceptable in these communities. The third concerns the circumstances under which people should be able to buy or sell their right to harvest a resource.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Content Analysis

Economic sustainability

Economic equity

Sustainable Communities

Governance Outcomes

Resource Management and Licensing

Frost, R. (2021). Normative beliefs and economic life: A case study of the fishing industry in two communities in rural newfoundland. Marine Policy, 127, 104423.

Building Back Sustainably: COVID-19 Impact and Adaptation in Newfoundland and Labrador Fisheries

Asante, EO; Blankson, GK; Sabau, G

Policy/Governance

SUSTAINABILITY

The coronavirus pandemic, which started in late 2019, is one of the devastating crises that has affected human lives and the economies of many countries across the globe. Though economies have been affected, some sectors (such as food and fisheries sectors) are more vulnerable and prone to the deleterious impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper highlights the various disruptions (safety at workplace, loss of harvest and processing activity, loss of export opportunities and income) faced by the Newfoundland and Labrador fisheries due to several restrictive measures (especially on mobility, social distancing, quarantine, and, in extreme cases, lockdown) to curtail the spread of the virus. Additionally, this paper makes a case that Newfoundland and Labrador fisheries can be managed sustainably during and after the pandemic by suggesting practical recommendations borrowed from two sustainability frameworks (Canadian Fisheries Research Network and the EU Setting the Right Safety Net framework) for managing fisheries in Canada and the European Union.

NL fisheries; sustainability; coronavirus; food security; policy; CFRN framework; SRSN framework

To understand disruption and responses to COVID-19 for fisheries in NL

Political economy/Political Ecology

Newfoundland and Labrador

Economic sustainability

Governance Structures and Process

Policy and Economics

Resource Management and Licensing

Asante, E. O., Blankson, G. K., & Sabau, G. (2021). Building Back Sustainably: COVID-19 Impact and Adaptation in Newfoundland and Labrador Fisheries. Sustainability, 13(4), 2219.

Equitable Allocations in Northern Fisheries: Bridging the Divide for Labrador Inuit

Kourantidou, M; Hoagland, P; Dale, A; Bailey, M

Environmental Economics

FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE

Canada has undertaken commitments to recognize the rights of Indigenous Peoples in fisheries through policies and agreements, including Integrated Fishery Management Plans, the Reconciliation Strategy, and Land Claim Agreements (LCAs). In addition to recognizing rights, these commitments were intended to respect geographic adjacency principles, to enhance the economic viability of Indigenous communities, and to be reflective of community dependence on marine resources. We examined the determinants of quota allocations in commercial fisheries involving Nunatsiavut, Northern Labrador, the first self-governing region for the Inuit peoples in Canada. It has been argued that current fishery allocations for Nunatsiavut Inuit have not satisfied federal commitments to recognize Indigenous rights. Indicators that measure equity in commercial allocations for the turbot or Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) and northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) fisheries were identified and assessed. In these two cases, historical allocations continue to predominate for allocations based upon equity or other social or economic considerations. We illustrate equity-enhancing changes in the quota distribution under scenarios of different levels of inequality aversion, and we make qualitative assessments of the effects of these allocations to Nunatsiavut for socioeconomic welfare. This approach could benefit fisheries governance in Northern Labrador, where federal commitments to equity objectives continue to be endorsed but have not yet been integrated fully into quota allocations.

fisheries, allocations, equity, indigenous rights, access

We examined the determinants of quota allocations in commercial fisheries involving Nunatsiavut, Northern Labrador, the first self-governing region for the Inuit peoples in Canada.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Coastal,Offshore

Mixed methods

Secondary data

Economic equity

Governance Outcomes

Resource Management and Licensing

Kourantidou, M., Hoagland, P., Dale, A., & Bailey, M. (2021). Equitable Allocations in Northern Fisheries: Bridging the Divide for Labrador Inuit. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 93.

Seal hunting in Newfoundland from the perspective of local people

Engel, M.T.; Vaske, J.J.; Bath, A.J.

Human Geography

The hunting of harp (Pagophilus groenladicus) and grey (Halichoerus grypus) seal are part of Newfoundland and Labrador’s cultural heritage, tradition, and livelihood. Controversies, however, exist around seal hunting and the permanence of the industry, which is infused by the perceived impact of seals to the local fishery and the growing populations of these species off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. To include coastal residents in the seal debate, a self-administered questionnaire was randomly distributed across 40 communities (38 rural and 2 urban). Overall, respondents valued seals for their ecological, intrinsic, cultural and instrumental values, expressed positive attitudes toward seals, believed seals were causing the decline of the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), held low trust toward the federal agency governing the sea, did not think the hunting was cruel and supported continuity of the activity. Results from structural equation modelling showed that support for stopping the seal hunt was positively influenced by beliefs about cruelty associated to hunting, and negatively influenced by acceptability of using seals for commercial and subsistence purposes. Statistical differences were found between rural and urban respondents, yet both groups held similar views. Findings suggested that despite positive ecological and intrinsic values and attitudes, seals were perceived as an abundant species that needs to be lethally controlled. The lack of trust on the government suggested that an open dialogue is necessary for an effecting seal management.

Fisheries; Newfoundland; Hunting; Human-wildlife interaction; Seal; Sealing

To understand local people perspective on seal hunting in Newfoundland

Policy and governance

Newfoundland and Labrador

Mixed methods

Sustainable Communities

Health and Well-being

Ethical and Just Activities

Resource Management and Licensing

Engel, M. T., Vaske, J. J., & Bath, A. J. (2021). Seal hunting in Newfoundland from the perspective of local people. Marine Policy, 128, 104491.

Community responses to international trade policy: A Newfoundland case study: Community Responses

Daly, J.; Chuenpagdee, R.

Human Geography

Ocean and Coastal Management

Fisheries in Atlantic Canada are going through a period of transition due to environmental, economic, and policy changes that are impacting resource sustainability and community viability. One change is the Canada-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which came into effect in December 2017, offering increased market access for fishery-reliant provinces such as Newfoundland and Labrador. How CETA is locally perceived, how it plays out on the ground, and the effect it may have on the sustainability of the province’s fisheries and communities is not yet known. Through interviews with key informants, including representatives of the fishing industry and government officials, this paper examines stakeholders’ perceptions and initial responses to CETA in the Great Northern Peninsula (GNP) region, Newfoundland and Labrador. Our research shows that while tariff reductions for seafood products into the EU are considered a positive change, there are concerns that the phasing-out of a provincial policy that protects local employment may enhance vulnerabilities of coastal communities. Further, domestic funding support created to bolster the fishery sector is inadequate in addressing long-term issues. Considering that the coastal communities of the GNP are facing both market pressures and a lack of adequate resource access, it is unclear the extent to which CETA influences the existing situation or induces further change effecting local viability. A principled governance of seafood trade policy is imperative to elevate local protections over the homogenizing effect of free trade.

Trade policy, Interactive governance, Coastal communities, Fisheries viability

this paper examines stakeholders’ perceptions and initial responses to CETA in the Great Northern Peninsula (GNP) region, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Policy and governance

Newfoundland and Labrador

Content Analysis

Economic efficiency

Governance Structures and Process

Policy and Economics

Daly, J., & Chuenpagdee, R. (2021). Community responses to international trade policy: A Newfoundland case study. Ocean & Coastal Management, 206, 105578.

Is on-board noise putting fish harvesters’ hearing at risk? A study of noise exposures in small-scale fisheries in Newfoundland and Labrador

Burella, Giorgio; Moro, Lorenzo; Neis, Barbara

Naval Architecture

Design and Planning

Safety Science

Prolonged exposure to high noise levels is a common but under-studied hazard in fishing that can cause occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). This paper presents risk assessment for hazardous noise exposures spanning across seven different fisheries and 12 small fishing vessels (24.4 m and under in length overall) in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). We documented noise exposure levels using personal dosimetry on fish harvesters and a job-based approach during regular fishing trips, and collected data on fishing vessels skippers awareness on noise hazards and on typical work patterns using respectively structured questionnaires and un-structured interviews. The study (a) documented high, often hazardous noise exposures, in most of the analyzed fisheries, (b) found that all the participants were partially or completely unaware of being exposed, and, (c) identified which activities on board are the most exposed. Drawing on our results we present a series of recommendations including: (a) the use of adequate hearing protection devices; (b) the development of effective design solutions to mitigate hazardous noise levels on existing and future vessels; and (c) the design and implementation of programs to enhance fish harvesters’ awareness of this important occupational hazard and how to prevent injury.

Occupational noise exposure; Fishing vessels; Health and safety at work; Risk mitigation; Fishing safety

This paper presents risk assessment for hazardous noise exposures spanning across seven different fisheries and 12 small fishing vessels (24.4 m and under in length overall) in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL).

Work and Labour

Newfoundland and Labrador

Mixed methods

Content analysis

Health and Well-being

Health and Safety

Other Federal - Health and Safety

Other Federal - Transport Canada

Burella, G., Moro, L., & Neis, B. (2021). Is on-board noise putting fish harvesters’ hearing at risk? A study of noise exposures in small-scale fisheries in Newfoundland and Labrador. Safety Science, 140, 105325.

Social-ecological management results in sustained recovery of an imperiled salmon population

Cote, D.; Leeuwen, T. E. Van; Bath, A. J.; Gonzales, E. K.; Cote, A. L.

Restoration Ecology

When faced with the loss of a population, resource managers often feel compelled to choose restoration strategies perceived to have low risk, such as the management of the ecological components of the system or the application of regulatory measures. It can be counterintuitive to share decision-making and resource management with those who want to harvest an imperiled population, yet this social–ecological strategy resulted in the recovery of a wild Atlantic salmon population in Newfoundland, Canada. Atlantic salmon supported widespread commercial, subsistence, and recreational fisheries but declines in abundance necessitated closures and other conservation strategies across many areas of Atlantic Canada in the 1990s. Recreational angling for Atlantic salmon was closed in Terra Nova National Park’s Northwest River in 1995 when counts were below expectations based on available habitat. The population continued to decline, even though commercial and recreational fishing mortality had been eliminated, and by 2001, extirpation seemed imminent. Despite pressure to pursue conventional strategies such as catch and release fishing and stocking, public consultation and human dimensions research revealed that illegal fishing was likely contributing to declines and that distrust of resource managers created an environment conducive to poaching. Disrupting this dynamic could not be achieved with conventional strategies, so instead an adaptive management approach was implemented that incorporated local collaboration and improved transparency, and was responsive to positive changes in behavior. Adoption of social–ecological management led to a rapid and sustained recovery of the salmon population in Northwest River, out-performing populations in adjacent rivers managed with conventional management strategies.

adaptive management, Atlantic salmon, co-management, community engagement, fisheries management, human dimensions

This case study describes a restoration project co-developed by communities and resource managers that uses near real-time incentive-based management to create a more favorable environment for salmon recovery. We report on the status of that imperiled population 20 years later.

Environmental change and conservation

Newfoundland and Labrador

Content analysis

Health and Well-being

Governance Structures and Process

Species at Risk and Integrated Planning

Cote, D., Van Leeuwen, T. E., Bath, A. J., Gonzales, E. K., & Cote, A. L. (2021). Social‚Äêecological management results in sustained recovery of an imperiled salmon population. Restoration Ecology, e13401.

Price and revenue projections under alternative policy shocks due to the coronavirus: Canadian lobster and snow crab

Environmental Economics

The coronavirus will have serious consequences for the fishing industry. The purpose here is to simulate price and revenue outcomes for Canadian lobster and snow crab markets under alternative policy shocks due to the coronavirus. Predictions are based on three policy scenarios representing upper and lower bounds on the range of possible landings and economic outcomes for the period 2019–2021. Based on past research, demand equations for both the lobster and snow crab markets are used to empirically simulate price projections. The results for snow crab are startling with predicted serious declines in price and generated revenue, particularly for Qu´ebec and Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). Compared to 2018, projections suggest a decline in average revenue for 2021 of 􀀀 18% Gulf, 􀀀 32% Maritimes, 􀀀 53% Qu´ebec, and 􀀀 57% NL. The outcome for lobster is not as bleak, projections showing a 21% decline in revenue for 2020 but with recovery in 2021.

Coronavirus; Policy alternatives; Snow crab; Lobster; Landed prices; Revenue

The purpose here is to simulate price and revenue outcomes for Canadian lobster and snow crab markets under alternative policy shocks due to the coronavirus.

Policy and governance

Newfoundland and Labrador

Secondary data

Economic efficiency

Policy and Economics

Gordon, D. V. (2021). Price and revenue projections under alternative policy shocks due to the coronavirus: Canadian lobster and snow crab. Marine Policy, 130, 104556.

Revisiting Integrated Coastal and Marine Management in Canada: Opportunities in the Bay of Fundy

Eger, S.L.; Stephenson, R.L.; Armitage, D.; Flannery, W.; Courtenay, S.C.

Ocean Governance

Policy/Governance

Frontiers in Marine Science

Limited progress has been made in implementing integrated coastal and marine management (ICM) policies globally. A renewed commitment to ICM in Canada offers an opportunity to implement lessons from previous efforts over the past 20 years. This study applies three core ICM characteristics identified from the literature (formal structures; meaningful inclusion; and, innovative mechanisms) to identify opportunities for operationalizing ICM from participants’ lived experiences in Atlantic Canada. These characteristics are employed to assess and compare ICM initiatives across two case studies in the Upper Bay and the Lower Bay of Fundy. The assessments are based on semi-structured interviews conducted with key participants and a supplementary document analysis. The following insights for future ICM policies were identified: adaptive formal structures are required for avoiding previous mistakes; a spectrum of approaches will support meaningful engagement in ICM; local capacity is needed for effective innovative mechanisms; and, policy recommendations should be implemented in parallel. Although these insights are relevant to each of the two sub-regional case studies, the paths taken to incorporating and realizing them appear to be location-specific. To account for these site-specific differences, we suggest more attention be given to strategies that incorporate local history, unique capacity of actor groups and location-specific social-ecological systems objectives. We provide the following recommendations on policy instruments to assist in moving toward enhanced regional ICM in the Bay of Fundy, and that may also be transferable to international ICM efforts: update policy statements to incorporate lessons from previous experiences; strengthen commitment to ICM in Federal law; create a regional engagement strategy to enhance involvement of local actor groups; and, enhance the role of municipal governments to support local capacity building and appropriate engagement of local actors in ICM processes.

social-ecological systems, marine policy, spatial planning, governance, Bay of Fundy

This study applies three core ICM characteristics identified from the literature (formal structures; meaningful inclusion; and, innovative mechanisms) to identify opportunities for operationalizing ICM from participants‚ lived experiences in Atlantic Canada.

Policy and governance

Atlantic Canada

Content Analysis

Governance Structures and Process

Governance, policy, regulatory

Marine Planning and Conservation

Policy and Economics

Other - Provincial

Eger, S. L., Stephenson, R. L., Armitage, D., Flannery, W., & Courtenay, S. C. (2021). Revisiting Integrated Coastal and Marine Management in Canada: Opportunities in the Bay of Fundy. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 439.

Integrated coastal and marine management: Insights from lived experiences in the Bay of Fundy, Atlantic Canada

Eger, S.L.; Courtenay, S.C.

Ocean Governance

Policy/Governance

Ocean and Coastal Management

This paper examines ‘the governance gap’ regarding the operationalization of integrated coastal and marine management (ICM). ICM offers a holistic and strategic governance arrangement employed worldwide to help move beyond conventional sector-based approaches to contribute to the sustainability of complex and dynamic social-ecological systems. The context within which we investigate this gap is the Bay of Fundy, Atlantic Canada where a diversity of habitats and activities (e.g., eelgrass beds, mudflats, and estuaries) exist, along with a rich cultural attachment of coastal communities to marine resources. In-person, semi-structured interviews were carried out with 68 individuals across multiple sectors and scales with experience and interest in past or future integrative management interventions, or initiatives, in the Bay of Fundy. Participants identified 60 initiatives that they felt were integrative. However, our results indicate that few initiatives have been operationalized due to a ‘business as usual’ mentality. Five critical challenges were identified relating to: capacity to sustain initiatives; commitment from legal authorities; engagement of diverse actor groups; vertical integration of policies; and, informal structures that facilitate horizontal integration. These results shape how scholars, practitioners, and managers consider ICM as a governance approach. Understanding the governance dimensions of ICM will allow for initiatives to be operationalized more successfully.

Governance; Sustainable social-ecological systems; Implementation; Participation; Capacity; Challenges

This paper examines ‘the governance gap’ regarding the operationalization of integrated coastal and marine management (ICM).

Policy and governance

Atlantic Canada

Content Analysis

Governance Structures and Process

Marine Planning and Conservation

Eger, S. L., & Courtenay, S. C. (2021). Integrated coastal and marine management: Insights from lived experiences in the Bay of Fundy, Atlantic Canada. Ocean & Coastal Management, 204, 105457.

Ocean imagery relates to an individual's cognitions and pro-environmental behaviours

Engel, M.T.; Vaske, J.J.; Bath, A.J.

Human Geography

Journal of Environmental Psychology

The coming decade will bring new challenges to marine management, governance and conservation. Understanding people’s relationship with this environment is fundamental for guiding scientists and decision makers. This article deconstructs mental ocean imagery and explores how these images relate to one’s marine value orientations, personal norms, emotional involvement (fear), attitudes toward marine sustainable use of resources, acceptability for ocean use, and pro-environmental behaviours. Data were collected through a selfadministered questionnaire across coastal communities on the island of Newfoundland, Canada. We used a word-association technique to elicit ocean images. Frequency analyses revealed beautiful, fishing, cold, pollution and vast as the most cited images. Through an inductive exploratory content analysis, we identified psychological impression, place identity, utilitarian, environmentalist and naturalist as the main theme dimensions. Correlation analyses found that mental images correlate with the way people feel, think and act toward the ocean. Demographic characteristics had a significant effect on some of the images: psychological impression was higher among women and older generations, whereas naturalist was higher among young people. Environmental related images were higher in urban areas. Findings expanded our knowledge on how people imagine the ocean and shows the ambivalence of human nature (i.e., admiring and fearing the ocean while exploring its vastness and resources and understanding its fragility and decay caused by humans).

Beliefs; Behaviours; Fear; Ocean; Mental image; Value orientations

This article deconstructs mental ocean imagery and explores how these images relate to one’s marine value orientations, personal norms, emotional involvement (fear), attitudes toward marine sustainable use of resources, acceptability for ocean use, and pro-environmental behaviours

Newfoundland and Labrador

Mixed methods

Content Analysis

Health and Well-being

Ethical and Just Activities

Engel, M. T., Vaske, J. J., & Bath, A. J. (2021). Ocean imagery relates to an individual's cognitions and pro-environmental behaviours. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 74, 101588.

Coastal Fishers Livelihood Behaviors and Their Psychosocial Explanations: Implications for Fisheries Governance in a Changing World

Andrews, E.J.; Wolfe, S.; Nayak, P.K.; Armitage, D.

Human Geography

Frontiers in Marine Science

This research is a critical examination of the behavioral foundations of livelihood pathways over a 50-year time period in a multispecies fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Fishers make difficult decisions to pursue, enjoy, and protect their livelihoods in times of change and uncertainty, and the resultant behaviors shape efforts to advance sustainability through coastal and marine fisheries governance. However, there is limited evidence about fishers’ behavioral changes over long time periods, and the psychosocial experiences that underpin them, beyond what is assumed using neoclassical economic and rational choice framings. Our analysis draws on 26 narrative interviews with fishers who have pursued two or more fish species currently or formerly. Fishers were asked about their behavioral responses to change and uncertainty in coastal fisheries across their entire lifetimes. Their narratives highlighted emotional, perceptual, and values-oriented factors that shaped how fishers coped and adapted to change and uncertainty. The contributions to theory and practice are two-fold. First, findings included variation in patterns of fisher behaviors. Those patterns reflected fishers prioritizing and trading-off material or relational well-being. With policy relevance, prioritizations and trade-offs of forms of well-being led to unexpected outcomes for shifting capacity and capitalization for fishers and in fisheries more broadly. Second, findings identified the influence of emotions as forms of subjective well-being. Further, emotions and perceptions functioned as explanatory factors that shaped well-being priorities and trade-offs, and ultimately, behavioral change. Research findings emphasize the need for scientists, policy-makers, and managers to incorporate psychosocial evidence along with social science about fisher behavior into their models, policy processes, and management approaches. Doing so is likely to support efforts to anticipate impacts from behavioral change on capacity and capitalization in fleets and fisheries, and ultimately, lead to improved governance outcomes.

fisher behavior, livelihoods, rapid change, emotions, values, fisheries policy, marine governance

This research is a critical examination of the behavioral foundations of livelihood pathways over a 50-year time period in a multispecies fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Content Analysis

Health and Well-being

Resource Management and Licensing

Policy and Economics

Andrews, E. J., Wolfe, S., Nayak, P. K., & Armitage, D. (2021). Coastal fishers livelihood behaviors and their psychosocial explanations: implications for fisheries governance in a changing world. Frontiers in Marine Science.

Mobilizing values: Using perceptions of barachois ponds in Nova Scotia to advance informed management

Ross, L.; Fanning, L.

Ocean Governance

Policy/Governance

Meaningful engagement is increasingly used as a management tool for understanding the multitude of complex values and potential conflicts around marine conservation and the production of conservation strategies deemed acceptable by local communities. Barachois ponds, akin to coastal lagoons, are recognized coastal wetlands in Nova Scotia, Canada, given their distinct ecosystem services, including provisioning, regulating, and cultural services. This study examines the current discourses around the management of barachois ponds and how an increased understanding of these perceptions held by stakeholders and managers might be used to better inform integrated management of these wetland ecosystems. A mixed-methods research design using Q methodology was employed to acquire data on social perceptions surrounding the management of barachois ponds fringing the Bras d’Or Lake in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. Four dominant perspectives were identified: the leave-them-be conservationists, the sustainable developers, the management reformists, and the science-based conservationists. Six key issue themes emerged based on an in-depth examination of these different perspectives and Q sort data. This study found that an increased awareness of the ecological, social, and cultural values attributed to barachois ponds by key stakeholders could play a critical role in better informing wetland management decision-making in Nova Scotia and elsewhere.

barachois ponds, coastal wetlands, integrated management, Q methodology, Bras d'Or Lake

This study examines the current discourses around the management of barachois ponds and how an increased understanding of these perceptions held by stakeholders and managers might be used to better inform integrated management of these wetland ecosystems

Mixed methods

Ethical and Just Activities

Sustainable Communities

Governance Structures and Process

Other - Provincial

Other federal - Department of Natural Resources

Other Federal - ECCC

Ross, L., & Fanning, L. (2021). Mobilizing values: using perceptions of barachois ponds in Nova Scotia to advance informed management. FACETS, 6(1), 215-239.

Empowering small-scale, community-based fisheries through a food systems framework

Lowitt, K.; Levkoe, C.Z.; Spring, A.; Turlo, C.; Williams, P.L.; Bird, S.; Sayers, C.D.; Simba, M.

Community-Based Social Science

In the context of the growing climate emergency and the negative social and environmental impacts of the industrial food system, significant attention is focused on the question of how we will feed ourselves sustainably. Small-scale fisheries are receiving more attention and communities are increasingly resisting a resourcist perspective that treats fish as a commodity by engaging in efforts to (re)envision fisheries as part of food systems. This paper presents four case studies from freshwater and marine fisheries across Canada to demonstrate ways of using food systems as an organizing concept to protect small-scale fisheries, build sustainable communities, and influence fisheries governance and policy. Insights are shared from the lobster fishery in Shelburne County, Nova Scotia; fish and country foods harvesting in Kakisa, Northwest Territories; traditional fisheries of Batchewana First Nation on Lake Superior, Ontario; and the national sustainable seafood partnership program, SeaChoice. We conclude by providing our collective ideas for how governance and policy may better support sustainability at the nexus of fisheries and food systems, emphasizing a need for structures and policies that are better adapted to the contexts of small-scale fisheries and that empower community participation in decision-making.

Small-scale fisheries; Governance; Food security; Food systems; Canada

In the context of the growing climate emergency and the negative social and environmental impacts of the industrial food system, significant attention is focused on the question of how we will feed ourselves sustainably.

Food systems and food security

Northwest Territories; Ontario

Secondary Data

Sustainable Communities

Health and Well-being

Governance Structures and Process

Policy and Economics

Lowitt, K., Levkoe, C. Z., Spring, A., Turlo, C., Williams, P. L., Bird, S., ... & Simba, M. (2020). Empowering small-scale, community-based fisheries through a food systems framework. Marine Policy, 120, 104150.

Storytelling for sustainable development in rural communities: An alternative approach

Lowery, Brennan; Dagevos, John; Chuenpagdee, Ratana; Vodden, Kelly

Human Geography

Sustainable Development

Mainstream conceptualizations of sustainable development (SD) tend to focus on urban areas or the national or global scale—most recently through the Sustainable Development Goals. This focus often overlooks rural and natural resource-based communities, particularly those dependent on renewable resources like fisheries or forestry. Drawing from a comprehensive review, we propose an alternative approach for interpreting and measuring SD in these contexts. We integrate two seemingly contradictory approaches: sustainability indicators (SIs), whose evolution reflects competing views of the nature of knowledge and action in pursuit of SD, and the use of storytelling in policy and planning, highlighting how actors tell stories to garner support for proposed developments, influence public understanding, and mobilize stakeholders. Examining the opposing epistemologies often underlying these two approaches, we posit that they can be brought together through a transdisciplinary lens for sustainable rural development. We illustrate these potentials in Newfoundland and Labrador, a highly resource-based region in which rural communities are often characterized by deficiencies based narratives. In such contexts, storytelling can allow rural stakeholders to interpret SD while potentially enlisting SIs in telling their own sustainability stories.

rural development, stakeholder engagement, storytelling, sustainability indicators, sustainable development

Drawing from a comprehensive review, we propose an alternative approach for interpreting and measuring SD in these contexts. We integrate two seemingly contradictory approaches: sustainability indicators (SIs), whose evolution reflects competing views of the nature of knowledge and action in pursuit of SD, and the use of storytelling in policy and planning, highlighting how actors tell stories to garner support for proposed developments, influence public understanding, and mobilize stakeholders

Policy and governance

Newfoundland and Labrador

Content Analysis

Governance Structures and Process

Policy and Economics

Lowery, B., Dagevos, J., Chuenpagdee, R., & Vodden, K. (2020). Storytelling for sustainable development in rural communities: An alternative approach. Sustainable Development, 28(6), 1813-1826.

Comparing cultural ecosystem service delivery in dykelands and marshes using Instagram: A case of the Cornwallis (Jijuktu'kwejk) River, Nova Scotia, Canada

Chen, Y.; Caesemaecker, C.; Rahman, H.T.; Sherren, K.

Environmental Studies

Ocean and Coastal Management

We analyzed the CESs delivered by the dykelands and marshes of the Cornwallis (Jijuktu’kwejk) River by using 4 months of Instagram data.

Climate change; Coastal wetlands; Cultural ecosystem services; Dikelands; Managed realignment; Salt marshes; Sea level rise; Social media

We analyzed the CESs delivered by the dykelands and marshes of the Cornwallis (Jijuktu’kwejk) River by using 4 months of Instagram data.

Atlantic Canada

Sustainable Communities

Other - Provincial

Chen, Y., Caesemaecker, C., Rahman, H. T., & Sherren, K. (2020). Comparing cultural ecosystem service delivery in dykelands and marshes using Instagram: A case of the Cornwallis (Jijuktu'kwejk) River, Nova Scotia, Canada. Ocean & Coastal Management, 193, 105254.

Facing an uncertain future: A prospective analysis of trade policy on coastal communities in northwest Newfoundland

Daly, J.; Chuenpagdee, R.

Human Geography

The Great Northern Peninsula (GNP) of Newfoundland has undergone much social and economic change since the downturn in the groundfish fishery in the early 1990s. The Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has been promoted as one area of opportunity for revitalizing the GNP but the short and longterm effects of the agreement are not yet known. Assessing the impact of CETA on domestic fishery policy and coastal communities requires a comprehensive examination of the region’s governance, as well as an understanding of the entire fisheries system. Following interactive governance theory, this study examines how CETA, as a transnational economic institution, interacts with the existing governing systems at the national, provincial, and regional levels. It further explores the effects that this trade agreement might have on the viability of coastal communities in the GNP, given the natural and social characteristics of the fisheries systems. The research reveals that although the principles and policies of CETA do not directly influence fisheries management, it has implications for the governing system of the region. Specifically, CETA affects the function and structure of the governing system through increased market access and domestic policy changes, with the latter contributing to modifying the interactions between the governing system and coastal communities. Further attention is needed on how local and regional governance systems can build capacity to leverage benefits and minimize potential negative impacts from new modern economic institutional arrangements, like CETA.

CETA; Economic institutional arrangements; Fisheries governance; Globalization; Interactive governance

this study examines how CETA, as a transnational economic institution, interacts with the existing governing systems at the national, provincial, and regional levels.

Policy and governance

Newfoundland and Labrador

Secondary data

Content Analysis

Governance Structures and Process

Policy and Economics

Daly, J., & Chuenpagdee, R. (2020). Facing an uncertain future: A prospective analysis of trade policy on coastal communities in northwest Newfoundland. Marine Policy, 117, 103890.

Technological entropy and its implications to fisheries governability

Lorenzi, M.R.; Chuenpagdee, R.

Human Geography

Science of the Total Environment

The interactive governance theory postulates that the governability of a fishery systemdepends on the governing capacity, and the overall quality of the system to be governed. The elements making the fisheries more or less governable correspond to the diversity, complexity, dynamics, and scale of the natural and social systems that are being governed and the governing system. To date, the extent to which technological development affects these properties, and the fisheries governability, has not been evaluated. This paper presents a novel conceptualization of “technological entropy”, linking the concept of entropy with technological innovation happening across fisheries. It further discusses the relationship between technological entropy and governability of fishery systems and illustrates it using examples from Newfoundland fisheries. The paper argues that technological entropy creates new challenges for fisheries governance by influencing fishers' decisions and adding demands on the governing capacity. Assessing howtechnologies fit into the fisheries governability framework can, therefore, help inform governing actions towards securing sustainable fisheries.

Fisheries governance; Entropy; Fishing boats; Fishing technologies

This paper presents a novel conceptualization of “technological entropy”, linking the concept of entropy with technological innovation happening across fisheries.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Primary and secondary data

Content Analysis

Economic Sustainability

Governance Structures and Process

Resource Management and Licensing

Lorenzi, M. R., & Chuenpagdee, R. (2020). Technological entropy and its implications to fisheries governability. Science of The Total Environment, 724, 137973.

Value orientations and beliefs contribute to the formation of a marine conservation personal norm

Engel, M.; Vaske, J.J.; Bath, A.J.

Human Geography

Journal for Nature Conservation

Direct exploitation of resources, climate change, and land pollution drive marine degradation. Influencing these drivers are political, cultural and economic systems, which are guided by people’s values, beliefs, and behaviours. To tackle this conservation challenge and make oceans more sustainable, we need to understand how people think and act in relation to marine issues. This article examined marine value orientations, beliefs and personal norms. Self-administered questionnaires were randomly delivered to coastal residents in Newfoundland, Canada (n = 776, response rate = 49 %). The structural equation model predicted 86 % of the variance in personal norms. Newfoundland residents felt a moral obligation to act in favour of a healthy ocean when they care for the ocean (relational value), felt responsible for their actions, and were aware of the negative impacts of humans can have on marine environments. Relational, instrumental, and intrinsic value orientations were also related to knowledge of human impacts on the ocean. The results imply that efforts aimed at inspiring people to engage in sustainable behaviours should be grounded on relational values, such as care and concern for the ocean.

Beliefs; Human dimensions; Instrumental; Intrinsic; Ocean; Relational

This article examined marine value orientations, beliefs and personal norms. Self-administered questionnaires were randomly delivered to coastal residents in Newfoundland, Canada (n = 776, response rate = 49 %)

Newfoundland and Labrador

Health and Well-being

Engel, M., Vaske, J. J., & Bath, A. J. (2020). Value orientations and beliefs contribute to the formation of a marine conservation personal norm. Journal for Nature Conservation, 55, 125806.

Harvesting strategies during a forecasted decline in the Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab fishery

Mullowney, Darrell R.J.; Baker, Krista D.; Pedersen, Eric J.

Fisheries Research

A predicted and communicated decline in the Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) resource, the basis of the world’s largest snow crab fishery for two decades, has come to fruition. Given considerable lead time, this scenario creates an interesting dynamic to investigate how crab harvesters may have formed anticipatory behavioural responses to mitigate against the decline. In this analysis, economic, stock status, and vessel activity indicators are examined along with spatiotemporal fishing patterns before, during, and after the decline to assess harvester behaviour and fleet dynamics. We hypothesize that behaviours indicative of increased competition and a race to fish would emerge in response to the forecasted decline. Contrary to our expectations, we find no evidence of earlier or more rapid fishing, nor broader or more intense fishing patterns. Increased gear soak times were the most common adaptive response employed by harvesters, which were marginally successful in mitigating against declining catch rates and reducing discards. The majority of harvesters appeared to prosecute the fishery in a similar fashion as they historically had, and simply accepted reducing catch rates on known fishing grounds. Some historically dominant fishing grounds even became abandoned with little to no apparent adaptive responses by harvesters. Specific reasons for the general lack of behavioural adaptations to the forecasted fishery decline are unknown but are associated with an Individual Quota system, favourable product prices that have more than offset revenue losses from reduced catch, and small-scale management areas that may have rendered little or no capacity to develop adaptive strategies.

Fleet dynamics; Fishermen; Harvester behaviour; Harvesting strategies; Newfoundland and Labrador; Snow crab

In this analysis, economic, stock status, and vessel activity indicators are examined along with spatiotemporal fishing patterns before, during, and after the decline to assess harvester behaviour and fleet dynamics

Newfoundland and Labrador

Coastal,Offshore

Secondary data

Economic Sustainability

Resource Management and Licensing

Mullowney, D. R., Baker, K. D., & Pedersen, E. J. (2020). Harvesting strategies during a forecasted decline in the Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab fishery. Fisheries Research, 232, 105707.

Inuit Seal Hunting in Canada: Emerging Narratives in an Old Controversy

Farquhar, Samantha D.

Policy/Governance

Seal hunting in Canada is a historically controversial topic. Animal rights groups have campaigned that Atlantic Canadians inhumanely slaughter thousands of “baby” seals every year. The work of these animal rights groups has led to changes in national fisheries regulations and markets. The market changes have greatly affected the livelihoods of many Atlantic Canadians, but even more so of the Inuit who also hunt seals in Canada’s Arctic regions. Animal rights groups largely excluded and ignored the Inuit who depended on the larger Atlantic Canadian seal market. However, Inuit have recently mobilized though social media to reclaim the narrative surrounding seal hunting. Their campaign has helped change national policy. The Government of Canada has since created a scheme to increase market access to Inuit-harvested seals. Yet, little information is available for this scheme and its effectiveness needs to be further investigated.

seal hunting; Canada; Inuit; Indigenous activism; narratives; animal rights; Arctic resources; fisheries management; market access; sealskin products

The Government of Canada has since created a scheme to increase market access to Inuit-harvested seals. Yet, little information is available for this scheme and its effectiveness needs to be further investigated.

Indigenous fisheries and ways of knowing

Atlantic Canada

Economic Sustainability

Health and Well-being

Indigenous Fisheries Management

Farquhar, S. D. (2020). Inuit seal hunting in canada: emerging narratives in an old controversy. Arctic, 73(1), 13-19.

Black Monday, 1894: Saltfish, credit, and the ecology of politics in Newfoundland

Atlantic Studies : Global Currents

Recent work in political ecology and more-than-human geography has highlighted the foundational role that nonhumans play in actively shaping politics. More than simply resources over which humans wage political battles, this work contends that nonhumans must be considered political actors in their own right. Building on this research, this paper examines a politicaleconomic crisis in the Dominion of Newfoundland: the bank crash of 1894. I demonstrate how this ostensibly political and economic crisis was also critically ecological. I examine how it was shaped by the material properties of saltfish, as both dead codfish and a living microbial community. This paper contributes to Atlantic studies by emphasizing the nonhuman agency of fish and oceanspace in the constitution of maritime political economies.

Political ecology; political economy; more-than-human geography; nonhuman agency; fisheries; North Atlantic; Newfoundland

this paper examines a politicaleconomic crisis in the Dominion of Newfoundland: the bank crash of 1894.

Political economy/Political Ecology

Newfoundland and Labrador

Banoub, D. (2020). Black Monday, 1894: Saltfish, credit, and the ecology of politics in Newfoundland. Atlantic Studies, 17(2), 227-243.

A discounted cash-flow analysis of salmon monoculture and Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture in eastern Canada

Carras, M.A.; Knowler, D.; Pearce, C.M.; Hamer, A.; Chopin, T.; Weaire, T.

Aquaculture Economics and Management

We assess the financial performance of an Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) monoculture versus an Atlantic salmon, blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), and sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) operation. Using updated methods and models, we improve on earlier studies of IMTA economics. A discounted cash-flow analysis was used to assess the profitability of hypothetical monoculture and IMTA operations over a 10-year period in the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick, Canada. The IMTA operation was more profitable, even when no price premium was included for its products. A 10% price premium for IMTA salmon and mussels resulted in a substantially higher net present value for the IMTA operation than for salmon monoculture. However, uncertainty related to IMTA’s financial and environmental performance, as well as IMTA’s increased operational complexity, may be barriers to IMTA adoption in Canada at present. As a result, it is likely that IMTA must generate substantially greater profits than salmon monoculture to stimulate investment. Alternatively, declining salmon production in recent years may encourage IMTA adoption in the future since it can provide crop diversification and economic stability benefits. IMTA research may benefit from alternative assessment methods such as the real options approach that explicitly incorporate uncertainty.

Economic analysis; Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture; New Brunswick; profitability; salmon farming; sustainable aquaculture

We assess the financial performance of an Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) monoculture versus an Atlantic salmon, blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), and sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) operation.

Secondary data

Economic Efficiency

Policy and regulatory

Aquaculture Management

Other - Provincial

Carras, M. A., Knowler, D., Pearce, C. M., Hamer, A., Chopin, T., & Weaire, T. (2020). A discounted cash-flow analysis of salmon monoculture and Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture in eastern Canada. Aquaculture Economics & Management, 24(1), 43-63.

Key players in the Grieg NL Placentia Bay Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture Project: A social network analysis

Maxwell, R.J.; Filgueira, R.

Policy/Governance

Global aquaculture is one of the fastest growing food industries, accounting for approximately half of all finfish and invertebrate production as of 2016. In Canada, provincial governments are pushing strongly for the development of the industry, which creates a problem in that governments are both regulators and promoters of the industry. In Newfoundland (NL), a recent aquaculture development, the Grieg NL Placentia Bay Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture Project, was controversial due to the waiving of an environmental assessment (EA) by the NL Government, resulting in a court case. This study analyzed the Grieg NL case to understand how stakeholders operate in salmon aquaculture developments, specifically when governments waive procedures such as EAs. Semi-structured interviews were completed, identifying the linkages among players associated with the Project using social network analysis, and their underlying motivations. The results indicated that ENGOs and aquaculture industry were the two key stakeholder groups with opposing views on the Project, the former in opposition and the latter supportive. The opposing views were articulated around four underlying themes. The potential social and economic benefits were highlighted by those supportive of the Project while those opposed highlighted farmed salmon as unhealthy food, the potential environmental concerns associated with aquaculture, and the controversial role of the government regulating the aquaculture industry. The dual role of the government is central to this research, and thus further efforts on identifying this potential conflicting role could improve structural roadblocks in regulations that may threaten the industry’s social acceptability.

Salmon aquaculture; Newfoundland; Government regulation; Environmental assessment; Social network analysis; Social licence to operate

This study analyzed the Grieg NL case to understand how stakeholders operate in salmon aquaculture developments, specifically when governments waive procedures such as EAs

Policy and governance

Newfoundland and Labrador

Economic Sustainability

Sustainable Communities

Governance Structures and Process

Aquaculture Management

Other - Provincial

Maxwell, R. J., & Filgueira, R. (2020). Key players in the Grieg NL Placentia Bay Atlantic salmon aquaculture project: a social network analysis. Marine Policy, 113, 103800.

Exploring community-based marine aquaculture as a coastal resource management opportunity in Nova Scotia, Canada

Bradford, J.; Filgueira, R.; Bailey, M.

Policy/Governance

Aquaculture is one of the world’s fastest growing food production sectors and presents an opportunity for rural community development that can support coastal livelihoods. An ecosystem approach to aquaculture (EAA) has been recommended to facilitate socially and environmentally sustainable development, yet there remains a need to better involve people in planning and operational aspects. Community-based management may help to implement principles of the EAA; however, contextspecific research is needed to understand its potential application and suitability. This research explores opportunities for community-based marine aquaculture (CBMA) for nonfinfish in the context of Nova Scotia, Canada, through a series of stakeholder interviews. Results suggest that all stakeholder groups interviewed were positive about the potential for CBMA to support sustainable aquaculture growth in the province; however, key questions around operationalizing CBMA remain. The aquaculture industry is on a continual path for growth worldwide and, therefore, it becomes increasingly important to proactively examine strategies such as CBMA that can help to facilitate EAA in a way that genuinely puts people at the centre of aquaculture development and governance.

Community-based management, marine aquaculture, ecosystem approach, rural development and planning, coastal communities, Nova Scotia

This research explores opportunities for community-based marine aquaculture (CBMA) for nonfinfish in the context of Nova Scotia, Canada, through a series of stakeholder interviews

Policy and governance

Content Analysis

Economic Sustainability

Sustainable Communities

Governance Structures and Process

Aquaculture Management

Other - Provincial

Bradford, J., Filgueira, R., & Bailey, M. (2020). Exploring community-based marine aquaculture as a coastal resource management opportunity in Nova Scotia, Canada. FACETS, 5(1), 26-48.

A comparison of sustainability objectives: How well does the canadian fisheries research network framework compare with fisheries, forestry, and aquaculture certification schemes?

Mussells, C.; Stephenson, R.L.

Ecology and Society

It is increasingly recognized that fisheries management should take a more holistic approach toward full spectrum sustainability that includes ecological, social, and economic considerations. The Canadian Fisheries Research Network (CFRN) has developed an evaluation framework for comprehensive fisheries management, derived from Canadian policy and international commitments. In the changing landscape of resource management, third party market certification has grown where there are perceived management gaps and increasingly exerts pressure on management considerations. Increasingly, there is a need to integrate coastal management and to consider consistent management objectives across sectors. In this study, the CFRN framework is used as a lens with which to compare certification schemes (fisheries, aquaculture, and forestry) of relevance to activities in southwest New Brunswick. This analysis reveals (1) that the three certification schemes differ in the scope of their objectives; (2) that a number of CFRN framework elements are not addressed in the certification schemes; and (3) that the certification scheme that most closely matches the CFRN framework is from the forestry sector and that the Marine Stewardship Council certifications scheme for fisheries is most different from the CFRN because it lacks consideration of social and economic aspects. We are thus challenged to consider why fisheries management and certification continue to fall behind in the consideration of a broad spectrum of management objectives and we are provided with an opportunity to learn from the strengths of other sectors.

ecosystem-based management; management objectives; social-ecological systems; sustainable development; third party market certification

In this study, the CFRN framework is used as a lens with which to compare certification schemes (fisheries, aquaculture, and forestry) of relevance to activities in southwest New Brunswick

Policy and governance

Secondary data

Content Analysis

Governance Structures and Process

Decision-making and governance

Policy and Economics

Resource Management and Licensing

Mussells, C., & Stephenson, R. (2020). A comparison of sustainability objectives: how well does the Canadian Fisheries Research Network framework compare with fisheries, forestry, and aquaculture certification schemes?. Ecology and Society, 25(1).

Potential socioeconomic impacts from ocean acidification and climate change effects on Atlantic Canadian fisheries

Wilson, T.J.B.; Cooley, S.R.; Tai, T.C.; Cheung, W.W.L.; Tyedmers, P.H.

Environmental Economics

Ocean acidification is an emerging consequence of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. The full extent of the biological impacts are currently not entirely defined. However, it is expected that invertebrate species that rely on the mineral calcium carbonate will be directly affected. Despite the limited understanding of the full extent of potential impacts and responses there is a need to identify potential pathways for human societies to be affected by ocean acidification. Research on these social implications is a small but developing field. This research contributes to this field by using an impact assessment framework, informed by a biophysical model of future species distributions, to investigate potential impacts facing Atlantic Canadian society from potential changes in shellfish fisheries driven by ocean acidification and climate change. New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are expected to see declines in resource accessibility but are relatively socially insulated from these changes. Conversely, Prince Edward Island, along with Newfoundland and Labrador are more socially vulnerable to potential losses in fisheries, but are expected to experience relatively minor net changes in access.

This research contributes to this field by using an impact assessment framework, informed by a biophysical model of future species distributions, to investigate potential impacts facing Atlantic Canadian society from potential changes in shellfish fisheries driven by ocean acidification and climate change.

Environmental change and conservation

Newfoundland and Labrador

Prince Edward Island,Nova Scotia,New Brunswick

Secondary data

Economic Sustainability

Economic Efficiency

Sustainable Communities

Decision-makng, policy, and governance

Policy and Economics

Resource Management and Licensing

Other - provincial

Wilson, T. J., Cooley, S. R., Tai, T. C., Cheung, W. W., & Tyedmers, P. H. (2020). Potential socioeconomic impacts from ocean acidification and climate change effects on Atlantic Canadian fisheries. PloS one, 15(1), e0226544.

Sharing victories: Characteristics of collaborative strategies of environmental non-governmental organizations in Canadian marine conservation

Cadman, R., MacDonald, B.H., Soomai, S.S.

Marine Management

Policy/Governance

Over the last 50 years, non-state actors, particularly environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs), have taken on increasingly important roles in environmental governance. These roles have strengthened capacity in policy development and enhanced connections between decision makers and the public. How environmental NGOs navigate the tension between maintaining independence from government while also influencing decisions within political systems is not well understood. A change in the government of Canada following the 2015 national election provided an opportunity to explore the dynamic relationships between ENGOs and government. The government enlisted the assistance of ENGOs to achieve the 2020 national marine protection targets. In this study, the activities of two ENGOs—WWF-Canada (a national NGO) and the Ecology Action Centre (a local NGO)—regarding planning for three marine protected areas (MPAs) were studied. The objective of this research was to increase understanding of the role of ENGOs in decision making regarding MPAs, particularly focusing on how ENGOs use information in formal and informal processes to fulfil their mandates to promote marine conservation. Data were obtained from interviews; observations of formal and informal meetings and conversations; content analysis of email exchanges of the ENGOs with government staff, other ENGOs and numerous stakeholders; and review of key publications and public research reports. The results demonstrate the significant role of ENGOs in conservation governance and the major strategies that they use in deploying information at the science-policy interface. The ENGOs operate in an important boundary-spanning role using four types of action (hard advocacy, soft advocacy, gathering information and intelligence, and administration) and their interactions with diverse stakeholders. The ENGOs bridged interactions between government and stakeholders and transmitted scientific data and information, generated by researchers, to decision makers. The boundaryspanning activities of the ENGOs uniquely positions them in conservation decision processes. The ability to be flexible means that ENGOs can adapt their strategies to advance conservation policy and practice.

Environmental non-governmental organizations; Marine protected areas; Informational governance; Canada; Science-policy interface; Stakeholder engagement

In this study, the activities of two ENGOs—WWF-Canada (a national NGO) and the Ecology Action Centre (a local NGO)—regarding planning for three marine protected areas (MPAs) were studied. The objective of this research was to increase understanding of the role of ENGOs in decision making regarding MPAs, particularly focusing on how ENGOs use information in formal and informal processes to fulfil their mandates to promote marine conservation.

Policy and governance

Atlantic Canada

Other Canadian provinces

Content Analysis

Governance Structures and Process

Policy and Economics

Marine Planning and Conservation

Cadman, R., MacDonald, B. H., & Soomai, S. S. (2020). Sharing victories: Characteristics of collaborative strategies of environmental non-governmental organizations in Canadian marine conservation. Marine Policy, 115, 103862.

Onshore benefits from fishing: Tracking value from the northern shrimp fishery to communities in Newfoundland and Labrador

Carruthers, EH; Parlee, CE; Keenan, R; Foley, P

Fisheries Science

MARINE POLICY

Most fisheries assessments focus on biological and ecological conditions, fishery impacts and performance. Economic and social conditions and outcomes, however, are rarely explicitly tracked or evaluated. Using data from the Canadian northern shrimp inshore fleet, from employment statistics, and from Newfoundland and Labrador municipal budgets, this paper examines links between harvesting and post-harvesting economic activities and municipal infrastructure and services within adjacent onshore communities. The broad geographic distribution of home ports and landing destinations resulted in extensive economic ripple effects in areas such as food retail, shipyard maintenance and fuel services, which amounted to almost $9,000,000 in onshore expenditures distributed among 15 landing ports in 2014. Additionally, because tax payments from shrimp processing plants impact municipal budgets and services, the findings show that community-level benefits can be tracked and measured, with the implication that fisheries management objectives, such as supporting adjacent communities, are also achievable and measurable. While the impacts from a recent decline of the northern shrimp inshore fishery are stark for adjacent communities, the two decades of substantial contributions from this fishery were made possible because policy decisions at both the provincial and the federal level were explicitly developed to support fishing communities.

Fisheries management; Socio-economic objectives; Onshore communities; Adjacency; Newfoundland and Labrador; Shrimp

Using data from the Canadian northern shrimp inshore fleet, from employment statistics, and from Newfoundland and Labrador municipal budgets, this paper examines links between harvesting and post-harvesting economic activities and municipal infrastructure and services within adjacent onshore communities.

Political economy/Political Ecology

Newfoundland and Labrador

Mixed methods

Primary and secondary data

Economic Sustainability

Sustainable Communities

Science and decision-making

Policy and Economics

Carruthers, E. H., Parlee, C. E., Keenan, R., & Foley, P. (2019). Onshore benefits from fishing: tracking value from the northern shrimp fishery to communities in Newfoundland and Labrador. Marine Policy, 103, 130-137.

Actions towards the joint production of knowledge: the risk of salmon aquaculture on American Lobster

Maillet, Donna G. Curtis; Wiber, Melanie G.; Barnett, Allain

Law and Society

Journal of Risk Research

Joint production of knowledge (JPK) is said to facilitate proactive mitigation of risks in marine resource management. However, lack of consensus on who should be involved, when it is happening and the exact mechanisms of sharing knowledge has precluded the development of an effective implementation framework. Here, we explore one approach to building a post-normal science, one that both includes local ecological knowledge and bridges scientific silos. We first identify several actions of knowledge production and then provide an Atlantic Canadian case study, drawn from an assessment of the impact of aquaculture on American lobster, to illustrate necessary actions on the road to JPK. Key actions include theorizing relationships, agreeing on key concepts, specifying, and interpreting required data, identifying principles and making evaluations. We fill a lacuna in the JPK literature by: first, defining knowledge as the result of a set of actions; second, using knowledge generating actions to explore how different knowledge sets come together to contribute to JPK; and third, identifying how knowledge actions can facilitate or inhibit JPK. We conclude that this list of the essential actions of knowledge production is necessary to the successful development of alternative approaches to risk.

Joint production of knowledge; risk assessment; aquaculture; lobster fishery; local ecological knowledge

Here, we explore one approach to building a post-normal science, one that both includes local ecological knowledge and bridges scientific silos.

Atlantic Canada

Participant observation

Content Analysis

Governance Structures and Process

Aquaculture Management

Resource Management and Licensing

Other - Provincial

Maillet, D. G. C., Wiber, M. G., & Barnett, A. (2019). Actions towards the joint production of knowledge: the risk of salmon aquaculture on American Lobster. Journal of Risk Research, 22(1), 67-80.

Social-ecological reproduction and the substance of life in commodity frontiers: Newfoundland fisheries in world market shifts

Political Economy

Capital and Class

The purpose of this article is to deepen analyses of life production relations that are of central concern to the feminist global political economy frameworks around which this special issue is organized. While the original approach recognized ecological relations in its methodological synthesis of power, production, and social reproduction, most subsequent research engaging the approach focuses on areas such as household labor, health care, education, migration, and macroeconomic governance. Much less work, however, analyzes relations between capital accumulation and ecological life-producing relations that ultimately sustain human and non-human life. The article draws on elements of a ‘world-ecology’, commodity frontier perspective, to argue for the integration of primary – ecological – production of the substance of life into the power, production, and social reproduction global political economy framework. The article draws on this synthesis to conduct a long-term analysis of one of the earliest commodity frontiers in capitalist history, Newfoundland fisheries in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. Through an analysis of changing patterns of ecological production, household and community reproduction, state enclosure of ocean life production, and world market shifts, the article suggests that we need to move beyond narrow consequentialist analyses of the role of capital accumulation in ecological exhaustion toward broader, integrated analyses of change that reveal dynamic and perhaps more hopeful struggles and potential for sustainable and progressive conditions of intergenerational social-ecological reproduction.

Commodity frontier, fisheries, social reproduction, world-ecology

The purpose of this article is to deepen analyses of life production relations that are of central concern to the feminist global political economy frameworks around which this special issue is organized.

Political economy/Political Ecology

Newfoundland and Labrador

Economic Sustainability

Sustainable Communities

Policy and Economics

Foley, P. (2019). Social-ecological reproduction and the substance of life in commodity frontiers: Newfoundland fisheries in world market shifts. Capital & Class, 43(4), 543-560.

Climate Change Vulnerability of American Lobster Fishing Communities in Atlantic Canada

Greenan, B.J.W.; Shackell, N.L.; Ferguson, K.; Greyson, P.; Cogswell, A.; Brickman, D.; Wang, Z.; Cook, A.; Brennan, C.E.; Saba, V.S.

Frontiers in Marine Science

Climate change impacts on fisheries will undoubtedly have socio-economic impacts on coastal communities and the seafood market. However, it is a challenge to integrate climate change information in a form that can be used efficiently by adaptation planners, policy makers, and fishery managers. In this study, we frame a climate change impact assessment using a geographical perspective based on the management units of the dominant fishery, in this case, American lobster in Nova Scotia, Canada. The information considered here includes economic dependence on the fishery, population size, diversity of the fishery revenue, status of harbor infrastructure, total replacement cost of each harbor, increased relative sea level and flooding, and the vulnerability of offshore lobster to ocean warming and changes in zooplankton composition and anticipatory changes in fishery productivity across management borders. Using two ocean models to provide multi-decadal scale projections of bottom temperature, changes in offshore lobster distribution are projected to have a neutral, or positive impact on the region as a whole. However, when lobster vulnerability is combined with climate change related vulnerabilities of coastal fishing communities, it is evident that adaptation planning is needed for long-term sustainability. This impact assessment provides both a framework and information for further in-depth analyses by climate change adaptation planners and fishery managers.

climate change, lobster, thermal habitat, coastal vulnerability, harbor infrastructure, climate projections, fishery management

In this study, we frame a climate change impact assessment using a geographical perspective based on the management units of the dominant fishery, in this case, American lobster in Nova Scotia, Canada

Environmental change and conservation

Secondary data

Economic Efficiency

Sustainable Communities

Science and regulatory

Resource Management and Licensing

Small Craft Harbours

Greenan, B. J., Shackell, N. L., Ferguson, K., Greyson, P., Cogswell, A., Brickman, D., ... & Saba, V. S. (2019). Climate change vulnerability of American lobster fishing communities in Atlantic Canada. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6, 579.

Sustainable aquaculture in Canada: Lost in translation

Milewski, I.; Smith, R.E.

Canada is a signatory to United Nations conventions on sustainable development and has entrenched sustainability goals in legislation and policies relating to natural resource sectors including aquaculture. Monitoring and measuring progress towards sustainable development requires the development of sustainability indicators (SI) that, when measured, indicate movement towards or away from a stated policy objective, as well as providing the public with a measure of government accountability. This paper examined the SI used by the Canadian government to assess the social, economic and environmental sustainability of aquaculture production in Canada, whether they adequately measure policy outcomes, and whether national-level SI indicators are appropriate to assessing sustainability at the community-level. The analysis reveals that the Canadian government has made virtually no progress towards translating sustainable aquaculture policy aspirations into measurable SI that evaluate policy outcomes. The mismatch between national policy goals and on-the-ground consequences are highlighted in a community case study of finfish aquaculture in Port Mouton Bay (Nova Scotia). Aquaculture SI and sustainability narratives are discussed in relation to emergent governance arrangements (certification programs) and an international development initiative, Blue Growth, for the world's oceans.

Sustainability indicators; Aquaculture; Community-level; Certification schemes; Blue growth

This paper examined the SI used by the Canadian government to assess the social, economic and environmental sustainability of aquaculture production in Canada, whether they adequately measure policy outcomes, and whether national-level SI indicators are appropriate to assessing sustainability at the community-level.

Economic Sustainability

Health and Well-being

Legal Obligations and Other Commitments

Governance Structures and Process

Aquaculture Management

Other - Provincial

Sustainable aquaculture in Canada: Lost in translation

Stakeholder perceptions of climate change in the context of bivalve aquaculture

Steeves, L.; Filgueira, R.

Marine Management

Policy/Governance

Climate change, observed as warming sea surface temperatures, is expected to impact the Eastern coast of Canada at a rate higher than the global average. Changes in marine abiotic conditions will impact the growth and performance of economically important bivalve species, creating an increasingly uncertain future for the bivalve aquaculture industry. Site-selection for new farms, and the management of extant ones could mitigate these potential impacts, but the implementation of this planning process is dependent on stakeholder support and engagement. Recognizing the importance of stakeholder input in management decisions, this research analyzed the perspectives of farmers, researchers, and managers from Nova Scotia (NS) and Prince Edward Island (PEI) on the relationship between climate change and bivalve aquaculture. Stakeholder perspectives were analyzed using a semi-quantitative interview method (Q methodology). These perspectives indicated the need for a higher level of integration both between stakeholder groups, namely farmers and managers, and management tools and climate change. Increased understanding between farmers and managers could be achieved through the use of researchers as knowledge brokers, collaborating and communicating with both groups. Making use of management tools, such as the ecosystem approach to aquaculture, required insurance, and adaptive management, governmental bodies on both a federal and provincial level can act as channels by which uncertainty generated by climate change can be further reduced. In summary, stakeholder perception can be used by marine planners to adapt to these foreseen changes, and to promote the expansion of this industry

Aquaculture; Bivalves; Climate change; Stakeholders; Perceptions; Q methodology

this research analyzed the perspectives of farmers, researchers, and managers from Nova Scotia (NS) and Prince Edward Island (PEI) on the relationship between climate change and bivalve aquaculture

Prince Edward Island

Mixed methods

Economic Sustainability

Governance Structures and Process

Science, decision-making, governance, and regulatory

Aquaculture Management

Other - Provincial

Steeves, L., & Filgueira, R. (2019). Stakeholder perceptions of climate change in the context of bivalve aquaculture. Marine Policy, 103, 121-129.

Practical use of full-spectrum sustainability in the bay of fundy

Jones, O.P.; Stephenson, R.L.

Ecology and Society

It is increasingly recognized that sustainability is composed of four key components: environmental, economic, social (including cultural), and institutional (or governance). Fisheries and coastal management systems, however, are heavily weighted toward biophysical and ecological aspects, thus leaving the “human dimension,” i.e., social, economic, and institutional, relatively neglected. Full-spectrum sustainability (FSS) is an approach to resource management that aims to address this imbalance. Management plans are beginning to include elements of FSS, yet there are very few practical examples of successfully implemented FSS strategies. We examined and compared the potential application of two proposed FSS frameworks in the Bay of Fundy, one based on the Southwest New Brunswick Marine Advisory Committee Community Values Criteria, and the other on the Framework for Comprehensive Evaluation from the Canadian Fisheries Research Network. These were compared in structure and in their practical application to evaluation of plans for herring (Clupea harengus) management and the recovery of the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalena glacialis) in the Maritime region of Canada. Although the two frameworks differ in specific structure, both frameworks are useful in demonstrating the strengths and weaknesses of current management plans. This evaluation demonstrates that the management plans are strong in attention to ecological objectives but have gaps in the spectrum of considerations in current management planning, especially in relation to social, economic, and governance considerations. We propose that FSS frameworks can provide and should be used routinely as the basis for analysis of policies and management plans, engagement and discussion among stakeholders in participatory governance, comparison of alternative management scenarios, and the generation of advice. Use of FSS frameworks will allow better decisions on coastal activities within the context of “balanced” FSS.

Bay of Fundy; Canada; coastal management; ecosystem approach; full-spectrum sustainability; integrated management

We examined and compared the potential application of two proposed FSS frameworks in the Bay of Fundy, one based on the Southwest New Brunswick Marine Advisory Committee Community Values Criteria, and the other on the Framework for Comprehensive Evaluation from the Canadian Fisheries Research Network.

Policy and governance

Secondary data

Coastal,Offshore

Secondary data

Content Analysis

Governance Structures and Process

Decision-making, policy, governance, science

Marine Planning and Conservation

Resource Management and Licensing

Policy and Economics

Jones, O. P., & Stephenson, R. L. (2019). Practical use of full-spectrum sustainability in the Bay of Fundy. Ecology and Society, 24(3).

Applying a social-ecological well-being approach to enhance opportunities for marine protected area governance

Brueckner-Irwin, I.; Armitage, D.; Courtenay, S.

Ocean Governance

Policy/Governance

Ecology and Society

The design and implementation of ecologically effective marine protected areas (MPAs) are influenced by social acceptance and the impact of MPAs on communities. Integrative analyses of the social and ecological determinants of marine conservation efforts and MPA networks are lacking but are needed to achieve desired outcomes. We developed and applied a "social- ecological well-being"(SEWB) approach to critically examine the linkages between MPAs and well-being in Southwest New Brunswick (Bay of Fundy, Canada). SEWB is defined as a social-ecological system state in which ecological resilience is sustained, while human needs are met and the quality of life of individuals is maintained. We examined (1) how stakeholders perceive benefits and costs of MPAs in relation to SEWB, and (2) how well-being insights contribute to the effectiveness of MPA governance. Using a qualitative case study approach, we conducted 49 semistructured interviews and 4 focus groups with fishers and other key informants at an existing MPA, as well as at an ecologically and biologically significant area that is a candidate for a future MPA. We identified 15 attributes of SEWB that related to MPAs, such as fishery access, community relations, place identity, and natural capital. Three key governance insights for decision makers emerged from the identification of these attributes: (1) displacement attributable to MPAs has implications across material, relational, subjective, and ecological dimensions; (2) effective collaboration is critical for community support, but perspectives about what constitutes effective collaboration may vary across stakeholder groups; and (3) aspects of MPA design fit poorly with the local context because they do not take social and ecological dynamics into account. Our findings empirically demonstrate the applicability of the SEWB framework, suggest a need to focus more on governance processes and improving fit, and highlight barriers to aligning national and local conservation priorities.

Bay of Fundy; biodiversity; conservation; fisheries; governance; marine protected areas; perceptions; resilience; well-being

We developed and applied a social- ecological well-being‚ (SEWB) approach to critically examine the linkages between MPAs and well-being in Southwest New Brunswick (Bay of Fundy, Canada)

Policy and governance

Primary and secondary data

Secondary data

Content Analysis

Health and Well-being

Governance Structures and Process

Decision-making and governance

Marine Planning and Conservation

Brueckner-Irwin, I., Armitage, D., & Courtenay, S. (2019). Applying a social-ecological well-being approach to enhance opportunities for marine protected area governance. Ecology and Society, 24(3).

Institutional Innovation for Nature-Based Coastal Adaptation: Lessons from Salt Marsh Restoration in Nova Scotia, Canada

Tuihedur Rahman; Sherren; van Proosdij

Environmental Social Science

Sea-levels have been rising at a faster rate than expected. Because of the maladaptive outcomes of engineering-based hard coastal protection infrastructure, policy makers are looking for alternative adaptation approaches to buffer against coastal flooding‚ commonly known as nature-based coastal adaptation (NbCA). However, how to implement NbCA under an institutional structure demonstrating ‚Äòinertia‚Äô to alternative adaptation approaches is a question that seeks scientific attention. Building on a case study derived from a highly climate-vulnerable Canadian province, this study shows how the entrepreneurial use of scientific information and institutional opportunities helped institutional actors overcome the inertia. Drawing on secondary document analysis and primary qualitative data, this study o
ers five key lessons to institutional actors aiming at implementing NbCA: (i) develop knowledge networks to help avoid uncertainty; (ii) identify and utilize opportunities within existing institutions; (iii) distribute roles and responsibilities among actors based on their capacity to mobilize required resources; (iv) provide entrepreneurial actors with decision-making autonomy for developing agreed-upon rules and norms; and (v) facilitate repeated interactions among institutional actors to develop a collaborative network among them. This study, therefore, helps us to understand how to implement a relatively new adaptation option by building trust-based networks among diverse and relevant institutional actors.

institutional entrepreneurship; polycentricity; bureaucratic autonomy; institutional inertia; sea-level rise

Building on a case study derived from a highly climate-vulnerable Canadian province, this study shows how the entrepreneurial use of scientific information and institutional opportunities helped institutional actors overcome the inertia.

Other - Legislation

Content Analysis

Governance Structures and Process

Marine Planning and Conservation

Rahman, H. M., Sherren, K., & van Proosdij, D. (2019). Institutional Innovation for Nature-Based Coastal Adaptation: Lessons from Salt Marsh Restoration in Nova Scotia, Canada. Sustainability, 11(23), 6735.

Characterizing bridger organizations and their roles in a coastal resource management network

Wilson, Lee; MacDonald, Bertrum H.

Information Management

Policy/Governance

Ocean & Coastal Management

Tidal power developments occurring in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia provide an informative case study of a natural resource management issue occurring in a coastal zone involving many stakeholders in several sectors. Research has shown that bridger organizations are important vehicles for forging connections and encouraging communication across sectoral boundaries in complex networks. Using a mixed-methods approach encompassing participatory mapping and social network analysis, this study examined stakeholder communication networks in the region, with a particular focus on identifying “bridger” organizations. The results show that communication within the tidal power network does cross sectors, and that bridger organizations are vital in connecting organizations across sectoral boundaries. Bridging activities are multifaceted with three distinct, yet complementary roles: coordinators, connectors, and information mediators. Numerous bridger organizations can co-exist within a network and they often specialize by working within specific sectors. Organizations from the NGO, research, and government sectors, in particular, feature prominently as bridgers within this network, in part because they are often seen as neutral brokers of information. By identifying the functions of bridgers and the sectors well-suited to perform these activities, this paper provides guidance to coastal and ocean managers, NGOs, government bodies, and research groups on where to deploy resources to support bridger organizations within natural resource development networks.

Bridgers; Boundary-spanners; Social network analysis; Tidal power; Marine renewable energy

Using a mixed-methods approach encompassing participatory mapping and social network analysis, this study examined stakeholder communication networks in the region, with a particular focus on identifying “bridger” organizations.

Policy and governance

Mixed methods

Content analysis

Governance Structures and Process

Other Federal - Department of Natural Resources

Other - Provincial

Wilson, L., & MacDonald, B. H. (2018). Characterizing bridger organizations and their roles in a coastal resource management network. Ocean & Coastal Management, 153, 59-69.

Using conflict over risk management in the marine environment to strengthen measures of governance

Parlee, C.E.; Wiber, M.G.

Ecology and Society

Management of and planning for the Canadian marine environment can be disrupted by conflict, but conflict is inevitable given the plurality of actors, interests, values, and uses of marine space. Unresolved conflict may impede governance objectives and threaten the sustainability of social-ecological systems. Innovative institutional arrangements such as adaptive comanagement theoretically reduce conflict and support sustainable management. The southwest New Brunswick Bay of Fundy Marine Advisory Committee (MAC) was assembled in 2004 to address conflict between marine users and to further marine planning. As an innovative planning institution influenced by comanagement theory, the MAC experience served as a case study to develop governance measures for the Canadian Fisheries Research Network Comprehensive Fisheries Sustainability Framework, which includes a consideration of ecological, social, economic, and governance dimensions of sustainability. One of the most important but neglected aspects of sustainability measurements involves the assessment of governance and planning effectiveness. An assessment of the MAC experience through a comprehensive sustainability evaluation framework offers significant lessons for advancing the theoretical and empirical literature on adaptive comanagement through deeper consideration of challenges in creating institutions of “good governance.” In doing so, the case study also contributes to the Comprehensive Fisheries Sustainability Framework by testing some measures of governance effectiveness, including co-operation, resources, transparency, accountability, and inclusivity.

adaptive co-management; conflict resolution; fisheries; governance; indicators; sustainability

Here, we examine the development of an institution created in the context of growing interest in organizations for adaptive comanagement. We also evaluate the MRP/MAC as an adaptive comanagement institution by drawing analytical insight from a fisheries evaluation framework developed through the Canadian Fisheries Research Network (CFRN)

Policy and governance

Primary and secondary data

Participant Observation

Other - Documents/Meeting Notes

Content Analysis

Ethical and Just Activities

Governance Structures and Process

Governance Outcomes

Science, decision-making, governance

Marine Planning and Conservation

Policy and Economics

Parlee, C. E., & Wiber, M. G. (2018). Using conflict over risk management in the marine environment to strengthen measures of governance. Ecology and Society, 23(4).

Assessing the vulnerability of freshwater fishes to climate change in Newfoundland and Labrador

Olusanya, H.O.; van Zyll de Jong, M.

Applied Ecology

Freshwater fish populations are rapidly declining globally due to the impacts of rapid climate change and existing non-climatic anthropogenic stressors. In response to these drivers, freshwater fishes are responding by shifting their distribution range, altering the timing of migration and spawning and through demographic processes. By 2050, the mean daily air temperature is predicted to increase by 2 to 3 degrees C in insular Newfoundland and by 3 to 4 degrees C in Labrador. Mean daily precipitation is also projected to increase in all locations, with increased intensity projected for several regions. To mitigate negative consequences of these changes, managers require analytical approaches that describe the vulnerability of fish to climate change. To address this need, the current study adopts the National Marine Fisheries Service vulnerability assessment framework to characterize the vulnerability of freshwater fishes in Newfoundland and Labrador. Twelve vulnerability indicators were developed from an extensive literature review and applied to the assessment. Experts were solicited using an online questionnaire survey and scores for exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity were collated and analyzed to derive a final vulnerability score and rank for each species. The analysis showed one species to be of high—very high vulnerability, two species were highly vulnerable while four species were moderately vulnerable to climate change. The result provides insight into the factors that drive vulnerability of freshwater fishes in the region, this information is significant to decision-makers and other stakeholders engaged in managing freshwater fish resources in Newfoundland and Labrador.

In this study, we aim to assess the vulnerability of freshwater fishes in Newfoundland and Labrador to climate change. The study uses a trait-based method in concert with expert knowledge. The objective of this study is to adapt the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) [31] vulnerability assessment framework to assess the vulnerability of freshwater species in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. To address this need, the current study adopts the National Marine Fisheries Service vulnerability assessment framework to characterize the vulnerability of freshwater fishes in Newfoundland and Labrador

Environmental change and conservation

Newfoundland and Labrador

Mixed methods

Content analysis

Decision-making and governance

Resource Management and Licensing

Olusanya, H. O., & van Zyll de Jong, M. (2018). Assessing the vulnerability of freshwater fishes to climate change in Newfoundland and Labrador. PloS one, 13(12), e0208182.

Salmonid stocking in five North Atlantic jurisdictions: Identifying drivers and barriers to policy change

Aas, Ø; Cucherousset, J.; Fleming, I.A.; Wolter, C.; H√∂jesj√∂, J.; Buoro, M.; Santoul, F.; Johnsson, J.I.; Hindar, K.; Arlinghaus, R.

Environmental Social Science

Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems

1. New knowledge challenges long‐established practices of fish stocking and transfer because of increasing scientific consensus that the release of cultivated fish can pose risks to biodiversity; however, stocking can also improve fisheries, creating difficult decision trade‐offs regarding its use. 2. Accordingly, controversy persists about fish stocking and transfer. No studies, however, have embraced a multinational perspective to understand the important governance dimensions of the success and failure of salmonid stocking and transfer policies. 3. The present study has analysed the historical development and contemporary governance of the stocking and transfer of native and non‐native salmonids of the genera Salmo, Salvelinus, and Oncorhynchus in five legislative units around the North Atlantic Ocean: the Atlantic Provinces of Canada, France, Germany, Norway, and Sweden. The study is based on the analyses of published and unpublished literature, and a survey of experts. 4. Current salmonid stocking policies and practices varied significantly among jurisdictions; the degree of policy change varied, from radical and rapid changes de jure and de facto in Atlantic Canada and Norway to incremental mostly de jure changes in France and Germany. 5. Rapid policy change in Atlantic Canada, Norway, and partly in Sweden can be explained by the socio‐political importance of salmonid fisheries, stocking regulations based on policy objectives to conserve wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), well‐documented examples of the harmful consequences of transfers of non‐native species, and well‐developed vertical governance linkages. The policy changes resemble that of the ‘punctuated equilibrium policy framework’. 6. By contrast, France and Germany place less socio‐political emphasis on salmonids, have stocking regulations less directed at wild salmonids, more local‐level decision making, more species‐rich fish communities, and little evidence of adverse ecological impacts of the transfer and stocking of salmonids. This has led to small, incremental changes in stocking policy de facto that are reflective of the ‘advocacy coalition policy framework’.

advocacy coalition, alien species, conservation, environmental policy, governance, institutions, invasive species, Oncorhynchus, punctuated equilibrium, Salmo, Salvelinus

The present study has analysed the historical development and contemporary governance of the stocking and transfer of native and non‚Äênative salmonids of the genera Salmo, Salvelinus, and Oncorhynchus in five legislative units around the North Atlantic Ocean: the Atlantic Provinces of Canada, France, Germany, Norway, and Sweden. The study is based on the analyses of published and unpublished literature, and a survey of experts.

Policy and governance

Comparative/International

Atlantic Canada

Primary and secondary data

Public data/Government data/Industry data

Other - Documents

Other - Legislation

Content Analysis

Governance Structures and Process

Species at Risk and Integrated Planning

Aas, Ø., Cucherousset, J., Fleming, I. A., Wolter, C., Höjesjö, J., Buoro, M., ... & Arlinghaus, R. (2018). Salmonid stocking in five North Atlantic jurisdictions: Identifying drivers and barriers to policy change. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 28(6), 1451-1464.

Price transmission in the trans-atlantic northern shrimp value chain

Nielsen, Max; Ankamah-Yeboah, Isaac; Staahl, Lisa; Nielsen, Rasmus

Environmental Economics

Recent research has found that markets for farmed shrimp and wild-caught northern shrimp in Europe are integrated, indicating that northern shrimp prices are affected by total supply and demand of shrimp. Thus, the continued growth of global aquaculture production and associated price decline affect northern shrimp fisheries. In this paper, price transmission in the trans-Atlantic northern shrimp value chain is analysed using a Vector Auto Regressive model in Error Correction form. Cointegration, the Law of One Price (LOP) and weak exogeneity are tested. The results reveal linkages from Greenlandic and Canadian exports, via Denmark to the final consumers in Denmark and United Kingdom. The LOP was rejected in all cases. Hence, price transmission exists, but it is imperfect. Peeled shrimp is further found to be subject to downstream market leadership, while impulseresponse functions identify mixed responses, with downstream market leadership being the dominant characteristic. Growth in shrimp aquaculture, ceteris paribus, presses northern shrimp fishermen, the Greenlandic economy and local economies at Newfoundland through price reductions. As such, fisheries and their management must continuously improve efficiency to stay competitive.

Cointegration; Price transmission; Law of One Price; Weak exogeneity; Impulse-response function

In this paper, price transmission in the trans-Atlantic northern shrimp value chain is analysed using a Vector Auto Regressive model in Error Correction form. Cointegration, the Law of One Price (LOP) and weak exogeneity are tested.

Comparative/International

Newfoundland and Labrador

Denmark; Greenland

Secondary data

Economic Efficiency

Aquaculture Management

Policy and Economics

Resource Management and Licensing

Other - Provincial

Nielsen, M., Ankamah-Yeboah, I., Staahl, L., & Nielsen, R. (2018). Price transmission in the trans-atlantic northern shrimp value chain. Marine Policy, 93, 71-79.

Atlantic and Pacific halibut co-management initiatives by Canadian fishermen's organizations

Pinkerton, E.; Allain, M.; Decker, D.; Carew, K.

Fish and Fisheries

Many fisheries managers and neoliberal fisheries economists promote Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs) as a solution to the race for fish which can cause rent dissipation under competitive quota or open access fisheries. These actors consider the Canadian Pacific halibut ITQ fishery an example of successful achievement of these objectives. However, critics note the weak performance of this management model in distribution of benefits, increased capital costs to fishermen, deteriorating safety conditions, reductions in crew income and barriers to entry. They point to the layup system which successfully managed effort in the Pacific halibut fishery for four decades prior to the introduction of ITQs. A system similar to the layup has been used for Atlantic halibut since 2013, initiated by the Fish Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) representing owner-operator license holders in the halibut fishery off the coast of western Newfoundland and southern Labrador. The FFAW rejected the two halibut management plan options presented to them by Fisheries and Oceans Canada: the status quo (a competitive 12-hr “derby” fishery) or IQs, likely leading to ITQs. Instead, the FFAW worked with license holders to develop a management plan that required harvesters to choose between different fishing periods that spread fishing opportunities over time. This approach improved conservation results, delivered strong economic returns, distributed benefits widely to active fishermen, and allowed an even flow into the market. The authors consider the advantages of these Canadian east and west coast halibut co-management systems and their broader application.

benefits, conservation, costs, equity, Individual Transferable Quotas, markets

Together with this literature and existing hypotheses about conditions favourable to fisheries co-management, the conditions identified in this paper advance theoretical development in the understanding of optimal design and effectiveness of co-management.

Policy and governance

Newfoundland and Labrador

Primary and secondary data

Other - Unclear

Governance Structures and Process

Resource Management and Licensing

Pinkerton, E., Allain, M., Decker, D., & Carew, K. (2018). Atlantic and Pacific halibut co‚Äêmanagement initiatives by Canadian fishermen's organizations. Fish and Fisheries, 19(6), 984-995.

Human dimensions of ecosystem-based management: Lessons in managing trade-offs from the Northern Shrimp Fishery in Northern Peninsula, Newfoundland

Epstein, G.; Andrews, E.; Armitage, D.; Foley, P.; Pittman, J.; Brushett, R.

Environmental Social Science

Fisheries can have significant impacts on the structure and function of marine ecosystems, including impacts on habitats and non-target species. As a result, management agencies face growing calls to account for the ecosystem impacts of fishing, while navigating the political and economic interests of diverse stakeholders. This paper assesses the impacts of two specific factors on the attitudes and well-being of shrimp fishers in the context of a selective fisheries closure designed to protect crabs in the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada: (1) the species portfolios of fishers; and (2) democratic rulemaking. The results of this analysis suggest that shrimp fishers were more likely to support selective closures for the shrimp fishery if they also fished for crab, and felt they had an influence on the management of the fishery. The results further indicate that species portfolio diversification had a positive and statistically significant impact on the subjective economic well-being of fishers. This study contributes to an emerging literature on the human dimensions of ecosystem-based fisheries management, highlighting opportunities to address trade-offs in fisheries through species diversification and by enhancing the role and influence of fishers in management processes.

This paper assesses the impacts of two specific factors on the attitudes and well-being of shrimp fishers in the context of a selective fisheries closure designed to protect crabs in the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada: (1) the species portfolios of fishers; and (2) democratic rule making

Newfoundland and Labrador

Health and Well-being

Governance Structures and Process

Resource Management and Licensing

Epstein, G., Andrews, E., Armitage, D., Foley, P., Pittman, J., & Brushett, R. (2018). Human dimensions of ecosystem-based management: Lessons in managing trade-offs from the Northern Shrimp Fishery in Northern Peninsula, Newfoundland. Marine Policy, 97, 10-17.

Stabilizing risk using public participatory GIS: A case study on mitigating marine debris in the Bay of Fundy, Southwest New Brunswick, Canada

Rehn, A.C.; Barnett, A.J.; Wiber, M.G.

While large-scale studies have quantified the extent of marine debris problems, the social factors that create and inhibit mitigation are understudied. In Canada's Southwest New Brunswick Bay of Fundy, marine debris originates from the interaction of multiple industries within a small area, including aquaculture and inshore fisheries. Conflict between these two stakeholders contributes to both debris production and failure to mitigate. Their gear entanglements create debris that threatens transportation safety, wildlife and the local economy. Public Participation Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS) mapping was used to assemble and stabilize a common view of what constituted debris, debris locations and threats. This paper reports on a subsequent project that monitored the effects of working with the PPGIS map over three years, using participant observation, stakeholder roundtables, and interviews with stakeholders. The paper first reports on the differences in risk perceptions that were barriers to collaboration, followed by the tactics used by stakeholders to influence priorities and actions and finally on how PPGIS stabilized stakeholder definitions of debris and of responsibilities. The conclusions argue that PPGIS incorporates diverse data sets generated by different stakeholders, thereby motivating interactions, reducing conflict, and encouraging negotiated understandings of risks posed by marine debris.

PPGIS; Risk; Marine debris; Conflict resolution; Mitigation

This paper reports on a subsequent project that monitored the effects of working with the PPGIS map over three years, using participant observation, stakeholder roundtables, and interviews with stakeholders. The paper first reports on the differences in risk perceptions that were barriers to collaboration, followed by the tactics used by stakeholders to influence priorities and actions and finally on how PPGIS stabilized stakeholder definitions of debris and of responsibilities.

Governance Structures and Process

Other - Provincial

Other federal - Transport Canada

Other Federal - ECCC

Rehn, A. C., Barnett, A. J., & Wiber, M. G. (2018). Stabilizing risk using public participatory GIS: a case study on mitigating marine debris in the Bay of Fundy, Southwest New Brunswick, Canada. Marine Policy, 96, 264-269.

Alternative environmentalities: recasting the assessment of Canada's first Marine Stewardship Council-certified fishery in social terms

Foley, P; Okyere, DA; Mather, C

Political Economy

ECOLOGY AND SOCIETY

We use a Foucault-inspired environmentalities analytical lens to conceptualize alternative sustainability auditing frameworks. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) claims to administer the international gold standard for sustainability evaluation of fisheries, yet the livelihoods of many people who depend on Canada’s first MSC-certified fishery are in serious jeopardy. After decades of growth that helped fishers and coastal communities alleviate the social consequences of the infamous cod collapse, the northern shrimp fishery in eastern Canada is experiencing ecological change and social conflict over the distribution of quota reductions. However, recent disputes over the distribution, and social consequences, of quota reductions in this fishery are completely invisible in assessment and auditing documents for the successful recertification of the fishery to the MSC’s standard for “sustainable and well managed fisheries” in 2016. We draw upon aspects of an alternative assessment framework to highlight information and knowledge that a socially attentive sustainability audit of this fishery might consider. The alternative auditing framework renders visible social dimensions of Canada’s northern shrimp fishery, including government decision making that incorporates ethical and moral economy principles, the distribution of access to various interests, uses of access benefits for regional and community development purposes, and conflict over policy and resource access during a period of resource decline and dispossession. Although the spread of auditing frameworks across natural resource sectors tends to reinforce neoliberal interests and undermine social justice aims, we argue that the development of alternative assessment frameworks that clearly make visible materialist social development relationship and knowledge can enable action in support of social justice objectives.

assessment frameworks; audits; environmentality; governmentality; Marine Stewardship Council; sustainability

We examined the northern shrimp regional case studies with reference to the following elements of CFRN’s sustainability assessment framework (Stephenson et al. 2018a): distribution of access and benefits, regional economic benefits to community, and sustainable livelihoods

Political economy/Political Ecology

Atlantic Canada

Coastal,Offshore

Secondary data

Public data/Government data/Industry data

Economic Equity

Economic Sustainability

Ethical and Just activities

Sustainable Communities

Governance Structures and Process

Policy and Economics

Foley, P., Okyere, D. A., & Mather, C. (2018). Alternative environmentalities: recasting the assessment of Canada’s first Marine Stewardship Council-certified fishery in social terms. Ecology and Society, 23(3).

Gear sustainability assessment of the Newfoundland inshore northern cod fishery

Rouxel, Y.; Montevecchi, W.

Applied Ecology

Ocean and Coastal Management

From an ocean-basin collapse to a limited reopening, the Newfoundland northern cod fishery is challenged by ecological and economic sustainability. Pivotal factors influencing resource sustainability involve the use of gillnets as the main fishing method and the perception of cod as a low value commodity. Considering gillnetting and two other methods used in this fishery, hand-lines and Newfoundland cod pots, we identified and assessed strengths and weaknesses of each as a basis for best practices management decisions. This assessment involved multi-criteria evaluations based on ideal gear properties‚ (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) adapted to incorporate criteria specific to this fishery. An index scoring system involving 20 ecological, economic and social criteria was developed and used to assess the three gears. Catch-related data collected onboard commercial fishing vessels and structured interviews on economic and social criteria assessments with fishers were collected. Literature reviews supplemented these data. Hand-lining scored the best results on each of the three criteria, with significant advantages (minimal ecosystem impacts; economic and social incentives for an adaptive accessible fishery). Newfoundland cod pots had the second most sustainable results (benefits for cod population, interesting work conditions). Though this gear had economic disadvantages, Newfoundland cod pots ensure best catches for a quality-based fishery. Despite being the fishing gear most commonly used, bottom-set gillnets are the least sustainable method. Catch-related advantages (efficiency, size selectivity) are not adapted to a new quality-based fishery. Restriction of gillnet fishing and promotion of complementary hand-lining and pot fishing would support a best practices more sustainable approach.

Fishing gear; Gillnets; Hand-lines; Cod pots; Sustainability; Best practices; High-quality catches; Cod; Newfoundland; Canada

Considering gillnetting and two other methods used in this fishery, hand-lines and Newfoundland cod pots, we identified and assessed strengths and weaknesses of each as a basis for best practices management decisions. This assessment involved multi-criteria evaluations based on “ideal gear properties” (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) adapted to incorporate criteria specific to this fishery.

Environmental change and conservation

Newfoundland and Labrador

Mixed methods

Primary and Secondary data

Public data/Government data/Industry data

Secondary data

Content analysis

Science and regulatory

Resource Management and Licensing

Rouxel, Y., & Montevecchi, W. (2018). Gear sustainability assessment of the Newfoundland inshore northern cod fishery. Ocean & Coastal Management, 163, 285-295.

The importance of beliefs in predicting support for a South Coast National Marine Conservation Area in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Ward, B.M.; Doney, E.D.; Vodden, K.; Bath, A.J.

Environmental Science

Ocean and Coastal Management

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) frequently fall short of their stated goals as marine conservation tools due to various regulatory, physical, sociocultural, and economic reasons. MPA designation, however, continues to be used for perceived conservation and socioeconomic benefits for adjacent communities. Local beliefs regarding ecological and socio-economic outcomes often influence the public support for MPAs and ultimately their effectiveness. This paper focuses on understanding local residents' beliefs regarding a potential South Coast National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA) in Newfoundland and Labrador and how those beliefs influence resident support for the NMCA. Data were collected from 180 Burgeo residents through a household survey. While 33% supported the designation of a South Coast NMCA, 43% opposed it and 26% were unsure. A principal component analysis (PCA) extracted five belief constructs. A regression model was used to examine relationships between these constructs and support for a South Coast NMCA. The results indicate that perceived economic development and marine conservation were the best predictors of support for NMCA establishment. Qualitative data analysis supported these findings and was used to better understand these relationships, with a minority of respondents seeing economic opportunities and protection and conservation as causes for support of the proposal. Qualitative responses also revealed strong concerns about the loss of traditional and current means of livelihood. If a South Coast NMCA is to be considered feasible it will require greater support and a shift in resident beliefs. This will require effective stakeholder engagement and increased educational and information campaigns.

Coastal management; Marine Protected Areas; Parks Canada; Perceptions; Rural development; Tourism

This paper focuses on understanding local residents' beliefs regarding a potential South Coast National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA) in Newfoundland and Labrador and how those beliefs influence resident support for the NMCA

Policy and governance

Newfoundland and Labrador

Mixed methods

Content analysis

Sustainable Communities

Ethical and Just Activities

Governance Structures and Process

Science and governance

Marine Planning and Conservation

Ward, B. M., Doney, E. D., Vodden, K., & Bath, A. J. (2018). The importance of beliefs in predicting support for a South Coast National Marine Conservation Area in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Ocean & Coastal Management, 162, 6-12.

Distribution of fishery benefits and community well-being: a review of increased access to the Eastern Nova Scotia snow crab fishery

Squires, Kevin; Wiber, Melanie G.

Marine Management

Policy/Governance

Ecology and Society

An expanding fish stock offers a rare opportunity to support fishing enterprises whose traditional fisheries have diminished or failed. The Eastern Nova Scotia snow crab fishery is one example, where in 2005, a growing stock allowed benefit-sharing among more than 700 harvesters. As a contributing case study of social and institutional aspects of sustainability, we review the background of that fishery and the outcomes of the redistribution of fishery benefits. Based on more than 50 semistructured interviews, the case study demonstrates how conflict has settled into cooperation, with the fishery remaining biologically sound and highly beneficial to individuals and their communities. However, the method chosen to manage the distribution in Eastern Nova Scotia has not guaranteed that benefits will remain in local communities. In other jurisdictions, alternative approaches developed in conjunction with broad-based harvester organizations demonstrate better benefit retention in local communities. When compared with the Canada Fisheries Research Network Sustainability Framework, this case study offers insights into the benefits that thoughtful resource redistribution can provide, illustrating that fishery policy decisions must anticipate long-term implications and should apply a definition of fisheries sustainability that includes community well-being, in this case, as evidenced in local licence retention.

community benefit; distribution of benefits; fisheries; sustainability

As a contributing case study of social and institutional aspects of sustainability, we review the background of that fishery and the outcomes of the redistribution of fishery benefits.

Policy and governance

Content Analysis

Economic Equity

Economic Sustainability

Governance Outcomes

Governance Structures and Process

Resource Management and Licensing

Squires, K., & Wiber, M. G. (2018). Distribution of fishery benefits and community well-being. Ecology and Society, 23(2).

What counts in making marine protected areas (MPAs) count? The role of legitimacy in MPA success in Canada

Dehens, L.A.; Fanning, L.M.

Marine Management

Policy/Governance

Ecological Indicators

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are powerful management tools used worldwide for conserving marine species and habitats. Yet, many MPAs fail to achieve their management objectives because of shortfalls in understanding the level of legitimacy stakeholders afford to an MPA. Legitimacy refers to the ability of a political action, in this case an MPA, to be perceived as right and just by the various people who are involved, interested, and/or affected by it. Using responses from key stakeholders and managers at two coastal MPAs in Atlantic Canada, this study examined the importance of various factors shaping perceptions of MPA effectiveness and the role of legitimacy in influencing those perceptions. Results indicate that most indicators of legitimacy are important to stakeholders for MPA effectiveness. Specifically, there was consensus across case studies on the importance of community leadership and the establishment of trust in determining the level of legitimacy afforded to MPAs. However key differences in perceptions were evident from stakeholders both between and within groups, and between stakeholders and MPA managers. A novel legitimacy framework and a stakeholder-vetted suite of indicators for legitimacy are presented and recommended for use by MPA managers in assessing the legitimacy of coastal MPAs, before, during and after MPA designation. The results provide an increased understanding of stakeholders’ perceptions of legitimacy, giving managers key additional information needed to establish effective MPAs in the future.

Marine protected areas; MPA effectiveness; Legitimacy; Stakeholder perceptions; Canada

Using responses from key stakeholders and managers at two coastal MPAs in Atlantic Canada, this study examined the importance of various factors shaping perceptions of MPA effectiveness and the role of legitimacy in influencing those perceptions.

Policy and governance

Atlantic Canada

Content Analysis

Governance Structures and Process

Science and decision-making

Marine Planning and Conservation

Dehens, L. A., & Fanning, L. M. (2018). What counts in making marine protected areas (MPAs) count? The role of legitimacy in MPA success in Canada. Ecological Indicators, 86, 45-57.

Canadian resource governance against territories: resource regimes and local conflicts in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence provinces

Dumarcher, A.; Fournis, Y.

Human Geography

Policy Sciences

This paper presents an analysis of fisheries and forestry governance in the Canadian provinces surrounding the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. It serves two purposes. The first is to produce a portrait of the trends challenging the hypothesis of a shrinking natural resources economy in these territories, in order to underline both the complexity of the struggles taking place around their ressourcist vocation, and the political tensions shaping the recasting of the extractivist model of development. The second, more theoretical and methodological contribution, is a reflection on the conceptual framework developed here: it aims to show the scope and utility of a combination of (1) a sectoral governance analysis and (2) a territorialized analysis of collective action around resource governance. This combination offers an interesting insight into the struggles and political tensions surrounding the tentative restructuring of the Canadian extractivist model. To do so, we examine the two sectoral trajectories showing signs of indecisiveness and adopt a territorial approach which reveals the numerous and various pressures on territories. A disconnection is thus observed between the sectoral and territorial levels: major frames of reference are gradually opening to encompass social and environmental issues, but this relative opening is not being directly and efficiently translated into practices, despite various innovations and indications of openness in governance processes. This fault line leads us to question the power relationships and power imbalances at work within these governance mechanisms and see how these scenes of struggle provide insights into the ambivalence of the current development trajectory.

Resource governance; ‚ÄÄ Resource policy; ‚ÄÄ Resource regimes; ‚ÄÄ Territorial governance; ‚ÄÄ Collective action; ‚ÄÄ Local conflicts ;‚ÄÄ Political economy; ‚ÄÄ Atlantic Canada; ‚ÄÄ Quebec;‚ÄÄ Territory; ‚ÄÄ Fisheries; ‚ÄÄ Forestry

we examine the two sectoral trajectories showing signs of indecisiveness and adopt a territorial approach which reveals the numerous and various pressures on territories

Policy and governance

Prince Edward Island

Nova Scotia,New Brunswick,Quebec

Content Analysis

Governance Structures and Process

Policy and Economics

Dumarcher, A., & Fournis, Y. (2018). Canadian resource governance against territories: resource regimes and local conflicts in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence provinces. Policy Sciences, 51(1), 97-115.

Place-based or sector-based adaptation? A case study of municipal and fishery policy integration

Khan, A.; Charles, A.; Armitage, D.

Human Geography

This paper presents an analysis of fisheries and forestry governance in the Canadian provinces surrounding the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. It serves two purposes. The first is to produce a portrait of the trends challenging the hypothesis of a shrinking natural resources economy in these territories, in order to underline both the complexity of the struggles taking place around their ressourcist vocation, and the political tensions shaping the recasting of the extractivist model of development. The second, more theoretical and methodological contribution, is a reflection on the conceptual framework developed here: it aims to show the scope and utility of a combination of (1) a sectoral governance analysis and (2) a territorialized analysis of collective action around resource governance. This combination offers an interesting insight into the struggles and political tensions surrounding the tentative restructuring of the Canadian extractivist model. To do so, we examine the two sectoral trajectories showing signs of indecisiveness and adopt a territorial approach which reveals the numerous and various pressures on territories. A disconnection is thus observed between the sectoral and territorial levels: major frames of reference are gradually opening to encompass social and environmental issues, but this relative opening is not being directly and efficiently translated into practices, despite various innovations and indications of openness in governance processes. This fault line leads us to question the power relationships and power imbalances at work within these governance mechanisms and see how these scenes of struggle provide insights into the ambivalence of the current development trajectory.

Canada; climate policy integration; coastal fisheries; municipal adaptation planning

In this article, we use a case study of fishery sector resources and municipal adaptation planning in Nova Scotia to demonstrate how meaningful entry points could catalyse policy integration and lead to co-benefits across multiple levels and stakeholder groups.

Policy and governance

Governance Structures and Process

Science, decision-making, governance

Resource Management and Licensing

Dumarcher, A., & Fournis, Y. (2018). Canadian resource governance against territories: resource regimes and local conflicts in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence provinces. Policy Sciences, 51(1), 97-115.

Recommendations for full-spectrum sustainability in canadian lobster integrated management plans based on a socioeconomic analysis of barrington, nova scotia

Ecology and Society

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has developed integrated fisheries management plans to promote a more holistic approach to fisheries management. Yet these management plans maintain an emphasis on the ecological domains, without sufficient attention to socioeconomic and institutional domains of management. In this study, I use a case study from Barrington, Nova Scotia, and dimensions from the Canadian Fisheries Research Network Comprehensive Sustainability Framework to demonstrate the importance of socioeconomic and institutional indicators to contribute to fisheries management plans. An analysis of survey data of captains and lobster fishing households revealed decreased access to multiple species fishing strategies, partially because of large inequities in access to individual fishing quotas. Harvesters with a high dependence on lobster as the primary source of income had lower incomes, and higher income sensitivity to the financial crisis of 2008. New strategies have emerged to cope with reduced access to multiple species, and high-yield lobster fishing is often the best available strategy to pay bills and meet costs when lobster prices are low. Outcomes for the region were split, with an equal number of harvesters reporting recent years as the best or worst year they experienced in fishing. Given a history of changing regulations and reduced options to remain flexible when economic and ecological conditions change, harvesters were pessimistic about their future access, and their children’s future access, to fisheries. Harvesters faced livelihood challenges caused by cumulative effects of multiple regulatory and ecological events. I demonstrate how the Canadian Fisheries Research Network Comprehensive Sustainability Framework can guide researchers, managers, and fishing organizations to understand the current management objectives that are not being met, and to develop research priorities, methods, protocols, and personnel to meet a broader spectrum of objectives.

Canada; equity; groundfish; livelihoods; lobster; Nova Scotia; property rights; quota; stewardship

In this study, I use a case study from Barrington, Nova Scotia, and dimensions from the Canadian Fisheries Research Network Comprehensive Sustainability Framework to demonstrate the importance of socioeconomic and institutional indicators to contribute to fisheries management plans

Economic Efficiency

Economic Equity

Governance Structures and Process

Decision-making

Resource Management and Licensing

Policy and Economics

Barnett, A. J. (2018). Recommendations for full-spectrum sustainability in Canadian lobster integrated management plans based on a socioeconomic analysis of Barrington, Nova Scotia. Ecology and Society, 23(1).

A social-ecological study of stock structure and fleet dynamics in the Newfoundland herring fishery

Paterson, B.; Neis, B.; Stephenson, R.L.

Management Science

Policy/Governance

ICES Journal of Marine Science

Successful management of small pelagic fisheries is critical in integrated ecosystem based approaches and requires understanding of how the ecological dynamics of pelagic stocks mesh with the economic and social dynamics of commercial fisheries and the larger systems within which they operate. Combining insights from stock assessments with those from local fishers, scientists, and managers, can help identify knowledge gaps that could jeopardize stock resilience. This article presents results from a social-ecological, mixed-methods study that combines insights from science and from interviews with fishermen, scientists, and managers of small pelagic fisheries in western Newfoundland, Canada (NAFO division 4R) and in NAFO division 4X. Different approaches to herring management are used in the two areas. In area 4R fishing for herring (Clupea harengus) is part of a complex multi-species, multi-gear fishery; most harvesters who target herring also target Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus). Harvester interviews indicate herring in 4R, like herring in 4X and elsewhere, have substantial within-species stock structure, but that it is not well-documented in science and not well protected under the current management system. Further, fishing strategies in the competitive mackerel fishery in which the herring vessels are involved may contribute to the risk of over-fishing on some herring populations.

Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), fishermen’s ecological knowledge, social-ecological analysis, stock structure

We designed a study
with the following objectives: (i) to gain a clearer picture of herring
management in the region by interviewing fishermen, processors,
scientists and managers and comparing the management
in 4R with the more collaborative approach in the Bay of Fundy
(Stephenson et al., 1999; Power et al., 2011), NAFO area 4X
(Figure 1); and, (ii) to identify potential gaps in scientific knowledge
and management that could jeopardize stock resilience by
comparing available scientific information, such as landings data
and assessment reports for area 4R (e.g. Beaulieu et al., 2010,
DFO, 2016) with data from fishermen’s ecological knowledge
(FEK).

Newfoundland and Labrador

Mixed methods

Primary and Secondary data

Public data/Government data/Industry data

Other - Documents

Content Analysis

Governance Structures and Process

Resource Management and Licensing

Paterson, B., Neis, B., & Stephenson, R. L. (2018). A social–ecological study of stock structure and fleet dynamics in the Newfoundland herring fishery. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 75(1), 257-269.

Perceptions of aquaculture ecolabels: A multi-stakeholder approach in Nova Scotia, Canada

Weitzman, J.; Bailey, M.

Marine Management

Policy/Governance

Ecolabelling is a tool increasingly used to support sustainable aquaculture management across the world. Proponents argue that ecolabels can offer economic benefits, improve transparency of fish farms, and address some of the ecological and socio-economic concerns of intensive marine finfish aquaculture. Exploring how ecolabelling schemes are valued and perceived can help evaluate their potential acceptance, use, and benefits. However, most perception studies explore consumer opinions and demand; few investigate the perceptions of a range of stakeholders at various points in the supply-chain. In this study, Q-methodology was used to explore the perceptions of six aquaculture-related stakeholder groups (fish farming industry, food industry, scientists, management, wild capture fishing industry, and environmental groups) towards ecolabelling of finfish aquaculture in Nova Scotia, Canada. Twenty-five participants sorted and ranked how much they agreed or disagreed with 49 different statements about the potential uptake, benefits, challenges, and influence of ecolabelling within the aquaculture industry. The analysis revealed four defining factors, or shared ‘perspectives’ which included: the optimist view, the skeptic view, the pragmatist view, and the improver view. Stakeholders agreed on likely market benefits, but also saw confusion and credibility as biggest barriers to successful ecolabelling. Conflicting viewpoints and significant disagreement on the potential for ecolabels to address environmental and socio-economic concerns suggests that labels may not be an effective tool for improving social acceptance. This paper argues that studying perceptions can lead to a better understanding of how ecolabels communicate, identify areas of improvement, and provide insight for their use for sustainable resource management.

Ecolabelling; Finfish aquaculture; Perceptions; Q-methodology; Stakeholder approach; Social acceptance

In this study, Q-methodology was used to explore the perceptions of six aquaculture-related stakeholder groups (fish farming industry, food industry, scientists, management, wild capture fishing industry, and environmental groups) towards ecolabelling of finfish aquaculture in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Food systems and food security

Primary and Secondary data

Other - Documents

Other - Websites

Governance Structures and Process

Aquaculture Management

Other - Provincial

Weitzman, J., & Bailey, M. (2018). Perceptions of aquaculture ecolabels: A multi-stakeholder approach in Nova Scotia, Canada. Marine Policy, 87, 12-22.

Sea-cage aquaculture impacts market and berried lobster (Homarus americanus) catches

Milewski I., Loucks R.H., Fisher B., Smith R.E., McCain J.S.P., Lotze H.K.

Marine Ecology Progress Series

Sea-cage finfish aquaculture frequently spatially overlaps and competes with traditional fisheries and ecologically important habitats in the coastal zone. Yet only few empirical studies exist on the effects of sea-cage aquaculture on commercially important fish and shellfish species, due to the lack of data. We present results from a unique collaboration between scientists and lobster fishers in Port Mouton Bay, Atlantic Canada, providing 11 yr of market (market-sized) lobster catches and berried (ovigerous) lobster counts in 5 spatially resolved areas adjacent to a sea-cage finfish farm. The time series covered 2 stocked (feed) and 2 non-stocked (fallow) periods, allowing us to test for the effects of feed versus fallow periods. Our results indicate that average market lobster catch per unit effort (CPUE) was significantly reduced by 42% and berried lobster counts by 56% in feed compared to fallow periods. Moreover, both market and berried lobster CPUE tended to be lower in fishing region 2, which included the fish farm, and higher in region 5, furthest away from the farm. Bottom temperature measurements in one region suggest that differences in CPUE between feed and fallow periods were not driven by temperature, and that berried lobsters may be more sensitive to both aquaculture and temperature than market lobster. We discuss possible mechanisms of how finfish farms as well as other abiotic and biotic factors such as habitat quality and temperature could affect lobster catch. Our results provide critical information for the management of multiple human uses in the coastal zone and the conservation of shellfish habitats that sustain traditional fisheries.

Finfish farming; ‚ÄÄ Environmental impacts; ‚ÄÄ Traditional fishery; ‚ÄÄ Lobster habitat; ‚ÄÄ Coastal zone; ‚ÄÄ Atlantic Canada

We present results from a unique collaboration between scientists and lobster fishers in Port Mouton Bay, Atlantic Canada, providing 11 yr of market (market-sized) lobster catches and berried (ovigerous) lobster counts in 5 spatially resolved areas adjacent to a sea-cage finfish farm.

Environmental change and conservation

Atlantic Canada

Secondary data

Public data/Government data/Industry data

Aquaculture Management

Other - Provincial

Milewski, I., Loucks, R. H., Fisher, B., Smith, R. E., McCain, J. S. P., & Lotze, H. K. (2018). Sea-cage aquaculture impacts market and berried lobster (Homarus americanus) catches. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 598, 85-97.

Fish Trade Liberalization Under 21st Century Trade Agreements: The CETA and Newfoundland and Labrador Fish and Seafood Industry

Sabau, G.; Boksh, F.I.M.M.

Environmental Economics

Ecological Economics

Both classical (Ricardo) and neo-classical (Heckscher-Ohlin) theories of international trade assume that free trade results in welfare gains for all involved. A more recent literature dedicated to liberalization of trade in renewable resources finds thatwelfare effects depend on certain factors, such as the country's status as importer or exporter, the state of the renewable resource stocks and the size of the country on the world market (Chichilnisky, 1993; Brander and Taylor, 1997a; Emami and Johnston, 2000, Hannesson, 2000), or remain theoretically indeterminate and require empirical analysis (Nielsen, 2009). Fish trade liberalization is provided in the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) concluded by the Canadian Government in 2013 with the European Union (EU). This new type of “21st century” trade agreement challenges both the conventional theory of international trade and renewable resource-based sectors of economic activity such as fish and seafood by opening them up to industrial-type international competition and integration. The paper uses the theoretical framework of ecological economics (Costanza et al., 2015) to demonstrate that the declining Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) fish and seafood industry is not ready to participate gainfully in implementation of the CETA. It also uses the concept of “policy space” (Rodrik 2007, Pauwelyn 2008) to recommend some policy changes that can prepare the NL fish and seafood sector for competitive and beneficial participation in the CETA. Restructuring the fish and seafood sector with a focus on small scale, elimination of harmful subsidies and redirecting them to achieve lower costs of operation, better trained labor force, and more just and sustainable supply/marketing networks, will make it fit to benefit from the gains from trade and to contribute to a more equitable distribution of the benefits of the fishery to the fishers and local communities

The paper uses the theoretical framework of ecological economics (Costanza et al., 2015) to demonstrate that the declining Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) fish and seafood industry is not ready to participate gainfully in implementation of the CETA.

Political economy/Political Ecology

Newfoundland and Labrador

Mixed methods

Secondary data

Economic Efficiency

Economic Equity

Health and Well-being

Governance Structures and Process

Policy and regulatory

Policy and Economics

Other - Provincial

Sabau, G., & Boksh, F. M. (2017). Fish trade liberalization under 21st century trade agreements: the CETA and Newfoundland and labrador fish and seafood industry. Ecological Economics, 141, 222-233.

Industrial aquaculture and the politics of resignation

Rigby, B.; Davis, R.; Bavington, D.; Baird, C.

While neoliberalism is often framed as a withdrawal of the state, many scholars have noted that what is occurring is not so much a withdrawal, as a repositioning. Although many social services and regulatory functions once provided by government agencies have indeed been eroded, there has been a simultaneous channeling of new resources into other arenas, in an effort to create conditions in which private corporations can operate more profitably. This, however, often places the state in a contradictory position, simultaneously serving as regulator, investor, and development advocate for the private sector. This can become especially problematic in moments of ecological crisis when decisive and unbiased responses are needed. This paper explores these dynamics through an examination of the cycles of growth and crisis that have characterized the aquaculture industry on the south coast of Newfoundland since the late 1970s as well as the ongoing attempts by aquaculture advocates to characterize industrial-scale fish farming as a sustainable industry, despite evidence to the contrary.

Aquaculture; Atlantic salmon; Newfoundland; Corporate social responsibility; Infectious; Salmon; Anemia (ISA); Genetic pollution

This paper explores these dynamics through an examination of the cycles of growth and crisis that have characterized the aquaculture industry on the south coast of Newfoundland since it was established in the late 1970s, paying particular attention to a series of crises that have taken place over the course of the last five years

Political economy/Political Ecology

Newfoundland and Labrador

Primary and secondary data

Economic Sustainability

Governance Structures and Process

Governance, policy, regulatory

Aquaculture Management

Resource Management and Licensing

Policy and Economics

Other - Provincial

Rigby, B., Davis, R., Bavington, D., & Baird, C. (2017). Industrial aquaculture and the politics of resignation. Marine policy, 80, 19-27.

Adaptation Decision Support: An Application of System Dynamics Modeling in Coastal Communities

Lane, Daniel; Beigzadeh, Shima; Moll, Richard

Management Science

Policy/Governance

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

This research develops and applies a system dynamics (SD) model for the strategic evaluation of environmental adaptation options for coastal communities. The article defines and estimates asset-based measures for community vulnerability, resilience, and adaptive capacity with respect to the environmental, economic, social, and cultural pillars of the coastal community under threat. The SD model simulates the annual multidimensional dynamic impacts of severe coastal storms and storm surges on the community pillars under alternative adaptation strategies. The calculation of the quantitative measures provides valuable information for decision makers for evaluating the alternative strategies. The adaptation strategies are designed model results illustrated for the specific context of the coastal community of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. The dynamic trend of the measures and model sensitivity analyses for Charlottetown—facing increased frequency of severe storms, storm surges, and sea-level rise—provide impetus for enhanced community strategic planning for the changing coastal environment. This research is presented as part of the International Community-University Research Alliance C-Change project ‘‘Managing Adaptation to Environmental Change in Coastal Communities: Canada and the Caribbean’’ sponsored by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the International Development Resource Centre.

Canada; Charlottetown; Climate change adaptation; ‚ÄÄ Coastal community resilience; ‚ÄÄ Coastal community vulnerability; ‚ÄÄ System dynamics model

This research develops and applies a system dynamics (SD) model for the strategic evaluation of environmental adaptation options for coastal communities. The article defines and estimates asset-based measures for community vulnerability, resilience, and adaptive capacity with respect to the environmental, economic, social, and cultural pillars of the coastal community under threat.

Prince Edward Island

Secondary data

Sustainable Communities

Small Craft Harbours

Other - Provincial

Small Craft Harbours

Lane, D., Beigzadeh, S., & Moll, R. (2017). Adaptation decision support: an application of system dynamics modeling in coastal communities. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 8(4), 374-389.

From Scotland to New Scotland: Constructing a sectoral marine plan for tidal energy for Nova Scotia

Sangiuliano, Stephen; Mastrantonis, Stanley

Environmental Studies

Competing usage of marine space has prompted several coastal nations to implement marine spatial planning (MSP). While progressive governments promote the deployment of renewable energy technologies (RETs) in order to meet renewable energy capacity and greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets, offshore RETs become another player operating within a finite and already stressed marine environment. This paper applies the sectoral MSP process employed by Scotland to the Nova Scotia context in order to draft a MSP for the province's tidal energy sector. Applicable legislation is reviewed in order to establish the regulatory authorities with powers to plan for both the marine development and ecosystem protection agendas. The scoping process identifies suitable resource areas based on the operational parameters of commercially viable tidal current turbines (TCTs), while the sustainability appraisal identifies areas of cultural, industry, ecological, and socioeconomic constraint and exclusion. Plan option areas emanating from the applied methodology demonstrated a 238.345 km2 (98.1%) increase in suitable TCT deployment area than the marine renewable energy areas identified in Nova Scotia's Marine Renewable Energy Act which did not undertake such a methodology.

Renewable energy; Marine policy; Marine management; Marine spatial planning; Spatial modeling; Eco-system management

This paper applies the sectoral MSP process employed by Scotland to the Nova Scotia context in order to draft a MSP for the province's tidal energy sector

Policy and governance

Secondary data

Governance Structures and Process

Science, decision-making, governance, policy, regulatory

Marine Planning and Conservation

Other - Provincial

Sangiuliano, S., & Mastrantonis, S. (2017). From Scotland to New Scotland: Constructing a sectoral marine plan for tidal energy for Nova Scotia. Marine Policy, 84, 1-11.

Climatic and Environmental Changes Affecting Communities in Atlantic Canada

Vasseur, Liette; Thornbush, Mary; Plante, Steve

Small rural coastal communities located in Atlantic Canada are vulnerable to the effects of climate and environmental changes. Major storms have impounded the coastline, causing much physical damage and affecting the socioeconomics of these communities that are composed of an aging population. The current study relays findings based on interviews completed in 2011–2012, following the 2010 winter storms in Atlantic Canada. It portrays the physical and social–ecological impacts affecting 10 coastal communities located in the provinces of Québec, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. Semi-structured interviews held in these provinces are the basis for the contributions of this research. The findings reveal physical changes related to coastal erosion from high-wave impacts and storm surge causing flooding of the coastal zone. Also considered are strategies preferred and actually implemented by residents, such as building of protection walls, although undesirable. Due to funding constraints, however, many of these large-scale flood protection projects are not possible without governmental support. Instead, it is suggested that development be controlled and some respondents in this study upheld that relocation be used to alleviate the situation. Finally, more work is required to improve emergency planning. Better concerted short- and long-term responses need to be coordinated by local authorities and higher up in the government in order to ensure the sustainability of these coastal communities.

climate change; physical landscapes; impacts; responses; adaptation; sustainability

The current study relays findings based on interviews completed in 2011–2012, following the 2010 winter storms in Atlantic Canada. It portrays the physical and social-ecological impacts affecting 10 coastal communities located in the provinces of Qu bec, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

Environmental change and conservation

Prince Edward Island

New Brunswick, Quebec

Content Analysis

Sustainable Communities

Small Craft Harbours

Other - Provincial

Vasseur, L., Thornbush, M., & Plante, S. (2017). Climatic and environmental changes affecting communities in Atlantic Canada. Sustainability, 9(8), 1293.

Privatization, financialization and ocean grabbing in New Brunswick herring fisheries and salmon aquaculture

Knott, C; Neis, B

MARINE POLICY

The growing literature on individual transferable quotas (ITQs) and on intensive salmon aquaculture and its negative impacts on the environment and other users of related marine space has been little connected to the developing literature on financialization and to the literature on ocean grabbing within fisheries. This paper seeks to address this gap through a case study of the recent history of herring fisheries and intensive aquaculture in New Brunswick, Canada, exploring how specific neoliberal processes – including privatization and marketization (in herring fleet ITQs and aquaculture lease systems), (re)regulation, financialization and globalization – have interacted to support the reshaping of regional fisheries from mixed small-scale, familybased, petty commodity fisheries towards vertically-integrated, corporate, financialized fisheries characterized by ocean grabbing.

Financialization; Ocean grabbing; Neoliberalism; Fisheries; Aquaculture; Seafood processing

This paper seeks to address this gap through a case study of the recent history of herring fisheries and intensive aquaculture in New Brunswick, Canada, exploring how specific neoliberal processes – including privatization and marketization (in herring fleet ITQs and aquaculture lease systems), (re)regulation, financialization and globalization – have interacted to support the reshaping of regional fisheries from mixed small-scale, familybased, petty commodity fisheries towards vertically-integrated, corporate, financialized fisheries characterized by ocean grabbing.

Political economy/Political Ecology

Coastal,Offshore

Secondary data

Content Analysis

Economic Equity

Governance Structures and Process

Policy and Economics

Resource Management and Licensing

Aquaculture Management

Other - Provincial

Privatization, financialization and ocean grabbing in New Brunswick herring fisheries and salmon aquaculture

Enacting and contesting neoliberalism in fisheries: The tragedy of commodifying lobster access rights in Southwest Nova Scotia

Barnett, A.J.; Messenger, R.A.; Wiber, M.G.

Atlantic Canadian fisheries policy exhibits a tension between competing objectives of economic efficiency, and of well-being and equity within coastal communities and small-scale fisheries. The struggle between different actors over these objectives has generated distinct forms of neoliberalism in different regions and fishing fleets. In the lobster fishery, the right to fish has been concentrated since limited-entry licensing policy was introduced in the 1980s. This paper examines actors and events at two scales, including Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 34 Advisory Committee meetings involving fishermen, representatives of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), and other stakeholders, and broader scale strategies of the Canadian Independent Fish Harvesters Federation (CIFHF). A Foucauldian perspective aids in understanding how fisheries governance is the product of struggles between the power and agency of individual fishermen, fishing organizations, processing companies, the DFO, the Minister of Fisheries and the courts. While many theorists view fisheries through the lens of the “tragedy of the commons”, alternative tragedies are developing in Atlantic Canadian fisheries. These include rising levels of debt, reduced earnings, vulnerability to financial volatility, loss of fishing rights within communities, and too much processor control.

This paper examines actors and events at two scales, including Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 34 Advisory Committee meetings involving fishermen, representatives of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), and other stakeholders, and broader scale strategies of the Canadian Independent Fish Harvesters Federation (CIFHF).

Policy and governance

Coastal,Offshore

Content Analysis

Economic Equity

Economic Efficiency

Governance Structures and Process

Science and policy

Policy and Economics

Barnett, A. J., Messenger, R. A., & Wiber, M. G. (2017). Enacting and contesting neoliberalism in fisheries: The tragedy of commodifying lobster access rights in Southwest Nova Scotia. Marine Policy, 80, 60-68.

Key principles of ecosystem-based management: the fishermen's perspective

Long, Rachel D.; Charles, Anthony; Stephenson, Robert L.

Fisheries Biology

Fish and Fisheries

Despite the growing popularity of ecosystem-based management (EBM) in national legislation and in research and institutional literature, there is often an implementation gap ‘on the ground’, impeding widespread adoption in fisheries. This gap reflects in part the differing understandings of EBM held by fishermen and by management institutions. To explore and seek to close this gap, the underlying principles of EBM considered priorities by fishermen were systematically compared with the priorities identified in the published literature. The fishermen’s priorities were determined by asking Atlantic Canadian fishermen to identify the EBM principles they consider most important. Four priority principles were identified: Sustainability, Stakeholder Involvement, Develop Long-Term Objectives and Use of All Forms of Knowledge. The latter two were not frequently noted as priorities in the literature, while some literature priorities were less commonly chosen by fishermen, indicating a significant difference in perspectives on EBM. The rationale for fishermen's choice of priorities was explored by analysing the fishery management issues they raised – many directly connected to the above four priorities. In addition, another principle, Commit to Principles of Equity, often arose as an implicit priority among fishermen. We suggest that success in implementation of EBM may depend on reconciling differing priorities among its underlying principles, and combining knowledge and expertise from fishermen with research and institutional sources. The comparative methodology used here, which could be replicated elsewhere, should lead to better recognition of local challenges in EBM implementation and encourage support for EBM, to further its contribution to sustainable fisheries.

EBM principles, ecosystem approach to fisheries, ecosystem-based fisheries management, ecosystem-based management, fishermen, stakeholders

To explore and seek to close this gap, the underlying principles of EBM considered priorities by fishermen were systematically compared with the priorities identified in the published literature.

Policy and governance

Atlantic Canada

Content Analysis

Governance Structures and Process

Science, policy, resource management and decision-making

Marine Planning and Conservation

Resource Management and Licensing

Indigenous Fisheries Management

Long, R. D., Charles, A., & Stephenson, R. L. (2017). Key principles of ecosystem‚Äêbased management: the fishermen's perspective. Fish and Fisheries, 18(2), 244-253.

Reconnecting people, place, and nature: Examining alternative food networks in Newfoundland's fisheries

DesRivres, C.P.; Chuenpagdee, R.; Mather, C.

Human Geography

Agriculture and Food Security

Background: Fisheries have played a significant role in the economic development of Newfoundland and Labrador and continue to contribute to coastal livelihoods and local food security. However, the access to and availability of locally harvested fish and seafood in the province is notably lacking, particularly since federal and provincial policies have prioritized the development of export markets in the fisheries over local sales. In this paper, we examine market actors and civil society organizations in St. John’s (the provincial capital) and Petty Harbour (a nearby fishing community) that have embarked on initiatives to better include fish and seafood in the local food system. The success of these initiatives depends in part on the degree of connectivity between consumers and harvesters, as well as between people, the culture of fishing, and the marine environment. Results: Reconnections are the foundations of alternative food networks (AFNs), which aim to develop more environmentally and socially sustainable and localized ways of producing, distributing, retailing, and consuming food. This paper explores the social, cultural, and ecological values of the fisheries as means to forging reconnections. The research reveals that values pertaining to traditional food culture, environmental stewardship and conservation, localization, and social cohesion were significant motivating factors for stakeholders in seeking out reconnection in their food system. Conclusions: While AFNs in Newfoundland’s fisheries are currently underdeveloped, reconnections are nonetheless taking place along the fisheries supply chain and can contribute to enhancing the accessibility and availability of locally harvested fish. The study also finds that AFNs must be context appropriate and reflect local values, as there are significant opportunities in building on Newfoundland’s strong fishing culture and heritage.

Alternative food networks, Fisheries, Values, Reconnection

In this paper, we examine market actors and civil society organizations in St. John’s (the provincial capital) and Petty Harbour (a nearby fishing community) that have embarked on initiatives to better include fish and seafood in the local food system.

food systems and food security

Newfoundland and Labrador

Content Analysis

Sustainable Communities

Health and Well-being

Policy and Economics

Other - Provincial

DesRivières, C. P., Chuenpagdee, R., & Mather, C. (2017). Reconnecting people, place, and nature: examining alternative food networks in Newfoundland’s fisheries. Agriculture & Food Security, 6(1), 1-11.

The science-policy interface in fisheries management: Insights about the influence of organizational structure and culture on information pathways

Soomai, Suzuette S.

Information Management

Policy/Governance

Understanding how information flows between scientific and decision-making communities is essential for the creation of effective strategies to link scientific advice to management decisions. Interviews of scientists and managers in two inter-related fisheries management organizations – the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) – and direct observations at science and management meetings revealed important organizational characteristics that influence the production, communication, and use of scientific information in decision-making. Formal processes for communicating scientific advice to managers – DFO's Canadian Scientific Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) and NAFO's Fisheries Commission's Request for Advice – demonstrate the use of credible, relevant, and legitimate advice for operational decision-making for fisheries management. Such defined processes, in addition to governmental bureaucracy, departmentalization, and de-centralization, can limit communication as highlighted for Canada as a Contracting Party to NAFO. Administrative mechanisms can pose challenges to implementing ecosystem approaches to fisheries management (EAF) and to addressing the impacts of climate change. Emerging organizational structures and behaviours facilitate communication at the science-policy interface, within and between the organizations, thereby improving understanding of science and management needs and promoting trust relationships between scientists and managers. The involvement of multiple stakeholders in the information pathways addresses concerns about scientific uncertainty in assessment advice. A linear model of information flow typifies operational decision-making; however, collaborative models that incorporate different types of information, apart from fisheries science, are required to enable ecosystem-based management. The characteristics of the information pathways are particularly relevant as the organizations address their EAF mandates.

This paper examines the role of organizational structures and cultures in decision-making in fisheries management

Policy and governance

Atlantic Canada

Content Analysis

Governance Structures and Process

Policy and Economics

Soomai, S. S. (2017). The science-policy interface in fisheries management: Insights about the influence of organizational structure and culture on information pathways. Marine Policy, 81, 53-63.

Understanding the science-policy interface: Case studies on the role of information in fisheries management

Soomai, Suzuette S.

Information Management

Policy/Governance

Environmental Science & Policy

Case studies of the Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) highlighted factors influencing scientific communication that are contingent on the characteristics of the many dynamic and iterative science-policy interfaces among decision-makers, scientists, and other stakeholders. Direct observations of 15 scientific and management meetings coupled with interviews with 78 scientists and managers revealed aspects of the information pathways, i.e., production, communication, and use of scientific information in these organizations. Unique features of decisionmaking and information use enable the production of credible, relevant, and legitimate information in each organization, including trade-offs in these attributes to support fisheries governance objectives. For instance, defined processes for producing scientific advice embedded in fisheries management authorities, such as DFO and NAFO, ensure uptake of information in decision-making. As a boundary organization, FAO bridges science and policy-making groups among its member countries. The demand for scientific advice, policy development, and trade aspects are primary drivers in the information pathways. However, organizational aspects such as dispersed units and inadequate communication persist as barriers to information flow. Across the geographic scales of the three organizations, stakeholders apart from government scientists and policy-makers, e.g., the fishing industry, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and the public, are increasingly involved in the information pathways. Insights about the information pathways can equip the organizations to evaluate or modify practices to increase the uptake of information in decision-making as fisheries management issues and considerations become more complex.

Science-policy interface; Marine fisheries management; Information use; Decision-making; Environmental governance; Scientific communication

This paper empirically examines the role(s) of scientific information in the science-policy interface in decision-making for fisheries management in three governmental organizations: the Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Policy and governance

Comparative/International

Atlantic Canada

Mixed methods

Content Analysis

Governance Structures and Process

Policy and Economics

Resource Management and Licensing

Other International

Soomai, S. S. (2017). Understanding the science-policy interface: Case studies on the role of information in fisheries management. Environmental Science & Policy, 72, 65-75.

A System model of collaborative community response to environmental emergencies

Lane, D.E., Moll, R.H.H., Beigzadeh, S., O'Sullivan, T., Berkes, F., Kuziemsky, C., Charles, A.

Management Science

Policy/Governance

The International Journal of Climate Change Impacts and Responses

This paper analyzes the social and collaborative dynamic of coastal community response to severe weather events associated with the changing climate. Community emergencies arising from severe storms are considered to be exogenous events that affect community social activity. We developed a system dynamics model to depict the dynamic activity of the community system. The model incorporates structural equations for social collaboration among community members, social networking activity, and community well-being. The community system is described in terms of its population (social), land use (environmental), production (economic goods and services), and community capital (sociocultural) resources. The community is also profiled by its demographic (population age distribution), education, work skill set, and health characteristics. Emergency events impact these components of the community profile. We present a system dynamics annualized simulation model that incorporates severe storm events; community profile dynamics in reaction to the severe storms; and community propensity for collaboration, well-being, and social activity. The results demonstrate the measurability of these concepts and provide indications for improved understanding and intervention of conditions that engage community collaborative actions. The model is motivated by examples from community research in the EnRiCH Project and the C-Change Project. Social mapping for collaboration, well-being, and social networking activity are illustrated for the C-Change coastal community of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, which is subject to severe coastal storms. The results indicate the value of dynamic community support for improved social response in the event of environmental emergencies

Adaptation, Community Collaboration, Emergency Response

This paper analyzes the social and collaborative dynamic of coastal community response to severe weather events associated with the changing climate.

Prince Edward Island

Secondary data

Sustainable Communities

Health and Well-being

Governance and policy

Other - Provincial

Lane, D. E., Moll, R. H., Beigzadeh, S., O’Sullivan, T., Berkes, F., Kuziemsky, C., & Charles, A. (2017). A System Model of Collaborative Community Response to Environmental Emergencies. International Journal of Climate Change: Impacts & Responses, 9(4).

Local knowledge of distribution of European green crab (Carcinus maenas) in southern Nova Scotian coastal waters

Cosham, J.A.; Beazley, K.F.; McCarthy, C.

Environmental Studies

Human Ecology

Local knowledge is making important contributions to environmental management. Improving understanding of local knowledge that is in the early stages of development may be useful towards management of novel species or understanding other contemporary events. In this study we interviewed Nova Scotian fishermen with experience with a recently arrived invasive species, the European green crab (Carcinus maenas), to evaluate their knowledge of its local distribution. Ten participants who had either fished green crab or experienced it as a by-catch were interviewed. Environmental, temporal and internal population factors that were frequently associated with green crab distributions were reported by participants. Environmental factors described included primarily depth, vegetation, biotic interactions and bottomtype. Furthermore, interactions with temporal factors (e.g. tidal and seasonal changes) as well as internal-population factors (e.g. sex and age) were observed by a number of participants. Internal factors were described more frequently among participants with more experience and more direct associations with green crab. Local knowledge illustrates not only a nascent understanding of this species’ distribution, but realization of internal population structure and temporal variations, which may help to refine management strategies. This study illustrates the potential for local knowledge to form and develop, even around relatively recent environmental events.

Fishermen; Habitat; Invasive species; Population management; Species distributions

In this study we interviewed Nova Scotian fishermen with experience with a recently arrived invasive species, the European green crab (Carcinus maenas), to evaluate their knowledge of its local distribution.

Mixed methods

Content Analysis

Species at Risk and Integrated Planning

Cosham, J. A., Beazley, K. F., & McCarthy, C. (2016). Local knowledge of distribution of European green crab (Carcinus Maenas) in southern Nova Scotian coastal waters. Human ecology, 44(4), 409-424.

Climate adaptation in ‘new world’ cultural landscapes: The case of Bay of Fundy agricultural dykelands (Nova Scotia, Canada)

Sherren, Kate; Loik, Logan; Debner, James A.

Environmental Social Science

Land Use Policy

North America has few cultural agricultural landscapes, and often commensurately poor governancearrangements for managing change in such settings. This research uses the Acadian dykelands of NovaScotia, Canada, as an opportunity to explore the social and governance limits to coastal climate adaptationin ‘new world’ cultural agricultural landscapes, as well as inform local decision-making. Approximatelyhalf of Nova Scotia’s coastal wetlands were converted to dykeland in the 1600s, lowering local resilienceto the increased frequency and storm severity anticipated with climate change. Today, dykelands protecta diversity of public and private interests, meanings and values, yet are controlled by the agriculturalsector, which can no longer afford to maintain them all to 2050 climate projections. We report here on arepresentative online Q-methodology survey of 183 adult Nova Scotians in the spring of 2015. Respon-dents sorted 34 statements along a normal distribution about whether they prefer dykeland maintenanceor wetland restoration, and under what governance arrangements. Four factors were derived: the domi-nant discourse was local, female and strongly pro-dykeland, indicating the likelihood for local resistanceto dykeland removal on for cultural, recreational and farming reasons. The second factor was supportive ofwetland restoration for reasons of efficiency, not wetland affinity, but characterized by those in positionsof management power. The two minority viewpoints were less informed about dykelands, characteristicof outsiders, and concerned more with governance. More education is needed about the challenges facingdykelands, the benefits of coastal wetlands, and the management options, but this research shows propos-als to change landscape should emphasize flood mitigation over cost-saving. Cultural values and statusquo bias are clearly barriers to adaptation planning, even when discussing the removal of man-madestructures. The factors were surprisingly polarized, suggesting the forced-normal distribution affects thespace available to convey nuanced perspectives. Large p-set Q-method of this kind is likely most usefulfor characterizing the emergent discourses demographically, and understanding their prevalence; thesame discourses had emerged within a much smaller pilot study.

Agricultural marshlands; Climate change; Coastal wetland restoration; Managed realignment; Multifunctional landscape; Public discourse; Q methodology

This research uses the Acadian dykelands of NovaScotia, Canada, as an opportunity to explore the social and governance limits to coastal climate adaptationin ‘new world’ cultural agricultural landscapes, as well as inform local decision-making

Policy and Governance

Mixed methods

Content Analysis

Governance Structures and Process

Decision-making, policy, governance, science

Other - Provincial

Sherren, K., Loik, L., & Debner, J. A. (2016). Climate adaptation in ‘new world’cultural landscapes: the case of Bay of Fundy agricultural dykelands (Nova Scotia, Canada). Land use policy, 51, 267-280.

Economic costs and impacts of climate-induced sea-level rise and storm surge in Canadian coastal provinces: a CGE approach

Withey, P.; Lantz, V. A.; Ochuodho, T. O.

Environmental Economics

Applied Economics

We estimated the economic costs and impacts of future sea-level rise (SLR) and storm surge due to climate change in Canada’s coastal provinces using regional, dynamic computable general equilibrium models that track provincial welfare, GDP, trade, prices and inputs over the 2009–2054 period. We also assessed the economic costs of coastal adaptation investments, to determine whether such investments can be justified on economic grounds. Results indicated that SLR and storm surge could cost Canada in the range of $4.6–$25.5 billion in present value welfare, and between $53.7 and $108.7 billion in present value GDP. We found significant variation in costs and impacts across coastal provinces, with some provinces such as Newfoundland and Labrador experiencing only marginal costs/impacts, and others such as British Columbia experiencing costs as high as $21 billion in welfare over the period. Coastal adaptation investments were supported on economics grounds. Overall, this study provides the first (and preliminary) provincial economic impact estimates of climate-induced SLR and storm surge, as well as adaptation investments, in Canada. Additional research is needed to refine the analysis in order to produce reliable estimates that can be used to guide coastal adaptation policies in Canada.

Climate change; sea-level rise; computable general equilibrium; Canada

We estimated the economic costs and impacts of future sea-level rise (SLR) and storm surge due to climate change in Canada’s coastal provinces using regional, dynamic computable general equilibrium models that track provincial welfare, GDP, trade, prices and inputs over the 2009-2054 period.

Policy and Governance

Newfoundland and Labrador

Prince Edward Island,Nova Scotia,New Brunswick, British Columbia; Quebec; the Territories

Secondary data

Economic Sustainability

Small Craft Harbours

Other - Provincial

Withey, P., Lantz, V. A., & Ochuodho, T. O. (2016). Economic costs and impacts of climate-induced sea-level rise and storm surge in Canadian coastal provinces: a CGE approach. Applied Economics, 48(1), 59-71.

Making Space for Community Use Rights: Insights From “Community Economies” in Newfoundland and Labrador

Foley, Paul; Mather, Charles

Political Economy

Society & Natural Resources

Community use rights are rarely considered to be an economically viable or efficient option in conventional fisheries management policy. Our analysis challenges this view by pointing to the positive economic and social outcomes of community use rights in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. We argue that resources allocated to community-based organizations can be used to build “community economies,” in the theoretical vocabulary of J. K. Gibson-Graham. By combining insights of Gibson-Graham’s diverse economies framework with an empirical analysis of how ethical decision making helped build and sustain community economies in three fishing regions, the article promotes the allocation of new community use rights in fisheries and beyond.

Community economies; community use rights; diverse economies; fisheries; Newfoundland and Labrador

Our analysis challenges this view by pointing to the positive economic and social outcomes of community use rights in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Political economy/Political Ecology

Newfoundland and Labrador

Content Analysis

Economic Equity

Governance Structures and Process

Governance and policy

Policy and Economics

Foley, P., & Mather, C. (2016). Making space for community use rights: Insights from “community economies” in Newfoundland and Labrador. Society & Natural Resources, 29(8), 965-980.

A boat perspective: local geographic knowledge of fish harvesters in Change Islands, Newfoundland

Smith, D.; Woodrow, M.; Vodden, K.

Human Geography

Journal of Cultural Geography

People whose livelihoods depend on the natural environment have detailed knowledge of the lands and waters surrounding their communities. This paper presents research on the traditional geographic knowledge of fish harvesters in Change Islands, Newfoundland. Our findings, based on “kitchen table mapping” and other ethnographic methods, demonstrate that residents of coastal communities have extensive geographic knowledge associated with a way of life centred on fishing. This knowledge is reflected in a “namescape” that includes hundreds of toponyms that are not present on existing maps and that reflect meaningful connections with local history and cultural heritage. Fish harvesters also have distinctive ways of conceptualizing the landscape and the seascape, which is reflected in the geographic terminology they use. Overall, their way of looking at the environment, in contrast to the bird’s-eye perspective that prevails in western cartography, can be characterized as a “boat perspective”. Their geographic knowledge has practical value for improving existing cartographic information and developing sustainable resource use strategies. At a broader level, their distinctive ways of interpreting the “earthscape” provide alternative ways of understanding space and place, and can help us identify our assumptions about how we define geographic features and represent them on maps.

local knowledge; toponyms; fishing peoples; coastal communities; earthscape; Newfoundland

This paper presents research on the traditional geographic knowledge of fish harvesters in Change Islands, Newfoundland.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Mixed methods

Resource Management and Licensing

Policy and Economics

Smith, D., Woodrow, M., & Vodden, K. (2016). A boat perspective: local geographic knowledge of fish harvesters in Change Islands, Newfoundland. Journal of cultural geography, 33(1), 1-26.

The role of public participation GIS (PPGIS) and fishermen's perceptions of risk in marine debris mitigation in the Bay of Fundy, Canada

Barnett, A.J.; Wiber, M.G.; Rooney, M.P.; Curtis Maillet, D.G.

Ocean and Coastal Management

From nano-plastics to large sunken vessels, marine debris presents a threat to humans and ecosystems worldwide. Fishermen's knowledge of the sources of, and risks posed by medium to large debris derived from fishing, aquaculture, and other marine industries provides important context for debris mitigation. Public participation geographic information systems (PPGIS) can address these risks by integrating subjective and objective spatial data on human and environmental impacts and risks. We integrated fishermen's perceptions and experiences with marine debris with spatial data using PPGIS. We developed a georeferenced database of fishermen's experiences with marine debris, collected during focus groups and at various other meetings in Southwest New Brunswick. This layer was used to integrate baseline data with subjective perceptions of the ecological, economic, and navigational risks associated with marine debris in the Bay of Fundy, Canada. We also documented the physical, technical, political, and regulatory challenges to marine debris mitigation. These challenges highlight the social and environmental processes that complicate any projects that attempt to develop uncontested spatial representations of marine debris. Finally, we discuss the potential of PPGIS to address these challenges by fostering communication, coordinating various marine activities, helping stakeholders set priorities for clean-up, and implementing collaborative clean-up projects.

Marine debris; Fisheries; Aquaculture; Public participation; GIS (PPGIS); Atlantic Canada

We integrated fishermen's perceptions and experiences with marine debris with spatial data using PPGIS. We developed a georeferenced database of fishermen's experiences with marine debris, collected during focus groups and at various other meetings in Southwest New Brunswick.

Coastal,Offshore

Mixed methods

Primary and secondary data

Governance Structures and Process

Policy and regulatory

Marine Planning and Conservation

Barnett, A. J., Wiber, M. G., Rooney, M. P., & Maillet, D. G. C. (2016). The role of public participation GIS (PPGIS) and fishermen's perceptions of risk in marine debris mitigation in the Bay of Fundy, Canada. Ocean & coastal management, 133, 85-94.

Improving the American Eel Fishery Through the Incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge into Policy Level Decision Making in Canada

Giles, A.; Fanning, L.; Denny, S.; Paul, T.

Marine Management

Policy/Governance

Human Ecology

Effective management of ecosystems, natural resources, and harvesting practices is essential for ecosystem health and the sustainable use of marine resources. Although the value, importance, and benefits of the incorporation of indigenous knowledge, particularly of traditional ecological knowledge into western science-policy decision-making have been well recognized over the past few decades, suitable mechanisms for collecting and incorporating indigenous knowledge into policy level decision making are not yet well understood. This study examines the Canadian government’s assessment process for the American eel, Anguilla rostrata, as well as the community level management process for the eel fishery in Eskasoni First Nation, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. This case study allows for an exploration of the challenges arising from differing worldviews and possible mechanisms for meaningful integration of indigenous values into governmental policy level decision-making.

Indigenous knowledge; Knowledge systems; American eel fishery; Eskasoni First Nation; Canada

This study examines the Canadian government’s assessment process for the American eel, Anguilla rostrata, as well as the community level management process for the eel fishery in Eskasoni First Nation, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Indigenous fisheries and ways of knowing

Governance Structures and Process

Policy and Economics

Species at Risk and Integrated Planning

Other Federal - ECCC

Giles, A., Fanning, L., Denny, S., & Paul, T. (2016). Improving the American eel fishery through the incorporation of indigenous knowledge into policy level decision making in Canada. Human ecology, 44(2), 167-183.

Remobilizing netukulimk: indigenous cultural and spiritual connections with resource stewardship and fisheries management in Atlantic Canada

McMillan, L. Jane; Prosper, Kerry

Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries

Recent global initiatives such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples have brought the issues facing and needs of Indigenous peoples to the forefront of international attention. While underscoring respect for traditional practices, these initiatives have yet to appreciate fully the extent to which Indigenous peoples’ practices engage ways of being, living and believing that encompass a holistic understanding of the relations between humans and all facets of their ecosystems. The Mi’kmaw, a nation of Indigenous peoples in Atlantic Canada, work to recapture and express ancient holistic understandings through their contemporary natural resource management aspirations and practices. In this paper we review key colonial events that have impacted Indigenous relations with settlers and resulted in historical marginalization of the Mi’kmaw from fishery policy and management processes. We provide an overview and discussion of recent developments wherein the Mi’kmaw are working to revitalize the place of netukulimk, a concept that embraces cultural and spiritual connections with resource stewardship, in the exercise of treaty-based rights, particularly within self-governing fisheries management initiatives. We conclude with the core attributes of Two-Eyed Seeing, a methodological framework for collaborative, decolonizing research practices and Indigenous knowledge mobilization strategies. The Mi’kmaw experiences provide insights regarding the challenges and requirements for achieving respect for Indigenous traditional practices and point a way forward for more effective and inclusive stewardship of natural aquatic resources into the future.

Fisheries; Aboriginal and treaty rights;   Indigenous peoples;   Mi’kmaw;   Donald Marshall

In this paper we review key colonial events that have impacted Indigenous relations with settlers and resulted in historical marginalization of the Mi’kmaw from fishery policy and management processes

Indigenous fisheries and ways of knowing

Atlantic Canada

Governance Structures and Process

Legal Obligations and Other Commitments

Indigenous Fisheries Management

Giles, A., Fanning, L., Denny, S., & Paul, T. (2016). Improving the American eel fishery through the incorporation of indigenous knowledge into policy level decision making in Canada. Human ecology, 44(2), 167-183.

A Mi'kmaw perspective on advancing salmon governance in Nova Scotia, Canada: Setting the stage for collaborative co-existence

Denny, S.K.; Fanning, L.M.

Marine Management

Policy/Governance

International Indigenous Policy Journal

Issues related to fisheries governance are a source of debate and tension between the Indigenous Mi’kmaq people of Nova Scotia and the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) in matters concerning Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar. Within the context of the existing governance regime, this analysis compares the concept of salmon conservation and management from a Mi’kmaq perspective and proposes a collaborative co-existence approach for effective salmon governance in Nova Scotia. This approach begins by using comanagement as a process, Two-Eyed Seeing as the design, and treaties as the model to achieve shared objectives of maintaining and improving abundances of salmon populations, in spite of differing mechanisms for addressing the interwoven complexities of multiple realities, conservation, and cultural identity.

conservation, salmon, Mi’kmaq, governance, Two-Eyed Seeing, treaties, co-management

Within the context of the existing governance regime, this analysis compares the concept of salmon conservation and management from a Mi’kmaq perspective and proposes a collaborative co-existence approach for effective salmon governance in Nova Scotia

Indigenous fisheries and ways of knowing

Secondary data

Governance Structures and Process

Legal Obligations and Other Commitments

Science, decision-making, governance

Indigenous Fisheries Management

Denny, S. K., & Fanning, L. M. (2016). A Mi'kmaw perspective on advancing salmon governance in Nova Scotia, Canada: Setting the stage for collaborative co-existence. International Indigenous Policy Journal, 7(3).

Balancing Community Autonomy with Collective Identity: Mi'kmaq Decision-Making in Nova Scotia

Denny, Shelley; Fanning, Lucia

Marine Management

Policy/Governance

The Canadian Journal of Native Studies

Historically the Mi'kmaq, one of the indigenous people of Eastern Canada, governed natural resources of their traditional territory of Mi'kma'ki, known today as parts of Maritime Canada and Quebec. Today, the Mi'kmaq of Nova Scotia are organized as the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq chiefs. This paper examines the decsion-making process of the Mi'kmaq of Nova Scotia, tripartite framwrok, and role of evidence to support the process using fisheries-related decsion making as a case study. The key factors influencing decsion-making are discussed

This paper examines the decision making process of the Mi'kmaq of Nova Scotia, tripartite framework and role of evidence to support the process using fisheries-related decision making as a case-study

Indigenous fisheries and ways of knowing

Primary and secondary data

Content Analysis

Governance Structures and Process

Legal Obligations and Other Commitments

Indigenous Fisheries Management

Denny, S., & Fanning, L. (2016). BALANCING COMMUNITY AUTONOMY WITH COLLECTIVE IDENTITY: MI'KMAQ DECISION-MAKING IN NOVA SCOTIA. The Canadian Journal of Native Studies, 36(2), 81.

From unjust uneconomic growth to sustainable fisheries in Newfoundland: The true costs of closing the inshore fishery for groundfish

Sabau, Gabriela; van Zyll de Jong, Michael

Environmental Economics

Neoliberal economic and social policies during the last 65 years have placed a premium on continuous economic growth. Concern among ecological economists and other critics that economic growth results in loss of natural capital and ecosystem services led to introduction of the concept of “uneconomic growth,” defined as “growth of the macro economy that costs us more than it is worth” (Daly and Farley, Ecological economics principles and applications. Washington: Island Press; 2004). This paper proposes the concept of “unjust uneconomic growth” to pinpoint the additional costs of policies that promote uneconomic growth to the neglect of other considerations and uses the case of Newfoundland and Labrador fisheries policies since 1992 to document it. Newfoundland and Labrador fisheries experienced uneconomic growth in the 1980s leading to the collapse of ground fish stocks. The policies enacted since 1993 based on economic growth goals have failed to solve the ecological-social crisis and entailed additional costs to small-scale fisheries.

Uneconomic growth; Unjust uneconomic growth; Policy failure; Costs; Inshore fisheries

This paper proposes the concept of ‚"unjust uneconomic growth" to pin point the additional costs of policies that promote uneconomic growth to the neglect of other considerations and uses the case of Newfoundland and Labrador fisheries policies since 1992 to document it

Political economy/Political Ecology

Newfoundland and Labrador

Mixed methods

Secondary data

Economic Equity

Policy and Economics

Other - Provincial

Sabau, G., & de Jong, M. V. Z. (2015). From unjust uneconomic growth to sustainable fisheries in Newfoundland: the true costs of closing the inshore fishery for groundfish. Marine Policy, 61, 376-389.

Notions of justice held by stakeholders of the Newfoundland fishery

Kahmann, B.; Stumpf, K.H.; Baumgärtner, S.

Environmental Communications

Justice is an important and contested issue in the governance of fish stocks threatened by over-exploitation. This study identifies the notions of justice held by stakeholders of the fishery in Newfoundland, Canada, using qualitative interviews, and interprets these notions in light of established justice theories. The interviews are analysed using inductive and deductive coding. A central result is that inshore fishers are seen as the main claim holders, with a claim to participate and be listened to, and the opportunity to make a living from the fishery. Moreover, rules play an important role in the justice notions of the interview partners, and their justice notions are clearly plural. The stakeholder notions of justice in the Newfoundland fishery resonate with the emphasis on recognition, participation and distribution as important aspects of justice within the environmental justice approach [59-61] (Schlosberg 2004, 2007, 2013).

Justice; Conceptual structure; Environmental justice; Newfoundland fishery; Qualitative semi-structured interviews; Deductive/inductive coding; Empirical justice research

This study identifies the notions of justice held by stakeholders of the fishery inNewfoundland, Canada, using qualitative interviews, and interprets these notions in light of established justice theories.

Policy and governance

Newfoundland and Labrador

Coastal,Offshore

Content Analysis

Economic Equity

Ethical and Just Activities

Policy and Economics

Kahmann, B., Stumpf, K. H., & Baumgärtner, S. (2015). Notions of justice held by stakeholders of the Newfoundland fishery. Marine Policy, 62, 37-50.

All in': Snow crab, capitalization, and the future of small-scale fisheries in Newfoundland

The collapse of cod stocks off the coast of NewfoundlandandLabradorintheearly1990shasbeen widely identified asoneofthegreatesthuman-ecologicalcatastrophesofthe20thcentury.Inthe aftermathofthecrisis,heateddebatestookplaceabouthowthe fishery shouldbestructuredinthe future inordertofacilitatetherecoveryofstocksandsustaincoastallivelihoods.Intheend,thetrade union representing fishers and fish processingplantworkers intheprovinceprovedsuccessfulin resisting pressuresfrom fish processingcompaniestointroducefull-scaleprivatization.It wasalsoable to expandaccesstothelucrativesnowcrab fishery,therebyimproving in comes for most remaining independent fishers in the province. Nevertheless, this paper argues that policy changes madeshortly after cod moratorium,in combination with changing environmental, demographic,and market conditions, have created asituationwhichnowthreatenstounderminethecapacityforsmall-scale fishing enterprisestoremainindependentlyownedandoperatedintothefuture.

Snow crab; Cod; Climate change; Enclosure; Newfoundland

No research objectives

Political economy/Political Ecology

Newfoundland and Labrador

Content Analysis

Economic Equity

Economic Sustainability

Governance Structures and Process

Policy and Economics

Davis, R. (2015). ‘All in’: Snow crab, capitalization, and the future of small-scale fisheries in Newfoundland. Marine Policy, 61, 323-330.

How Can Aging Communities Adapt to Coastal Climate Change? Planning for Both Social and Place Vulnerability

RAPAPORT, ERIC; MANUEL, PATRICIA; KRAWCHENKO, TAMARA; KEEFE, JANICE

Environmental Planning

Design and Planning

Canadian Public Policy / Analyse de Politiques

Coastal climate change in the form of rising sea levels and more frequent and extreme weather events can threaten community assets, residences, and infrastructure. This presents a particular concern for vulnerable residents—such as seniors aged 75 years and older. Our spatial study combines census area cohort population model projections, community asset mapping, and a municipal policy review with coastal sea rise scenarios to the year 2025–2026. This integrated information provides the basis to assess the vulnerability of our case study communities in Nova Scotia, Canada. Nova Scotia has the oldest population of any Canadian province, the majority of whom reside in coastal communities on the Atlantic, making it an ideal site for such analysis. Through this work we forward a useful decision-making support tool for policy and planning—one that can help coastal communities respond to the particular needs of seniors in rural areas and adapt to impacts of coastal climate change. Throughout we argue that social vulnerability must be considered alongside place vulnerability in the design of climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts. This is not just an issue for coastal communities, but for all communities facing the effects of extreme weather events.

coastal climate change, population aging, community vulnerability, aging in place, municipal policy, Nova Scotia

We identify a combination of social and place changing population age str vulnerability to coastal climate
We also review the policy and planning environment at the provincial and municipal to gauge the structure of current responses

Policy and governance

Mixed methods

Secondary data

Sustainable Communities

Legal Obligations and Other Commitments

Science, regulatory, governance

Small Craft Harbours

Other - Provincial

Rapaport, E., Manuel, P., Krawchenko, T., & Keefe, J. (2015). How can aging communities adapt to coastal climate change? Planning for both social and place vulnerability. Canadian Public Policy, 41(2), 166-177.

Coastal climate change and aging communities in Atlantic Canada: A methodological overview of community asset and social vulnerability mapping

Manuel, Patricia; Rapaport, Eric; Keefe, Janice; Krawchenko, Tamara

Environmental Planning

Design and Planning

The Canadian Geographer / Le Géographe canadien

Coastal climate change is challenging communities to adapt. More frequent and extreme weather events leading to coastal area flooding and other hazards can present a risk for residents and the infrastructure and services they rely on. This is particularly the case for vulnerable populations such as seniors. Nova Scotia is experiencing this confluence of factors; it has rural and remote coastal communities and the oldest population of any province in Canada. Our spatial study examines these dynamics in five rural and small town municipalities in Lunenburg and Annapolis counties. We combine population model projections and coastal sea rise scenarios to the year 2025––2026 with community asset, infrastructure, and residential property mapping and a review of municipal policies. We forward a framework for understanding coastal climate change impacts on key infrastructure, services, and assets that are relied upon by an older population as well as the current and potential municipal planning responses. We find that critical assets important to older populations are impacted by coastal climate change in our study areas and time frame. This article shares our research methods and findings with the aim of helping communities map change and plan for the future.

coastal climate change, aging friendly communities, Nova Scotia, population projection, asset mapping

Our research continues in this vein but focuses on the impact of coastal climate change on critical assets and infrastructure important to a socially vulnerable population—seniors. This article shares our research methods and findings with the aim of helping communities map change and plan for the future. How will critical roads, infrastructure, and assets be impacted in the coming years? How can communities adapt and plan for the future? And how can they ensure that their most vulnerable residents are safe and accessible?

Policy and governance

Mixed methods

Secondary data

Sustainable Communities

Health and Well-being

Small Craft Harbours

Other - Provincial

Manuel, P., Rapaport, E., Keefe, J., & Krawchenko, T. (2015). Coastal climate change and aging communities in Atlantic Canada: A methodological overview of community asset and social vulnerability mapping. The Canadian Geographer/Le Géographe canadien, 59(4), 433-446.

Adaptation in a time of stress: A social-ecological perspective on changing fishing strategies in the Canadian snow crab fishery

Murray, G.D.; Ings, D.

Marine Social Science

Recent scholarship has focused attention on the dynamicsandmanagementofmarinesocialecological systemsandontheneedfordevelopingadeeperunderstandingofthe fishing strategiesof fish har- vesters.Thisincludesanunderstandingofhowabroadrangeoffactorsinfluence thestrategiesofthose at the ‘center’ of marinesocial-ecologicalinteractions.Thispaperreportsonthe findings ofasurveyof snow crab(Chionoecetes opilio) fishers inSoutheasternLabradorconductedatatime(2005)ofsignificant stress inthe fishery.Resultshighlightthatsnowcrab fishers areembeddedinasocial-ecologicalsystem and thatshiftsin fishing strategiesintimesofstressareaproductofadaptingtoadynamic,interactive set offactorsthathavesocial,economic,ecologicalandmanagementaspects.Importantdifferences between fleet sectors(largerandsmallervessels)aswellasprocessesoflearningarealsodescribed.The article concludeswithadiscussionoftheimplicationsformanagementandtheutilityofaholisticsocial- ecological perspective.

Social-ecological systems; Crab Fisheries; Fishing behavior; Newfoundland and Labrador

This article focuses on descriptions of fishing strategies of snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) harvesters in NAFO Division 2J, a large management area that extends off the coast of Southeastern Labrador, in the Canadian Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Specifically, this article addresses some gaps in understanding of the dynamic social-ecological factors that influence where and how 2J fishers chose to pursue crab prior to the 2005 season 200.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Sustainable Communities

Resource Management and Licensing

Murray, G. D., & Ings, D. (2015). Adaptation in a time of stress: A social-ecological perspective on changing fishing strategies in the Canadian snow crab fishery. Marine Policy, 60, 280-286.

Youth and the sea: Ocean literacy in Nova Scotia, Canada

Guest, H.; Lotze, H.K.; Wallace, D.

Improving public awareness about the ocean can benefit the environment, economy, and society. However, low levels of ‘ocean literacy’ have been identified in many countries and can be a barrier for citizens to engage in environmentally responsible behavior or consider ocean-related careers. This study assessed the level of ocean valuation, knowledge, interaction and interest of public school students grade 7–12 (ages 12–18) in Nova Scotia, Canada, a region with strong connections with the sea. A survey was used in 11 public schools, with a total of 723 students participating in a quiz and survey. Many quiz questions were aligned with the ‘Ocean Literacy Principles’ established by the Ocean Literacy Campaign in the United States. Although the average quiz score was below 50%, students reported a high valuation of the marine environment and diverse interest in the oceans, including jobs and careers. There was a distinct difference in knowledge of biology-related questions and abiotic-related questions, with students having more knowledge of and interest in topics concerning ocean life. A significant positive correlation between knowledge and value indicated that ocean-literate students might value the marine environment more strongly. Students reporting greater interaction with the ocean also demonstrated higher knowledge levels, and students with higher knowledge levels were more likely to be interested in ocean-related jobs and careers. Participants׳ high valuation of the marine environment and interest in ocean jobs and careers suggests important links between ocean literacy and environmental and economic benefit, respectively. Enhancing interactions with the ocean through experiential learning could be the most effective way of improving ocean literacy as well as marine citizen- and stewardship.

Science education; Ocean value; Marine citizenship; Experiential learning; Survey Environmental education

This study assessed the level of ocean valuation, knowledge, interaction and interest of public school students grade 7–12 (ages12–18) in Nova Scotia, Canada, a region with strong connections with the sea

Sustainable Communities

Other - Provincial

Guest, H., Lotze, H. K., & Wallace, D. (2015). Youth and the sea: Ocean literacy in Nova Scotia, Canada. Marine Policy, 58, 98-107.

"We and us, not I and me": Justice, social capital, and household vulnerability in a Nova Scotia fishery

Barnett, A.J.; Eakin, H.C.

Applied Geography

Marine harvesters face significant livelihood challenges due to the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems, and due to economic fluctuations that influence their incomes. In this study, we demonstrate vulnerability as a product of the interactions among marine harvesters, government and buyers. We combined Elinor Ostrom's attention to the influence of institutions on resource exploitation, with political ecology's attention to perceptions of agency, and the contribution of justice and equity to measuring the success of institutions. We demonstrate the benefits of this approach by examining the multi-species fishery of Barrington, Nova Scotia. We conducted 31 semi-structured interviews and 113 surveys in the summer of 2012 with buyers, harvesters, and local experts. We used Ostrom's SES framework to pinpoint system elements that were salient to respondents, with attention to household vulnerability outcomes. Based on an analysis of these themes, we outline three processes affecting vulnerability outcomes: 1) Harvesters preferred individual over collective action due to low procedural justice and social cohesion in decision-making, 2) agents with greater political and economic power gained control over fishing access-rights while others became more dependent on lobster, and 3) economic and ecological conditions, combined with increased dependence, incentivized harvesters to catch more lobsters as prices declined. The case suggests that actors sense of control over their resource base and perception of justice in the process of institutional design may be as significant in vulnerability as the exogenous drivers of change that affect livelihood outcomes.We suggest interventions that may improve these interactions among government, harvesters and buyers, and improve the livelihoods in coastal communities.

Vulnerability; Agency; Social capital; Justice; Institutions; Atlantic Canada

We combined Elinor Ostrom's attention to the influence of institutions on resource exploitation, with political ecology's attention to perceptions of agency, and the contribution of justice and equity to measuring the success of institutions

Political economy/Political Ecology

Content analysis

Economic Sustainability

Economic Equity

Sustainable Communities

Ethical and Just Activities

Governance Structures and Process

Governance, regulatory, and decision-making

Policy and Economics

Resource Management and Licensing

Barnett, A. J., & Eakin, H. C. (2015). “We and us, not I and me”: Justice, social capital, and household vulnerability in a Nova Scotia fishery. Applied Geography, 59, 107-116.

Governing enclosure for coastal communities: Social embeddedness in a Canadian shrimp fishery

Foley, Paul; Mather, Charles; Neis, Barbara

Political Economy

Critical analyses of neoliberalism'sinfluence on fisheries governancehavedocumentedhowenclosure, quotaleasingandrenting,andcommodification canprecipitatenegativesocialconsequencesfor fishing communities. Bycontrast,thispaperdrawsontheconceptofembeddednesstoarguethatcertain policies andsocialrelationscanregulateenclosure,quotarenting,andcommodification inwaysthat empowercommunity-basedgroupstofacilitatetheanchoringof fishery resourcesandwealthincoastal communities. Itdoessothroughananalysisofnorthernshrimp fisheries inNewfoundlandandLabrador, Canada, betweenthe1970sandtheearly2000s.Thiscasestudyillustrateshow fisheries enclosure policies informedbygeographicallyandmorallydefined principlesofaccessandequityandlimitson commodification canmeaningfullyembed fishery resourcesandbenefits inruralandremotecoastal regions thatdependonsmall-scale fishing. Althoughtheapplicationofsocialprinciplescontinuestobe marginalized inthecontextofneoliberalpolicyregimesthatprivilegeindividualeconomicefficiency over distributive concerns,thispaperprovidesnewinsightintotheconditionsunderwhichprinciplesof ethical allocationanddistributionofresourcesareabletopersistthroughaneraofneoliberalism.

Catch shares; Enclosure; Governance; Neoliberalism' Political ecology

this paper draws on the concept of embeddedness to argue that certain policies and social relations can regulate enclosure, quota renting, and commodification in ways that empower community-based groups to facilitate the anchoring of fishery resources and wealth in coastal communities. The paper focuses on the fisheries allocation policies that helped produce this pattern and on the regional development
outcomes in three areas in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador engaged in the fishery—southeast Labrador, the
Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland, and Fogo Island, Newfoundland
(Fig. 1).

Political economy/Political Ecology

Newfoundland and Labrador

Economic Sustainability

Economic Equity

Governance Structures and Process

Policy and Economics

Foley, P., Mather, C., & Neis, B. (2015). Governing enclosure for coastal communities: Social embeddedness in a Canadian shrimp fishery. Marine Policy, 61, 390-400.

Adaptation analysis for environmental change in coastal communities

Mostofi Camare, Hooman; Lane, Daniel E.

Systems Science

Design and Planning

Socio-Economic Planning Sciences

Small islands and coastal communities around the world are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts, mainly from storm surge attributed to more frequent and severe coastal storms, and mounting sea-level rise. Coastal hazards including inundation, salinisation of the water supply, and land erosion all threaten vital infrastructure that support coastal communities. This research, part of the International Community-University Research Alliance (ICURA) C-Change project “Managing Adaptation to Environmental Change in Coastal Communities: Canada and the Caribbean”, develops and applies a multicriteria decision evaluation and support system for evaluating adaptation options for coastal communities. The paper estimates vulnerability, resilience, and adaptive capacity measures associated with adaptation strategies in coastal communities with respect to their environmental, economic, social, and cultural dimensions. Results are determined using a multi-participant formulation of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) for identifying multicriteria decisions as adaptation strategies in a specific coastal context. The application of the framework is conducted for the coastal community of Little Anse on Isle Madame, Nova Scotia. Specifically, the state of the Little Anse breakwater is analysed and adaptation options for protecting, accommodating, and retreating are presented and evaluated in the face of predicted storm scenarios. The results indicate that, in the case of Little Anse, the strategic decision to protect the community by a new breakwater arm provides preferred measures for resilience and adaptive capacity.

Coastal community vulnerability; Climate change adaptation; Resilience; Adaptive capacity; Analytical hierarchy process; Group decision making

This paper reports on the findings of a survey of snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) fishers in Southeastern Labrador conducted at a time (2005) of significant stress in the fishery.

Secondary data

Sustainable Communities

Other - Provincial

Small Craft Harbours

Camare, H. M., & Lane, D. E. (2015). Adaptation analysis for environmental change in coastal communities. Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, 51, 34-45.

Whose Audit is it? Harnessing the power of audit culture in conditions of legal pluralism.

Parlee, Courtenay E., Wiber, Melanie G.

Journal of Legal Pluralism and Unofficial Law

This paper is a preliminary expsloration of the relationship between audit culture and legal pluralism. Audits that employ a range of indicators are increasingly the tool of choice for managing a range of human endeavors, including natural resource exploitation. This is true at many different scales of governance. But audit culture has also increasingly come under attack as failing to live up to the claims of enhancing transparency and accountability. Who is harnessing the power of indicators and performance audits? Who benefits from these measurements? How is governance impacted by the audit approach? We address these questions in the specific context of legal pluralism generated by multiple levels of regulation affecting fishing enterprises. In seeking to develop a ‘report card’ approach to assessing Canadian fisheries as part of Project 1.1 of the Canadian Fisheries Research Network, we have explored the failure to effectively incorporate social, governance and cultural indicators in many global examples. There is also a lack of attention to power dynamics and of the institutional resistance to performance indicators that measure the governors rather than the governed. Finally, this paper asks how the normative drive of audits can or will interact with legal pluralism. The case studies suggest the need for careful thought on the interactions of legal pluralism and the audit.

audit culture; indicators; governance; fisheries; legal pluralism

This paper is a preliminary exploration of the relationship between audit culture and legal pluralism. Audits that employ a range of indicators are increasingly the tool of choice for managing a range of human endeavors, including natural resource exploitation

Policy and governance

Atlantic Canada

Governance Structures and Process

Other - Provincial

Parlee, C. E., & Wiber, M. G. (2015). Whose audit is it? Harnessing the power of audit culture in conditions of legal pluralism. The Journal of Legal Pluralism and Unofficial Law, 47(1), 96-111.

Environmental Function Analysis: A decision support tool for integrated sandy beach planning

Amyot, Jacinthe; Grant, Jonathan

Environmental Science

Ocean & Coastal Management

Worldwide, sandy beach socio-ecological systems are under stress, yet there are few systematic approaches to guide conservation and development planning. Four sandy beaches in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM; Nova Scotia, Canada) were evaluated using a modified Environmental Function Analysis (EFA). Our goal was to reduce the severe data requirements of traditional EFA by using more proxy indicators as well as combining indicators into higher-level metrics. We also sought to incorporate landscape-scale evaluation by incorporating adjacent habitats. Twenty ecological and socio-economic indicators were scored according to their performance, normalized, and plotted in a conservation/use development matrix. Results show that beaches near large cities or towns, have already been extensively developed for their recreational use, and are subject to significant environmental degradation. Other beaches were conflicted between recreational, touristic, and/or exploitative opportunities, versus richer biodiversity, habitats, and species of conservation interest. Scenario analysis demonstrates that management strategies which focus on minimizing the invasive nature of park infrastructure and enhance biophysical restoration, can significantly increase beach conservation value, and shift sites into the conservation zone. Provincial government officials applied results to revised management of one of the study beaches. EFA not only provides general observations allowing beaches to be compared and contrasted, but it also gives useful insight on individual beaches, allowing for better-informed decisionmaking and tailored management. The simplified EFA methodology proposed is user-friendly, provides conclusive results, and offers a cost-effective approach to sandy beach environment evaluation.

Beach management; Coastal planning; Conservation, use & development, conflict; Integrated coastal zone management; Environmental indicators; Scenario analysis; Atlantic Canada

In this context, the present study, based on previous work (Amyot, 2011) has the following objectives: • Reduce the data/time burden associated with EFA by providing easily identifiable environmental quality indicators • Create aggregate indices and proxies to make EFA more practical in data-poor environments • Select and define environmental quality indicators for different environmental components (ecological and socio-economic), relevant to selected beach environments in Nova Scotia. • Determine which management decisions (affecting a specific environmental indicator), can be most effective in the conservation/use development potential of beaches. • Discuss the optimal management action for the selected sandy beaches.

Environmental change and conservation

Secondary data

Governance Structures and Process

Other - Provincial

Amyot, J., & Grant, J. (2014). Environmental Function Analysis: A decision support tool for integrated sandy beach planning. Ocean & coastal management, 102, 317-327.

Weak feedbacks, governance mismatches, and the robustness of social-ecological systems: an analysis of the Southwest Nova Scotia lobster fishery with comparison to Maine

Barnett, Allain J.; Anderies, John M.

Ecology and Society

The insights in Governing the Commons have provided foundational ideas for commons research in the past 23 years. However, the cases that Elinor Ostrom analyzed have been exposed to new social, economic, and ecological disturbances. What has happened to these cases since the 1980s? We reevaluated one of Ostrom’s case studies, the lobster and groundfishery of Port Lameron, Southwest Nova Scotia (SWNS). Ostrom suggested that the self-governance of this fishery was fragile because the government did not recognize the rights of resource users to organize their own rules. In the Maine lobster fishery, however, the government formalized customary rules and decentralized power to fishing ports. We applied the concepts of feedback, governance mismatches, and the robustness of social-ecological systems to understand the pathway of institutional change in Port Lameron. We revisited the case of Port Lameron using marine harvesters’ accounts collected from participant observation, informal interviews and surveys, and literature on fisheries policy and ecology in SWNS and Maine. We found that the government’s failure to recognize the customary rights of harvesters to organize has weakened feedback between the operational level, where resource users interact with the resource, and the collective-choice level, where agents develop rules to influence the behavior of resource users. This has precipitated governance mismatches, which have led harvesters to believe that the decision-making process is detrimental to their livelihoods. Thus, harvesters rarely participate in decision making and resist regulatory change. In Maine, harvesters can influence decisions through participation, but there is a trade-off. With higher influence in decisions, captains have co-opted the decision-making process. Nevertheless, we suggest that the fisheries of SWNS are more vulnerable to social-ecological change because of weaker feedbacks than in Maine. Finally, we have discussed the potential benefits of polycentricity to both fisheries.

Atlantic Canada; collective choice; institutional analysis; lobster; Maine; polycentricity; robustness

What has happened to the cases discussed in Governing the Commons? Do Ostrom’s design principles confer robustness to social and ecological change? We reevaluated one case study from Ostrom (1990), the lobster and groundfishery of Port Lameron, Nova Scotia, to answer these questions. We examined the consequences of these two sources of fragility over time. We reevaluated the case using a framework to analyze the robustness of social-ecological systems (SESs) developed by Anderies et al. (2004).

Policy and governance

Comparative/International

Coastal,Offshore

Primary and secondary data

Content Analysis

Governance Structures and Process

Governance and policy

Resource Management and Licensing

Policy and Economics

Barnett, A. J., & Anderies, J. M. (2014). Weak feedbacks, governance mismatches, and the robustness of social-ecological systems: an analysis of the Southwest Nova Scotia lobster fishery with comparison to Maine. Ecology and Society, 19(4).

Why fishers want a closed area in their fishing grounds: Exploring perceptions and attitudes to sustainable fisheries and conservation 10 years post closure in Labrador, Canada

Barley Kincaid, K.; Rose, G.A.

Applied Ecology

The HawkeBoxontheLabradorcontinentalshelfhasbeenclosedtotrawlingandgillnettingbutopenfor snow crab(Chionocetes opilio) pot fishing forthreemonthsoftheyearforthepastdecade.Theclosure wasinstigatedby fishers andlong-standingadjacentcommunities.Toexplorewhy,19local fishers were interviewedinMarch2012,themajorityofwhom fished bothsnowcrab(intheBox)andtrawledfor shrimp, (Pandalus spp.), nowprohibited.Allrespondentsindicatedthattheclosurewasbeneficial to them, theircommunity,andmarinelife.Respondentsbelievedthatprotectingtheareafromtrawling wastheprimaryreasontheystillhaveaviable fishery,despitelittleimprovementinSnowcrabsincethe closure andtheirownpartialexclusion.Fishersunderstoodthatreducingtheirown(notsomeoneelse0s) fishing effortwouldlikelyenhancelong-termsustainabilityoflivelihoods.Afull94.7%believedthat fisheries andconservationarecompatiblegoals.Closureswith fishers supportbasedonlocalknowledge are morelikelytomeet fishery andconservationgoalsthanthosethatdonot.Closurescanbecome building blocksofanecosystembasedmanagement approach that includes fishers as part of the system, meeting bothinternationalmarineprotectiontargetsand fisheries production goals

Fisheries management; Fishery closures; Gear restriction; Marine protected area; Fisher knowledge; Snow crab

To explore why, 19 local fishers were interviewed inMarch 2012, the majority of whom fished both snowcrab (in the Box) and trawled for shrimp, (Pandalus spp.), now prohibited.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Mixed methods

Governance Structures and Process

Governance Outcomes

Resource Management and Licensing

Kincaid, K. B., & Rose, G. A. (2014). Why fishers want a closed area in their fishing grounds: exploring perceptions and attitudes to sustainable fisheries and conservation 10 years post closure in Labrador, Canada. Marine Policy, 46, 84-90.

A cod Forsaken place? Fishing in an altered state in Newfoundland

Anthropological Quarterly

The collapse of cod stocks in the waters off Newfoundland in the early 1990s was widely understood as an ecological disaster and the death of a rural way of life that had endured for centuries. While many areas have remained closed to commercial cod fishing for two full decades, growing numbers of commercial fishers and some fisheries scientists now agree that stocks in several areas are finally showing signs of rebuilding. While the biological recovery of cod populations was once widely viewed as being essential to the future well-being of coastal communities, many commercial fishers now publicly express concerns about the possibility of this scenario actually coming to pass. This article explores the roots of these changing constructions of cod. I argue that making sense of the anxieties and uncertainties that presently surround the question of cod recovery requires paying close attention to the ways in which access to fishery resources has been transformed over time, as well as to the ways in which changing production chains for seafood products, shifting scientific paradigms and practices, and unexpected changes in the marine environment have converged in ways that are fundamentally challenging many previously held notions of the ecological good

Fisheries, science and technology, political ecology, endangered species, Newfoundland

This article explores the roots of these changing constructions of cod in Newfoundlandl; the remainder of this article identifies four trajectories that have converged to make the new concerns expressed by many commercial fishers about the possibility of cod recovering thinkable.

Political economy/Political Ecology

Newfoundland and Labrador

Economic Sustainability

Davis, R. (2014). A cod forsaken place? Fishing in an altered state in Newfoundland. Anthropological Quarterly, 695-726.

Certifying the commons: Eco-certification, privatization, and collective action

Foley, P.; McCay, B.

Political Economy

Ecology and Society

We examine new dynamics of privatization and collective action in common pool resource situations facilitated by the nonstate multistakeholder institutions of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the global leader in sustainability certification for wild caught seafood. Through a review of the literature and two case studies of fishing cooperatives in Baja California Sur, Mexico and on Fogo Island in the Canadian Province of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), we advance two interrelated arguments. First, certification and eco-labeling institutions privatize fisheries governance in largely unexamined ways through the injection of new forms of exclusive rights or privileges into common pool resource situations already complicated by access and property privileges, creating conditions for confusion and conflict as well as cooperation. Second, the MSC whole stock definition of sustainability places greater demands on certification clients for engaging in collective action by encouraging coordination over all social extractions from targeted fish stocks. Although rules encouraging collective action in common pool situations militate against the narrow private capture of certificate and eco-label rights, they also undermine the ability of small-scale and community-based fisheries that are embedded in larger unhealthy fishery contexts to acquire the right to the MSC stamp of sustainability. We conclude that MSC certification and eco- labeling create new institutions of private property rights and collective action, which can result in exclusionary practices, inclusionary collective action, or both. Much will depend on the specific common pool context and history of the fishery.

Baja California Sur, Mexico; collective action; common pool resources; commons; community-based fisheries; cooperatives; environmental certification; environmental governance; fisheries; Fogo Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada; governance; Marine Stewardship Council; MSC; northern shrimp; privatization; property rights; spiny lobster; sustainable

We examine new dynamics of privatization and collective action in common pool resource situations facilitated by the nonstate multistakeholder institutions of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the global leader in sustainability certification for wild caught seafood.

food systems and food security

Comparative/International

Newfoundland and Labrador

Governance Structures and Process

Policy and Economics

Foley, P., & McCay, B. (2014). Certifying the commons: eco-certification, privatization, and collective action. Ecology and Society, 19(2).

A coastal foodscape: Examining the relationship between changing fisheries and community food security on the west coast of Newfoundland

Community-Based Social Science

Ecology and Society

Fisheries make vital contributions to food security and food security is an important part of fisheries governance. However, there are relatively few in-depth studies examining the consequences of collapsed and changing fisheries for the food security of coastal communities. In this case study I use the concept of the coastal foodscape to look at the relationship between changing fisheries and community food security in the Bonne Bay region on the west coast of Newfoundland. I examine the social-ecological interactions that compose the local food system and their changing relationship to community food security, and point to directions for developing a more resilient and democratic food system.

community food security; fisheries restructuring; foodscapes

In this case study I use the concept of the coastal foodscape to look at the relationship between changing fisheries and community food security in the Bonne Bay region on the west coast of Newfoundland. I examine the social-ecological interactions that compose the local food system and their changing relationship to community food security, and point to directions for developing a more resilient and democratic food system.

food systems and food security

Newfoundland and Labrador

Content Analysis

Health and Well-being

Policy and Economics

Lowitt, K. N. (2014). A coastal foodscape: examining the relationship between changing fisheries and community food security on the west coast of Newfoundland. Ecology and Society, 19(3).

The last generation? Perspectives of inshore fish harvesters from Change Islands, Newfoundland

Smith, D.A.; Vodden, K.; Woodrow, M.; Khan, A.; Fürst, B.

Human Geography

Canadian Geographer

Our investigation examines the perspectives of fish harvesters on key challenges facing the inshore fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador. The findings, based primarily on in-depth interviews with harvesters in the town of Change Islands, show that fishers are deeply concerned about ineffective regulations, low prices for their catch, and rationalization policies. They explain how existing regulations restrict traditional cooperative fishing practices and impose rules that are not suited for local environmental conditions. Low prices for fish landed, they argue, are caused in part by lack of competition among buyers and a bonus system that favours larger enterprises. These conditions, combined with policies aimed at reducing the fishing fleet and barriers to youth involvement, threaten the long-term survival of coastal communities. Overall, current policies keep inshore harvesters on the sidelines of an increasingly industrialized fishery. Local fish harvesters have valuable local, place-based knowledge that can be used to develop more effective fishery management policies and marketing strategies, and in this article we share their recommendations on how to build more sustainable fisheries. However, traditional fishing communities—along with the potential social, cultural, economic, and environmental benefits of smaller-scale, community-based fishing—need to become more visible for these changes to occur.

fish harvesters, local knowledge, inshore fishery, coastal communities, Newfoundland

Our investigation examines the perspectives of fish harvesters on key challenges facing the inshore fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Participant observation

Content Analysis

Economic Sustainability

Sustainable Communities

Governance Structures and Process

Governance, policy, regulatory

Policy and Economics

Resource Management and Licensing

Smith, D. A., Vodden, K., Woodrow, M., Khan, A., & Fürst, B. (2014). T he last generation? Perspectives of inshore fish harvesters from Change Islands, Newfoundland. The Canadian Geographer/Le Géographe canadien, 58(1), 95-109.