Drivers of social acceptability for bivalve aquaculture in Atlantic Canadian communities

Abstract

Aquaculture is a growing sector because of increased global demands for seafood; bivalve aquaculture production is also increasing in specific regions because of its perceived sustainability and similar environmental interactions across ecosystems. As socioeconomic impacts on prospective sites may differ, this research aimed to perform a high-level scoping of environmental, social, and economic drivers informing social acceptability of bivalve aquaculture in two communities in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Canada. Communities were surveyed through online questionnaires designed to examine bivalve farming perceptions, information sources, and potential deviations between communities. Results suggested that community perceptions of environmental effects were both positive and negative, social effects were mostly negative, and economic effects were somewhat positive. Results further suggested that insufficient transparency regarding industry practices and the local communication network may have a role in shaping bivalve farming perceptions. Variation between communities regarding perceived social and economic drivers of social acceptability emphasized the importance of community-based research to understand emerging and existing conflicts, including the role information sources may have in driving acceptability. Accordingly, aquaculture regulators and managers should consider community socioeconomic priorities and improved transparency about industry practices when evaluating prospective sites.