Testing the Waters of an Aquaculture Index of Well-Being

Craig Stephen,Joy Wade

doi:10.3390/challe10010030

Abstract

Social licence is rooted in perceptions of local rights holders and stakeholders. The disease focus of aquaculture health policy, practices, and research insufficiently reflects societal expectations for aquafarms to protect health of shared resources. Our case study of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) farming in British Columbia (BC), Canada, assessed the readiness of aquaculture to change from managing health as the absence of disease to a perspective of health as well-being to maintain social licence. We drafted an index of well-being based on agroecosystem health and socio-ecological health principles. We then reviewed publicly available industry and government information and undertook key informant interviews. The industry was well situated to develop and use a well-being index. Interviewees saw value in a well-being index and found it compatible with area-based management. Many elements of the index were being collected but there would be challenges to overcoming feelings of over-regulation; negotiating specific indicators for local situations; and securing the necessary expertise to integrate and assess the diversity of information. Health conflicts and disagreements facing salmon farming in BC are like those in other aquaculture sectors. Social licence may be improved if companies transparently report their state of the health by adapting this conceptual framework.

Highlights

Social conflicts and disagreements over health issues have been one of the biggest impediments to aquafarm companies securing their social licence to operate [1,2,3]
We argue that the focus on diseases in aquaculture health policy, practices and research is necessary but insufficient to reflect the expectations of society for aquafarms to promote and protect the health of the farmed animals and shared resources
We propose that aquaculture health should be defined as a multi-sector and multi-disciplinary collaborative endeavour that uses evidence-based strategies and other approaches to engage and work with communities, in a culturally appropriate manner, to optimize the social, economic, and ecological health of the farm ecosystem

Summary

Introduction

Social conflicts and disagreements over health issues have been one of the biggest impediments to aquafarm companies securing their social licence to operate [1,2,3]. Social licence to farm is gained when the private sector and government act to help develop strong and sustainable communities [4]. Social licence to operate is commonly understood to be the ongoing acceptance and approval of a project by local community members and other stakeholders that can affect its profitability [5]. The substance of a social licence to operate will vary with the nature of the project and the specific community needs. The assessment and application of social licence needs to be developed in conjunction with communities to ensure transparency and mutual benefit. A lack of social licence negatively effects the commercial viability and reputation of aquaculture farms [6]. We argue that the focus on diseases in aquaculture health policy, practices and research is necessary but insufficient to reflect the expectations of society for aquafarms to promote and protect the health of the farmed animals and shared resources

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Conclusion