The role of social capital in fishing community sustainability: Spiraling down and up in a rural California port

Abstract

Scholars have begun to focus on the factors that contribute to the relative resilience or sustainability of fishing communities and several highlight the importance of the state of social relationships and factors such as cooperation, trust, engagement, and leadership – often referred to as social capital. This paper traces the changing trajectory of social capital and community well-being in Shelter Cove, a small, rural fishing community in northern California. The project team conducted 54 interviews with community members about the past, current, and potential future of the fishing community in connection with a broader strategic planning process for the port. Interviewees recounted a process of spiraling down from a perceived high point in the 1970 s and 80 s where a large and tight-knit group called the ‘Mosquito Fleet’ worked together to create a vibrant port. Environmental and regulatory changes contributed to a period of severe decline into the 2000 s where the size of the fleet shrunk dramatically, leaders passed away, and infrastructure and access was lost. This period of decline was accompanied by a fragmentation of social relationships with conflict, apathy, and disillusionment pervasive in the community. A loss of productive relationships with government entities led to further disinvestment in the port. In 2018, the community went through a rapid process of positive social transformation. Over a few short months, community members worked together to form a fishing organization, conduct successful fundraising, develop effective partnerships with government, revitalize port services, and plan for the future. Findings reveal that social capital can play a key role in the sustainability of fishing communities. Factors that contributed to Shelter Cove’s community revitalization included building bridging relationships with academic institutions and government; engagement in strategic planning; the presence of an external threat; and the fact that revitalization efforts were led and controlled by community members.