Small Coastal Communities Research Articles

Attribution of environmental outcomes to climate change: Perceptions of coastal communities in the Caribbean

Attribution of environmental outcomes to climate change is a live debate in scholarly and policy circles. Non-scientific attribution by the lay public has value for enriching the discourse, engagements, and decisions on loss and damage, adaptation and mitigation, communication strategies, and the science-policy interface from local to international levels. There is a need for context-specific studies on perceived climate attribution by the lay public. Unlike the few previous studies that focused on attribution of extreme events to climate change by the lay public, the current paper assessed the key compositional and contextual factors that influence the attribution of environmental outcomes with slow onset to climate change. This study surveyed 441 households in eight small coastal communities in three Caribbean countries and applied a generalized linear regression model with a complementary log-log link to assess the relationship between compositional and contextual factors that influence perceived linkage between climate change and environmental outcome. At the bivariate level, the results showed that ethnicity, marital status, household head highest education, household income, and community of living were significant predictors of the likelihood of the perceived linkage between climate change and worsening environmental outcome. At the multivariate level, when all factors have been accounted for, we found that respondents with higher education were 160% more likely to indicate that climate change has adverse effects on environmental outcomes. Respondents with 10 or more years of experience in their present occupation were 73% more likely to suggest a linkage between climate change and worse environmental outcomes. Other strong predictors included income, ethnicity and community of residence. The perceived relationship between climate change and environmental outcomes differed systematically based on the compositional and contextual attributes of respondents. Several significant relationships at the bivariate level persisted at the multivariate level, indicating that the perceived linkages are robust and entrenched. It is concluded that there are heterogeneities in the perceived relationship between climate change and environmental outcomes based on the compositional and contextual factors of the households. Higher education and longer experience in the same occupation contribute significantly to climate attribution by the lay public.

For resilient rural shorelines: reviewing Nature-based Solutions for flood risk reduction in small coastal communities

Coastal flood risk poses a serious, existential threat to shoreline populations around the world both now and in the future. Unsurprisingly, global decision makers are considering their options – one of these being Nature-based Solutions – for effective disaster risk reduction which specifically targets coastal flooding. While strides have been made in the field of Nature-based Solutions for coastal flooding, much of this attention has been directed towards the urban setting, with a wealth of scholastic documentation to support this notion. The sizeable rural populations scattered throughout the world's small coastal communities, meanwhile, have been largely neglected in academic literature. Without this information, it is impossible to properly capture the full potential of Nature-based Solutions in (global) flood risk modelling endeavours or understand their role in the future of equitable disaster risk reduction. In light of this gap, we have reviewed the limited amount of existing literature from around the world involving the implementation and effectiveness of Nature-based Solutions in small coastal communities. We analysed 28 peer-reviewed studies to gather common themes and insights about the barriers and opportunities unique to these rural shorelines. Takeaways we have identified include a near consistent scarcity of resources (e.g., technical, financial, institutional) to implement disaster risk reduction measures; an abundance of space and opportune land use regimes which make Nature-based Solutions a highly plausible option; amplified nature contributions to people leading to larger benefits reaped from investments into Nature-based Solutions; and the presence of local knowledge regarding societal norms, climate patterns, and ecosystem capabilities. We argue that these four common themes point to the fact that more attention must be given to coastal flooding-focused Nature-based Solutions in the rural setting. As such, we present this collation as a starting point for future projects of similar setting and scope. We also recommend improving benefit-cost analysis methods as well as including local knowledge and other perspectives in future global assessments of coastal flood risk.

The Great Outboard Debate: Negotiating Materiality and Dispossession in a Southeast Asian Marine Hunting Community

ABSTRACT: Lamalera is a small coastal community in the Lesser Sunda region of eastern Indonesia whose cosmology and livelihoods are rooted in hunting large marine prey, including toothed whales and large ocean fishes. In the past decade Lamalera's hunting practices have become embroiled in an international authenticity debate about technology, traditional belief, and conservation, fixating on the incorporation of outboard motors in hunts. Combining theories of material religion and the dispossession of indigenous peoples, this article makes two arguments. First it argues that the movement to outboards should be understood as an adaptation in the materiality of a sacred practice rather than the unraveling of tradition or decline of authenticity as has been proposed. Second, the article argues that the discourse of authenticity itself impacts the community in harmful ways, both by requiring Lamalerans to defend themselves, which has internal social costs, and by detrimentally reframing the important work that the community has done to keep their sacred practices alive in the midst of challenging circumstances.

Enhancing Waste Management and Marine Ecosystem Protection for Tourism Sustainability on Buluh Island

This study evaluates waste management strategies on Buluh Island to enhance marine ecosystem protection and ensure tourism sustainability. The research highlights a significant relationship between waste accumulation and the degradation of marine ecosystems, which threatens both the environment and the island’s tourism sector. Utilizing qualitative interviews, environmental assessments, and surveys with key stakeholders, the study identifies the pressing challenges of plastic waste and insufficient infrastructure. The findings recommend localized waste management interventions, community-driven initiatives, and circular economy practices that can mitigate environmental impact and support the island’s economic future. These insights provide a model for sustainable tourism in small coastal communities, integrating waste reduction with marine conservation efforts.

Coastal Adaptation and Vulnerability Assessment in a Warming Future: A Systematic Review of the Tourism Sector

The uncertainty behind a warming climate produces significant risk for communities that rely on tourism, but vulnerability assessment can help inform planning for adaptation and mitigation efforts. Since coastal regions have significant tourism economies, and rely on the tourism sector for socio-economic stability, we seek to understand how assessments of vulnerability have been applied in coastal communities by systemically assessing literature that describes the concepts of adaptation, resilience, and vulnerability. We conducted a systematic search across three peer-reviewed journal databases (Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed) to compare the types of methods and models used to determine coastal adaptation and vulnerability in various geographical and demographic settings. The systematic process found 205 unique articles; 143 were deemed relevant as they focused on adaptation, resilience, or vulnerability assessment. A qualitative analysis of the key themes of relevant studies, identified using thematic coding, found that vulnerability and adaptation research in tourism-based coastal communities is predominantly done through qualitative methods, researched more frequently in higher-populated areas of Europe and North America, have a focus on water as a driver of vulnerability, focus on socio-economic impacts of vulnerability, and emphasize locally-based knowledge in understanding adaptive capacity. Bibliometric analysis of citations and mentions in social-media reveal a larger number of papers with a higher citation rate focused on coastal-based systems (salt-water) with an emphasis on regional studies rather than those with a specific urban or rural focus. We found few studies aimed at coastal communities using tourism operators as informants, but rural coastal communities had higher social-media metrics indicating their comparative public importance. Thus, we highlight the need for locally-informed case studies in vulnerability and adaptation assessment for small coastal communities.

Subsistence harvest of beluga or white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in northern and western Alaska, 1987–2006

Four stocks of beluga or white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) are hunted by Alaska Natives in northern and western Alaska. These are the Beaufort Sea, eastern Chukchi Sea, eastern Bering Sea and Bristol Bay stocks. Since 1987, the Alaska Beluga Whale Committee has monitored the subsistence harvests of belugas from these stocks. During this 20 year period, the total landed harvest for the four stocks combined (adjusted for years with missing data) ranged from 208 in 1995 to 494 in 1988, with a 20 year average of 323 per year. For individual stocks the average annual landed harvests for 1987–2006 were: Beaufort Sea – 41; Chukchi Sea – 62; eastern Bering Sea – 191; and Bristol Bay – 20. There was no significant longterm trend (p>0.05) in the rate of harvesting for any stock from 1987–2006. Average landed harvests relative to estimated stock size were: 0.1% for the Beaufort Sea (0.4% including belugas harvested from the Beaufort Sea stock by Canadian hunters); 1.7% for the eastern Chukchi Sea; 1.1% for the eastern Bering Sea; and 1.1% for Bristol Bay. The success of beluga harvest monitoring in Alaska is due to the cooperation of beluga hunters from more than 40 small coastal communities who report their harvests to the Alaska Beluga Whale Committee (ABWC). Through the ABWC, beluga hunters have been able to formalise their role in managing their subsistence resources.

Underwater Cultural Heritage: Out of Sight, Out of Mind and at Risk

OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND. Tangible and intangible cultural heritage assets located in coastal and near-shore underwater environments are under particular threat due to climate change and its impact on water. These threatened sites and practices have served historically to not only feed and employ large and small coastal communities, but importantly have provided the societal and cultural roots that have helped bond them together. Although it is acknowledged that water environments (in the context of this article ‘‘water’’ is taken to mean oceans, seas and inland waters) function as a major global food source (SDG 2 Zero Hunger), and play a major role as a carbon sink (SDG13 Climate Action), water is also a vehicle for commerce and many other ocean activities labeled ‘‘the Blue Economy,’’ all of which are considered of critical importance. However, the societal consequences of damage and loss to underwater tangible and intangible heritage assets and associated practices should not be underestimated. Threatened by sea level rise, with seas estimated to rise by up to a meter by the end of the century, combined with extreme weather events (Gregory et al. 2022), it is anticipated that there will be significant loss of these assets with social and cultural consequences. In extreme circumstances, the very existence of some coastal communities and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is also at risk. Therefore, how to value, protect and manage these often “unseen” underwater cultural heritage sites sustainably is of vital social and cultural importance.

Global by the Seaside

In a small coastal vacation community heavily dependent upon foreign workers, in-depth interviews with employers, participant observations, and an analysis of social artifacts evidence patterns of neo-assimilation, in the form of fused cuisine on menus, altered attitudes towards native-born workers among employers, and in a small number of cases, intermarriage. Findings also illustrate employer engagement with the culture of their workers and a sophisticated understanding of the global dynamics of international migration and work.

The 2016 Vietnam marine life incident: measures of subjective resilience and livelihood implications for affected small-fishery communities

Abstract In April 2016, four provinces of Vietnam were struck by one of the largest manmade environmental incidents in Vietnam. Through a discharge of toxic chemicals by Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation, oceanic waters along Vietnam’s central coast were severely polluted. Consequently, the livelihoods of over 510,000 people living in coastal communities were severely affected by the Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation incident (FHS incident). This study focusses on ex-ante and ex-post differences in livelihoods, and the subjective resilience of small-fishery households affected by the FHS incident in Hải Dương commune, a small coastal community, in central Vietnam. This was done through a qualitative analysis of livelihood strategies and resilience capacities of the affected households. Semi-structured interviews (n = 30), expert interviews (n = 3) and secondary data analysis were conducted from March to May 2018 employing a case study approach. Results show that the level of subjective resilience was strongly affected by a combination of social, financial, and human capitals. The presence, or lack, of these capitals combined with contextual factors influenced the livelihood strategies a household could pursue. Households that were able to pursue a combination of intensifying and diversifying livelihood strategies were most successful in recovering from and adjusting to the environmental incident. Households with restrained access to livelihood capitals were limited to intensifying livelihood strategies, having no real other option than persistence and increased dependence on government subsidies. Lastly, migration as a livelihood strategy and subsequent transformative resilience capacities remained generally low.

Ghanaian Settlers in Orimedu: Oju Ota, Gender, and Christianity in a Coastal Fishing Community

Orimedu was a relatively small coastal community in Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State before the area was connected to other parts of state through access roads and electricity in the late 1980s. This article traces the relationship of Orimedu, a predominantly traditionalist and Muslim community, with migrant and Christian fishermen from Ghana and from Togo over the past century or so. It explains that the Ghanaians were welcome despite their Christian identity because they simply adapted to the local religious landscape when they arrived and joined into the worship of Oju Ota, a local deity of fishermen. However, over the past three decades, the Ghanaians have established a Christian community which has been largely accepted.
 The establishment of Christianity was linked to struggles over the gendered economy of the town. When it was found that the Ghanaians spent most of their profit in Ghana rather than locally, the people of Orimedu insisted that according to the covenant of Oju Ota, the fishermen should no longer sell their fish as this was traditionally regarded as a female occupation. This helped the indigenous Orimedu community to share in the profit made by the Ghanaians. However, by the 1980s and 1990s, when it became obvious that this arrangement made the local women very wealthy, the Ghanaians sought to recapture some of the profit by inviting their own wives to Orimedu to act as fish sellers and traders. This led to a more permanent presence of the Ghanaians in Orimedu, and eventually to the establishment – and acceptance – of Christian churches in the locality.

Wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in a small coastal community: Effects of tourism on viral presence and variant identification among low prevalence populations

Wastewater-based epidemiology has been used to measure SARS-CoV-2 prevalence in cities worldwide as an indicator of community health, however, few longitudinal studies have followed SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in small communities from the start of the pandemic or evaluated the influence of tourism on viral loads. Therefore the objective of this study was to use measurements of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater to monitor viral trends and variants in a small island community over a twelve-month period beginning May 1, 2020, before the community re-opened to tourists. Wastewater samples were collected weekly and analyzed to detect and quantify SARS-CoV-2 genome copies. Sanger sequencing was used to determine genome sequences from total RNA extracted from wastewater samples positive for SARS-CoV-2. Visitor data was collected from the local Chamber of Commerce. We performed Poisson and linear regression to determine if visitors to the Cedar Key Chamber of Commerce were positively associated with SARS-CoV-2-positive wastewater samples and the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Results indicated that weekly wastewater samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2 until mid-July when positive samples were recorded in four of five consecutive weeks. Additional positive results were recorded in November and December 2020, as well as January, March, and April 2021. Tourism data revealed that the SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration in wastewater increased by 1.06 Log10 genomic copies/L per 100 tourists weekly. Sequencing from six positive wastewater samples yielded two complete sequences of SARS-CoV-2, two overlapping sequences, and two low yield sequences. They show arrival of a new variant SARS-CoV-2 in January 2021. Our results demonstrate the utility of wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in a small community. Wastewater surveillance and viral genome sequencing suggest that population mobility likely plays an important role in the introduction and circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants among communities experiencing high tourism and who have a small population size.

Childhood(s) through time: an intergenerational lens on flexible narratives of childhood in Irish coastal communities

ABSTRACT This paper explores extensive shifts in the (re)construction of childhood narratives in two small coastal communities in Ireland, through everyday rituals and practices which constitute meaning in a specific time and place. Although the specific time capsule of interest is childhood, this stage within the life course is explored from a relational intra/intergenerational perspective, over three generations of grandparents, parents, children and young people. The use of life biographies and ethnographic methods have provided rich insights into these shifting narratives, as those transitioning to youth and adult years are practicing ‘new’ negotiations played out amid broader structural changes in socio-economic, political and environmental spheres, within post-industrial Ireland. The power of place, of family and kinship structures, remain imperative for our participants, despite these extensive changes. This perspective considers the nuanced and fluctuant interplay of both structure and agency in terms of mediating intergenerational interdependencies across the life course, within increasingly individualised contexts.

Childhood and belonging over time: narratives of identity across generations on Tasmania’s east coast

ABSTRACT This paper explores the ways in which identity and belonging are shaped by connectedness to place in small coastal communities in Tasmania, Australia. Based primarily on biographical interviews across three generations – young people, parents, and grandparents – it reveals centrality of place to a sense of identity and belonging. Two key themes, emerging from the research are explored. First, the consistency in narratives of identity over time, with ‘islander’ and ‘coastal’ shaping the ways in which participants across generations described themselves. Second, the article illuminates the transformation of childhoods over time and between generations, and the associated changes in the expectations and opportunities faced by young people.

Cruise trouble. A practice-based approach to studying Arctic cruise tourism

Cruise arrivals in the Arctic often take place in small coastal communities. Although there may be economic benefits for these communities, these are often counterbalanced by social and environmental stresses. In this article, we ask how we can tend to Arctic cruise tourism development using Haraway's concept of staying with the trouble. As a way to bridge often polarized views on cruise tourism as either an economic tool or a destructive force, we propose a practice-based research approach to engage with the complexities of cruise tourism. The aim is to foster response-abililty for Arctic cruise communities to live (better) with cruise tourism. We argue that practice-based approaches help researchers ‘stay with the trouble’ as it is rooted in everyday experiences and the materiality of cruise destinations. Also, its flat ontology supports a ‘tinkering’ approach to cruise practices.

Evaluating the Impact of Recreational Harvest and Management Strategies for Bay Scallops Argopecten irradians concentricus in a Florida Gulf Coast Management Zone

AbstractSince 1994, the fishery for bay scallops Argopecten irradians concentricus in Florida has been limited to a recreational fishery that operates during the summer, before the spawning season in fall. Recent growth of the fishery necessitates a study of the effect of this increased exploitation on the bay scallop population. The study focused on one management zone, centered on the community of Steinhatchee, that is known for high rates of exploitation. Within this zone, we created a model of bay scallop harvest using fishery‐independent and fishery‐dependent survey methods and evaluated the risk of extirpation of the stock. We found that the fishery in the zone functions as a derby, with most harvest effort occurring when the season opens, followed by a steady decline throughout the season. Effort estimates suggest that 21,579 vessels, or 82,398 people, from 94% of Florida’s counties and 16 other states participated in the 2018 season in the Steinhatchee zone. The influx of harvesters generated approximately US$1.8 million in revenue for this small coastal community and resulted in an estimated fishing mortality of 57–72% of the population in the zone. The exploitation rate of the fishery in 2018 exceeded 0.4, suggesting that the fishery may be unable to sustain itself under current conditions. We evaluated management strategies and found that the bay scallop population in this zone would be in danger of being extirpated if harvest effort doubled, suggesting the need for regular monitoring of effort in this fishery in this zone and probably in the fishery statewide.

Facilitating use of climate information for adaptation actions in small coastal communities

Municipalities are key agents in the transition to sustainability, and yet we have poorly developed theories and practices for how to facilitate the use of climate information by local governments in adapting to climate change. Existing research suggests that climate information is more likely to lead to adaptation actions when it is coproduced by researchers and policy makers because doing so increases the likelihood that the content of information is credible, salient, and legitimate. In this study, we explored how the coproduction process facilitated or hindered use of information from two climate adaptation projects in coastal New Hampshire. Based on 17 interviews and document review, we found that, contrary to expectations, highly engaged coproduction of knowledge may not be necessary due, in part, to preexisting trust among New Hampshire coastal municipalities, technical service providers, and researchers. However, we found in small towns with limited capacity, even the best climate knowledge is unlikely to be used without ongoing context-specific implementation assistance. Our research provides both practical recommendations for those actively advancing climate adaptation, as well as contributions to the undertheorized third phase of transdisciplinary research in which knowledge is translated to action.

Identifying barriers to reducing single-use plastic use in a coastal metropolitan city in Canada

Nearly half of all plastic produced is discarded after a single use. Single-use plastics (SUPs) are persistent in the environment and commonly found during shoreline and coastal cleanups. The food service industry is a major source of SUPs used by consumers. Business recognition programs can help reduce SUP use in the food service industry but have only been implemented in small coastal communities in Nova Scotia (e.g., Ocean Friendly Nova Scotia [OFNS]). Due to its coastal proximity, Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) was chosen for this case study. HRM is the largest coastal metropolitan city in Nova Scotia and has potential for SUP leakage into the marine environment, but currently has no business recognition program to reduce SUP use. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, this study identified the main barriers to reducing SUP use in HRM. Two online surveys gauged interest in reducing SUP use among community members and food-based businesses in HRM. Follow up interviews with interested businesses aimed to understand concerns and challenges faced by business owners to reduce SUP use, and subsequent potential leakage into the marine environment. Results indicate overwhelming public interest in SUP reduction, as well as concerns among businesses about sourcing sustainable alternatives. Recommendations include increasing accessibility of sustainable alternatives, a guide for best practices, and public education. These recommendations may serve as a roadmap for SUP reduction strategies across different jurisdictions.

Assessing post-hazard damage costs to a community’s residential buildings exposed to tropical cyclones

Assessment of the potential for damage to community’s residential buildings exposed to extreme natural hazards is essential for measuring and optimising resilience enhancement strategies for communities. This paper develops a probability-based method to estimate the potential for damage and losses to a community’s residential building portfolio due to tropical cyclones (TC) by aggregating the performance of individual buildings quantitatively. The proposed approach reflects the fact that the total building damage of a community depends on the specific TC scenario and the correlation in performance of different individual buildings due to correlations in intensity in the wind field and common construction practices. The estimated damage potential, conditioned on the maximum TC wind speed, is determined from the TC fragilities. The mean value and variance of the cyclone-induced damage losses are estimated using an approximate closed-form approach. The applicability of the proposed method is demonstrated for a small coastal community in North Australia and the sensitivity of the estimated TC damage losses to the key characteristics of the TC wind field and building portfolio is investigated. It is found that correlations in building performance due to common TC demand and construction practices have a significant impact on losses to the community.

Coastal communities in the Circumpolar North and the need for sustainable climate adaptation approaches

Climate change is one of society's greatest contemporary challenges. Increasing global temperatures leave coastal locations in particular, vulnerable to impacts that include rising sea levels and more extreme and variable weather events. Stress can be acute for small coastal communities located in the Circumpolar North, where a lack of capacity and awareness along with institutional constraints, can exacerbate vulnerability. Given that continued climate change is inevitable regardless of the extent of mitigative action, adaptation is a necessity. In northern regions, there is evidence that adaptation planning is occurring in response to observed climate stressors, with structural (or hard) adaptation approaches prevalent across the sensitive coastline. However, structural adaptations are often associated with several drawbacks and may not be suitable, particularly in a region that is facing rapid rates of warming, enhanced exposures, and significant environmental and socio-economic constraints. To enhance resilience, small northern coastal communities should adopt a diversified portfolio of adaptations that incorporate more sustainable non-structural and ecosystem-based (or soft) adaptation approaches.

Social knowledge networks for promoting environmental education in coastal communities from central-southern region of Cuba

Community-based Environmental Education is recognized as a powerful tool for contributing the solution of socio-environmental problems in the coastal zones. Participatory processes in coastal communities such as exchange of knowledge and networks are very relevant to resolve conflicts and harmonize the relationship between society and nature. The purpose of this study was to use the social networks for the development of community-based environmental education processes in a small coastal community from the central-southern region of Cuba. Surveys and interviews techniques, as well as, environmental diagnoses were implemented in the community. In addition, an environmental education program was established with children of the elementary school. UCINET software data analysis revealed the elements (nodes or keystone bridging agents) relationship with the social network of“Castillo de Jagua” community, which showed a picture or map of individuals and institutions/organizations interactions in this community. Educational activities carried out with children of elementary school were effective to promote environmental education and participatory processes in the community.