An Ethnographic Study of Risk Assessment in Coastal Management

Transcription

1 An Ethnographic Study of Risk Assessment in Coastal Management Beginning in May 2014, Dr. Melanie G. Wiber began research on risk in the marine environment, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada under the Insight Grants. Photo: Setting day, Back Bay, NB November Photo courtesy of Allain Barnett. Atlantic Canadian coastal communities have experienced rapid change in environment (groundfish collapse), economy (market declines), society (loss of infrastructure) and culture (erosion of community cohesion). This project examines the role of local ecological knowledge in developing a proactive approach to risk assessment and to risk mitigation for sustainability and resilience of our coastal communities. How do we evaluate the risks inherent in new and continued human uses of our oceans? Two types of risk have been distinguished: objective (reflecting scientific values and concerns) and subjective (reflecting local values and concerns). These often differ, which creates conflict. This project builds on previous research into such conflicts and will utilize ethnographic methods to examine the interactions between new (tidal power) and continuing (aquaculture; inshore fisheries) uses of marine space. It will add value to the CFRN project by studying how scientific risk assessment is undertaken, and

2 whether incorporation of local knowledge changes science practice. It will examine the co-learning undertaken by resource users and scientists, and will evaluate the potential of such co-learning to mitigate environmental risks. Further, it will explore the science-to-policy nexus by investigating how risk assessment produced under conditions of shared learning does or does not contribute to local management planning. Fundy North Fishermen's Association has been involved in social research through the Coastal CURA (see and in science collaboration through the Canadian Fisheries Research Network (see This SSHRC Insight project utilizes this collaboration to investigate current and developing risk assessment and mitigation methods. Four interrelated projects will investigate both marine science and local fishermen assessment of risk, and will promote conditions for and investigation of the outcomes of sharing these assessments. Project One: Tidal Power in the Bay of Fundy Photo: Tidal Power Generator in Eastport Maine, Photo courtesy of Melanie Wiber.

3 This project examines proposals for tidal power installations to compare existing environmental impact assessments with fishermen's concerns, and to study how collaboration between tidal power proponents and fishermen may or may not better address associated risks. MA Student Emma Andrews is conducting research that focuses on the ORPC tidal power project in Maine, including an assessment of transboundary impacts policy (which proved sadly lacking) and on stakeholder consultation approaches. Project One Outcomes to Date: Conference Presentations: Emma Andrews Review and Analysis of Policies Pertaining to Tidal Power in Canada and the United States, 11 th Annual BoFEP Science Workshop, Fredericton, June 8-10, Emma Andrews Poster Presentation INORE (International Network on Offshore Renewable Energy) North American Symposium, October 29 November 2nd, Orono, Maine. Project Two: Impact of Aquaculture on American Lobster Photo: Measuring lobster, July 2016, photo courtesy of Melanie Wiber.

4 This project builds on a current CFRN natural science project on east coast lobster stocks, to examine the interaction between fishermen and scientists as they assess the potential impact of finfish aquaculture on the health of lobster stocks. It explores questions of the joint production of knowledge in such a project, when diverse knowledge sets come together in a single project. Doctoral student Donna Curtis Maillet is conducting research that explores definitions of knowledge and the knowledge actions that must be collaboratively undertaken to enhance joint production of knowledge in risk assessment projects. Project Two Outcomes to Date: Conference Presentations: 1. Donna Curtis Maillet Exploring expertise to increase understanding of risk. MARE People and the Sea Conference, June 24-26, 2015, Amsterdam. 2. Donna Curtis Maillet Understanding Knowledge Co- Construction: A Case Study of Joint Fishermen/Scientists Research Project on the Abundance of Ovigerous Female Lobsters (Homarus americanus) in Southwestern New Brunswick, 11 th Annual BoFEP Science Workshop, Fredericton, June 8-10, Allain Barnett and Melanie Wiber 2016 Assessing Anthropogenic Risk in the Marine Environment: the Impact of Aquaculture on Lobsters, 11 th Annual BoFEP Science Workshop, Fredericton, June 8-10, Paper: Donna Curtis Maillet, Melanie Wiber and Allain Barnett. Submitted. Knowledge actions in the joint production of knowledge: Risk assessment of the impact of aquaculture on American Lobster. Journal of Risk Research.

5 Project Three: PPGIS Mapping of Marine Debris Photo: Hauling up a big snarl, photo courtesy of Fundy North Fishermen s Association This project utilizes participatory GIS to map stakeholder knowledge about environmental risks, focusing on large scale marine debris in the Bay of Fundy. In collaboration with Fundy North Fishermen s Association and the Fundy Baykeeper, this project also provides detailed mapping to facilitate tracking and removal of marine debris in Southwest New Brunswick waters. MA student Michael Rooney helped to develop the GIS map layers, assisted by postdoc Allain Barnett. MA student Carson Rehn and (now) Research Scientist Allain Barnett are currently working to better understand the role of GIS mapping in active mitigation of marine debris. Project Three Outcomes to Date: Presentations: Allain Barnett, Michael Rooney, Donna Curtis Maillet Policy Recommendations Arising from Marine Debris Tracking in the Bay of

6 Fundy. Poster presented at the UNB Research Showcase, September 25, Fredericton. Allain Barnett and Melanie Wiber Tracking Marine Debris in the Bay of Fundy. Presentation to the 2015 AGM of the Fundy North Fishermen s Association, March 28, Paper: Allain J. Barnett, Melanie G. Wiber, Michael P. Rooney, Donna G. Curtis Maillet The role of public participation GIS (PPGIS) and Fishermen's perceptions of risk in marine debris mitigation in the Bay of Fundy, Canada. Ocean and Coastal Management. Online Interactive Map: in preparation, expected November 2016 Project Four: Scientist Views on Risk Research This project interviews retired and active marine scientists to investigate how scientific risk has been identified and researched and how local knowledge may be changing that. Postdoc Allain Barnett and Project PI Melanie Wiber have undertaken over 22 interviews to date. Given debate around the Harper government and science in Canada, scientists were also questioned about the impact of political interference in Canadian marine science and our understanding of risk. SSHRC Risk Project Outcomes to Date: All four projects have already provided information on when and how risk is identified and how potential impacts are evaluated and utilized in resource planning. Conference/Workshop Panels Organized: Melanie G. Wiber, Allain J. Barnett, Donna G. Curtis, Robin A. Messenger, and Courtenay E. Parlee Panel: Knowns and Unknowns: Knowledge Sets and Perceptions of Risk in Marine Management. MARE

7 International Conference: People and the Sea VIII, Geopolitics of the Oceans, June 2015, Amsterdam, Holland. Courtenay E. Parlee, Melanie G. Wiber, Allain J. Barnett, Robin Messenger, Donna Curtis Maillet Building better governance for sustainable resources: Case studies from Atlantic Canada. 11 th Annual BoFEP Science Workshop, Fredericton, June 8-10, Carson Rehn, Allain Barnett, Melanie Wiber Marine Debris Roundtable, Prioritizing Resources and Planning for the Future. July 19, 2016, St. George, NB. Papers: Allain Barnett and Melanie G. Wiber. Submitted. (De)stabilizing scale: lobster fishing areas under conditions of rapid change in Atlantic Canada. Submitted to Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers. Allain J. Barnett, Robin A.Messenger, Melanie G. Wiber Enacting and contesting neoliberalism in fisheries: The tragedy of commodifying lobster access rights in Southwest NovaScotia. Marine Policy The results of this project will further expand on the information available to local planning organizations and to government managers, and will contribute to scholarship on resource management and on risk assessment at both the national and the international level, through our collaboration with the Canadian Fisheries Research Network and with international networks of academics. Photo: Deer Island, NB, courtesy of Melanie Wiber