Nova Scotia is Canada’s top seafood exporter — but in a province known for its seafood, shellfish production lags behind other maritime provinces. In 2022, Prince Edward Island produced over 21.3 thousand tonnes of shellfish while Nova Scotia produced only 1.3 thousand tonnes.
The province hopes that groups of pre-approved lease sites called Aquaculture Development Areas (ADA) could help increase production and attract new shellfish and sea plant farms. This plan could help speed up the farm licensing process, but will communities embrace more farming in their coastal waters?
Our research examined the social acceptability of shellfish farming in Pictou County, a coastal region of Nova Scotia.
We have found that how local residents view shellfish farming in their area is greatly shaped by their values and experiences of coastal spaces. Understanding how the social acceptability of aquaculture changes by area will be key to future ADAs.
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Shellfish farming
Aquaculture is a small, but established, industry in Nova Scotia. Mussels, oysters and other shellfish are currently being grown on marine farms throughout the province and there are 23 licensed shellfish farms in Pictou County alone.
Alongside being an excellent food source, shellfish also provide a host of cultural and environmental benefits, as well as economic opportunities to local communities. The shellfish themselves are filter feeders and large numbers can help in maintaining water quality by removing a range of nutrients, including phosphorous, from the waters where they are located.
However, shellfish farming can also interfere with the enjoyment of coastal spaces, and the presence of shellfish farms has been associated with both increases and decreases in property value.
These experiences, and considerations, of shellfish farming affect the social acceptability of the entire industry.
(AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Social acceptability
We invited people living in Pictou County to participate in an online survey about their perception and experience of shellfish farming. A postcard with a link to the online survey was mailed to 6,000 households, and the survey was shared in community Facebook groups. One hundred twenty-one people participated in the survey.
Of those who completed the survey, 65 per cent of people had a positive impression of shellfish aquaculture. What’s more, 50 per cent agreed that there should be more shellfish farming in Pictou County. A further 63 per cent of participants agreed that their community should be involved in the management of shellfish farms.
When survey results were broken down into smaller coastal areas, differences in the acceptability of shellfish farming between two neighbouring areas became evident.
In Little Harbour, N.S. — an area that is home to popular beaches and oceanfront properties — respondents tended to focus more on the potential negative impacts of shellfish farming on the enjoyment of coastal spaces. As one participant told us:
“No existing homeowner should have their ocean views marred by aquaculture equipment. They have paid high amounts for oceanfront property.”
The majority of people in Little Harbour had a positive impression of shellfish farming despite these concerns, but overall, the impression of shellfish farming was significantly more positive in Merigomish Harbour, a rural area that is home to the largest number of shellfish farms in the county.
Sharing the costs and benefits
One of the keys to social acceptance is the perception that the costs and benefits of an activity are shared equitably in society. Around half of survey participants in Pictou County agreed they would be more likely to support aquaculture if their community received more benefits from farming. Ownership is also a concern.
When it comes to marine farming, people are also concerned about foreign ownership. Indeed, one study showed that people report a strong preference for local ownership in aquaculture. Participants in our survey echoed these sentiments. Seventy-five per cent of those we spoke to in Pictou County agreed that farms should be owned by local individuals or groups.
Seventy per cent of people living in Merigomish Harbour reported that they have friends or family members working in the aquaculture industry. Seeing neighbours in their community directly benefit from shellfish farming likely influenced positive perceptions of farming in this area.
Beyond these economic benefits, having farmers embedded within communities is also important for building trust between farmers and community members. As one participant said:
“We always preferred our pristine view, but we support our neighbour’s efforts in sustainable harvesting, local employment, and good environmental effects.”
In our survey population, 58 per cent of participants agreed that they trust farmers to manage shellfish farms in a sustainable way. Only 39 per cent of participants agreed that they trust their government to do the same.
Aquaculture Development Areas
Nova Scotia’s first Aquaculture Development Area is now in operation in the District of Argyle. However, public reception to the pre-approved lease sites has been decidedly mixed.
Taking real steps to understand social acceptability and community involvement — why some farms are embraced and some create conflict — could help people warm to ADAs in the future.
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It is also important to recognize that social acceptability is not set in time. Acceptance is a dynamic process affected by interactions between communities and shellfish farming.
Continuing to share the benefits of farming with local communities is essential. So, too, will be efforts to manage the negative impacts that may result. Only by taking both of these aspects seriously can we build acceptance for shellfish farming and ADAs in the future.