Perceptions of Shellfish Perceptions of Shellfish Growers towards Marine Growers towards Marine

Protected AreasProtected Areas

An exploratory study….An exploratory study….Dr Rick RollinsDepartment of Tourism and RecreationMalaspina University-College

Carleigh Randall, MADepartment of Tourism and Recreation Malaspina University-College

Purpose of StudyPurpose of Study

1.1. What is the level of shellfish growers What is the level of shellfish growers awareness about MPA’s awareness about MPA’s

2.2. Attitude towards MPA’s Attitude towards MPA’s

3.3. What issues and opportunities did What issues and opportunities did they face as an industrythey face as an industry

4.4. What recommendations could they What recommendations could they make to assist marine protected make to assist marine protected area planning area planning

MethodologyMethodology• Focus Group MethodFocus Group Method

– Opportunity for voice of the shellfish growers to Opportunity for voice of the shellfish growers to be heard and capture points of viewbe heard and capture points of view

• Purposive samplingPurposive sampling– data lists obtained from the B.C. Shellfish data lists obtained from the B.C. Shellfish

Growers Association, Land and Water British Growers Association, Land and Water British Columbia Inc., and the Hul'qumi'num Treaty Columbia Inc., and the Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group. Group.

– A total of 44 shellfish growers were contacted, A total of 44 shellfish growers were contacted, with 21 shellfish growers ultimately participatingwith 21 shellfish growers ultimately participating

– 3 focus groups in November 2003 at Malaspina 3 focus groups in November 2003 at Malaspina University-College University-College

Results: Awareness and Understanding of Results: Awareness and Understanding of MPA’SMPA’S

• clear lack of understanding about the clear lack of understanding about the NMCA resulting in a number of NMCA resulting in a number of concerns concerns

• concerns that First Nations have not concerns that First Nations have not been consulted about the National been consulted about the National Marine Conservation Area.Marine Conservation Area. "…the federal government is not "…the federal government is not communicating with us, they just went communicating with us, they just went ahead and did it without First Nations ahead and did it without First Nations consultations and we always find out after consultations and we always find out after the fact that they are in place and that the fact that they are in place and that makes it really hard for us to accept what makes it really hard for us to accept what isis out there."out there."

• Who benefits? Who benefits?

• Status of the NMCA – was it a “done Status of the NMCA – was it a “done deal”deal”

• Does geographical location i.e. high Does geographical location i.e. high use area imply removal of industry use area imply removal of industry and that residents stayand that residents stay

• Why is the government saving an Why is the government saving an already degraded, denuded already degraded, denuded environment?environment?

Results: Awareness and Understanding of Results: Awareness and Understanding of MPA’SMPA’S

Results: Attitude Towards MPAs Results: Attitude Towards MPAs

Advantages:Advantages:

• First Nations saw few advantages and First Nations saw few advantages and those were viewed as a doubled edged those were viewed as a doubled edged swordsword

Ie. exclusive harvesting rights will lead to Ie. exclusive harvesting rights will lead to commercial and recreational pressures and commercial and recreational pressures and public perception of preferential treatmentpublic perception of preferential treatment

• Curtailment of Impact: distributed equitablyCurtailment of Impact: distributed equitably

““There must be some rationale for establishing There must be some rationale for establishing the park in the first place and I guess that I am the park in the first place and I guess that I am curious as to what constitutes the rationale for - curious as to what constitutes the rationale for - this is a good example it is a really high this is a good example it is a really high residential, high industrial use area so you put a residential, high industrial use area so you put a park here that means industry goes away and park here that means industry goes away and the residents stays…"the residents stays…"

Results: Attitude Towards MPAs Results: Attitude Towards MPAs

Advantages:Advantages:

• Benefits accrue to waterfront owner Benefits accrue to waterfront owner and recreationistand recreationist““The baby boomers looking for their little The baby boomers looking for their little paradise in the Gulf Islands - so they are the paradise in the Gulf Islands - so they are the ones - I feel a bit cynical - but they are the ones ones - I feel a bit cynical - but they are the ones that this park is being created for. I am just that this park is being created for. I am just being straight - I think this is a pile of crap to be being straight - I think this is a pile of crap to be honest. I think sometimes, that although there honest. I think sometimes, that although there lots of good ecological, there are demonstrative lots of good ecological, there are demonstrative ecological arguments for having parks, but I ecological arguments for having parks, but I would certainly like to see those laid out for the would certainly like to see those laid out for the Southern Gulf Islands."Southern Gulf Islands."

Results: Attitude Towards MPAs Results: Attitude Towards MPAs

Disadvantages: Disadvantages:

• creates another set of borders that creates another set of borders that further impedes First Nation harvest further impedes First Nation harvest and access to the benefits of the and access to the benefits of the water water

"To me I think its just more borders put on "To me I think its just more borders put on First Nations. Because right now the treaty First Nations. Because right now the treaty

process, they are putting borders where process, they are putting borders where before there wasn't any borders - we before there wasn't any borders - we

could go as far north and south - but now could go as far north and south - but now we are designated borders and with these we are designated borders and with these parks - there's more borders - that's how I parks - there's more borders - that's how I

feel about it.“feel about it.“

Results: Attitude Towards MPAs Results: Attitude Towards MPAs

Disadvantages: Disadvantages:

• creation of an MPA is added creation of an MPA is added leverage by the public to stop leverage by the public to stop commercial activity within park commercial activity within park boundaries:boundaries:

"Other thing that I see is a real danger is "Other thing that I see is a real danger is that when a marine park is created, like that when a marine park is created, like any other park, the first thing that the any other park, the first thing that the

uneducated masses will start screaming uneducated masses will start screaming for is no commercial activity. ….If you for is no commercial activity. ….If you

add a marine protected area on top of it, add a marine protected area on top of it,

then they will use that against us."then they will use that against us."

ResultsResults: Issues and : Issues and OpportunitiesOpportunities

Distinct themes emerged Distinct themes emerged

1.1. Shellfish Growers and Government Shellfish Growers and Government Relationships Relationships

2.2. Public Perceptions and MisperceptionsPublic Perceptions and Misperceptions

3.3. Benefits of Shellfish Aquaculture within a Benefits of Shellfish Aquaculture within a Marine Protected AreaMarine Protected Area

4.4. Constraints and Disadvantages to Constraints and Disadvantages to Shellfish Aquaculture within a Marine Shellfish Aquaculture within a Marine Protected Area Protected Area

5.5. Perceptions of Threats to Water Quality Perceptions of Threats to Water Quality

6.6. Commitment to Shellfish Aquaculture Commitment to Shellfish Aquaculture

Results: Theme of Government Results: Theme of Government RelationshipsRelationships

• conflicting provincial and federal government conflicting provincial and federal government agendas often leaves shellfish aquaculture agendas often leaves shellfish aquaculture growers feeling disempowered and not growers feeling disempowered and not listened to amongst differing government listened to amongst differing government mandates, creating stress for shellfish growers mandates, creating stress for shellfish growers and communities and communities

"Conflicting agendas lead to turf wars between "Conflicting agendas lead to turf wars between agencies with the 'little voices' of shellfish agencies with the 'little voices' of shellfish

aquaculture in the middle.“aquaculture in the middle.“

• a high degree of a high degree of skepticismskepticism in dealing with in dealing with governmentgovernment, ,

““Over the years, I have been around a little while, we Over the years, I have been around a little while, we have taken part in all kinds of fisheries initiatives, have taken part in all kinds of fisheries initiatives, put information forward and every time it stopped put information forward and every time it stopped

us from doing workus from doing work “ “

Results: Government Results: Government RelationshipsRelationships

• Participants feel strongly that what is needed Participants feel strongly that what is needed is for government to "seek the truth"is for government to "seek the truth" about about shellfish aquaculture; without the truth, shellfish aquaculture; without the truth, shellfish aquaculture growers are concerned shellfish aquaculture growers are concerned that they may be excluded from the park: that they may be excluded from the park:

““I I think one of the first things that will be excluded think one of the first things that will be excluded from marine parks is shellfish aquaculture, which from marine parks is shellfish aquaculture, which

is what we do for a living and there's only one is what we do for a living and there's only one place in the Gulf of Georgia that is experiencing place in the Gulf of Georgia that is experiencing increased wildlife populations and better water increased wildlife populations and better water quality than 50 years ago and that place is right quality than 50 years ago and that place is right where the main activity is in shellfish farming in where the main activity is in shellfish farming in

Baynes SoundBaynes Sound “ “

Results: Public PerceptionsResults: Public Perceptions

• Participants were also concerned about Participants were also concerned about misperceptions by government agencies misperceptions by government agencies that have tremendous impact on their that have tremendous impact on their industry: industry:

""Department of Fisheries and Oceans' Department of Fisheries and Oceans' perception that shellfish aquaculture perception that shellfish aquaculture

cannot occur where there's eelgrass, where cannot occur where there's eelgrass, where in reality, shellfish farming actually in reality, shellfish farming actually

stabilizes bed and eelgrass grows, there's a stabilizes bed and eelgrass grows, there's a lack of understanding by DFO". This type of lack of understanding by DFO". This type of misperception stops them from working."misperception stops them from working."

Results: Public PerceptionsResults: Public Perceptions

• Another concern was that shellfish Another concern was that shellfish aquaculture was often labeled and lumped in aquaculture was often labeled and lumped in with fishfarms, stating a clear need to with fishfarms, stating a clear need to distinguish between finfish and shellfish distinguish between finfish and shellfish aquaculture:aquaculture:

"[people] camping on the beach, looking out, "[people] camping on the beach, looking out, walking on the beach, sailing by…some walking on the beach, sailing by…some

people don't like it…don't know what's going people don't like it…don't know what's going - is that a fish farm? Fishfarms have a bad - is that a fish farm? Fishfarms have a bad

name and we get labeled with that."name and we get labeled with that."

Results: Public Perceptions:Results: Public Perceptions:• Participants are also concerned that the Participants are also concerned that the

general public will equate marine protected general public will equate marine protected areas with having no shellfish aquaculture areas with having no shellfish aquaculture creating future problemscreating future problems: :

"That the idea of a marine park starts people talking "That the idea of a marine park starts people talking and it is another piece of the equation to fight you".and it is another piece of the equation to fight you".

““But what we have to be concerned is with the But what we have to be concerned is with the general public's general ignorance on the subject general public's general ignorance on the subject that they will equate marine protected areas with that they will equate marine protected areas with

no shellfish, so what we are saying is you make it a no shellfish, so what we are saying is you make it a marine protected area, the next thing you will have marine protected area, the next thing you will have

is a very self important group lobbying the is a very self important group lobbying the government to stop all the commercial activity in government to stop all the commercial activity in

that area and what we do is very visible, so they will that area and what we do is very visible, so they will come after us immediately."come after us immediately."

Results: Theme - BenefitsResults: Theme - Benefits

• The need to convey benefits to the wider public. The need to convey benefits to the wider public. – environmental, economic and social benefitsenvironmental, economic and social benefits

• Shellfish aquaculture may supplement band Shellfish aquaculture may supplement band members' food sources. Also, shellfish members' food sources. Also, shellfish aquaculture may supplement, contribute, or aquaculture may supplement, contribute, or improve faltering band economies through job improve faltering band economies through job creation and First Nations' shellfish product.creation and First Nations' shellfish product.– ""For our reserve, we have 90-95% unemployment rate, For our reserve, we have 90-95% unemployment rate,

for some of them that's their livelihood. Indian sweaters for some of them that's their livelihood. Indian sweaters that's gone down the road, it’s out the door now, carving that's gone down the road, it’s out the door now, carving was hot for a while, but now its not because just like the was hot for a while, but now its not because just like the Indian sweaters its gone out the door …we have an Indian sweaters its gone out the door …we have an abundance of carvers, abundance of sweaters …. so abundance of carvers, abundance of sweaters …. so that's why we got into leasing"that's why we got into leasing"

Results: Constraints and Results: Constraints and DisadvantagesDisadvantages• Attitudes of resident Saltspring Islanders Attitudes of resident Saltspring Islanders

and Islands Trust - NIMBYism and Islands Trust - NIMBYism

"It's hard not be a little skeptical about this even "It's hard not be a little skeptical about this even from the point of view of course, we know the from the point of view of course, we know the

attitude of Saltspring Islanders and Islands Trust attitude of Saltspring Islanders and Islands Trust and generally its pretty legendary. …Basically its and generally its pretty legendary. …Basically its any sort of industrial activity or anybody that has any sort of industrial activity or anybody that has shades of industrial activity is basically attempted shades of industrial activity is basically attempted to be pushed out of existence. That's traditional to be pushed out of existence. That's traditional industry, logging or aquaculture in general. Just industry, logging or aquaculture in general. Just ask anybody, Chris Hatfield runs a salmon farm ask anybody, Chris Hatfield runs a salmon farm

on Saltspring Island, just ask him what, how on Saltspring Island, just ask him what, how pleasant life has been on Saltspring.“pleasant life has been on Saltspring.“

"Nobody wants us in their backyard.""Nobody wants us in their backyard."

Constraints and Constraints and DisadvantagesDisadvantages• Park Restrictions:Park Restrictions: "so the real issue is who is restricted by the park. It "so the real issue is who is restricted by the park. It

is not going to be the water front property owners is not going to be the water front property owners in any sense and that's the concern right.“in any sense and that's the concern right.“

• Upland waterfront owners with little or no Upland waterfront owners with little or no local knowledge, little understanding of local knowledge, little understanding of the issues and what they are entitled to the issues and what they are entitled to when they buy water front property.when they buy water front property. "I think it is a class struggle - it is as old as the "I think it is a class struggle - it is as old as the serfs, I think it is really that simple because its serfs, I think it is really that simple because its people who are quite wealthy that are moving people who are quite wealthy that are moving

into the traditional areas that are shellfish into the traditional areas that are shellfish growing and we annoy them.”growing and we annoy them.”

Results: Perception of water Results: Perception of water quality quality

• Participants felt the water quality Participants felt the water quality within the Gulf Islands area generally within the Gulf Islands area generally ranged from poor to heavily polluted ranged from poor to heavily polluted

• There's very little suitable water There's very little suitable water available for shellfish aquaculture, available for shellfish aquaculture, and a need for greater effort at all and a need for greater effort at all levels to reduce pollution of our levels to reduce pollution of our water.water.

Results: Theme – Commitment Results: Theme – Commitment to Shellfish Aquacultureto Shellfish Aquaculture

• History of past generations of families History of past generations of families working together. working together.

• Shellfish aquaculture to them personally Shellfish aquaculture to them personally and to communities by way of job and to communities by way of job creation and benefits to the creation and benefits to the environment. environment.

""A lot of people don't want you around, but if A lot of people don't want you around, but if we don't do it right we self eliminate…. The we don't do it right we self eliminate…. The

majority of people want to stay in this majority of people want to stay in this business."business."

Results: Shellfish Growers’ Results: Shellfish Growers’ RecommendationsRecommendations

• Refine and clarify government agendasRefine and clarify government agendas• InputInput• Education about shellfish aquacultureEducation about shellfish aquaculture• Proposed Working ModelsProposed Working Models• Use Agreements Use Agreements • CompensationCompensation• Consultation with First Nations' bands Consultation with First Nations' bands

one to one to improve communication one to one to improve communication and poor level of understanding.and poor level of understanding.

Recommendations Cont’dRecommendations Cont’d

• Clarification as to how the park is to be Clarification as to how the park is to be managed in light of declining budgets. managed in light of declining budgets.

• Need for co-management ideas to come Need for co-management ideas to come forth, need for meaningful management in forth, need for meaningful management in this proposed marine park.this proposed marine park.

• Clarification of ecological arguments for Clarification of ecological arguments for creation of park.creation of park.

• Clarification of the benefits of the park.Clarification of the benefits of the park.• Create a no dumping zone in the Gulf Create a no dumping zone in the Gulf

Islands.Islands.