Coastal Management Fall 2018
2018 Coastal Opinions
Seafood and Fisheries
By Ally Lafayette, Jenny Shirhall, Natalie Chapman, and Ruben Sanchez-Ramirez
Fishermen in Alaska (Creative Commons)
Introduction
Historically, human development and coastal and marine sources have been intricately linked. Early humans utilized marine systems for traveling, fishing, harvesting materials, and building cultures and religions (Marean et al 2007). Today, humans continue to use the ocean for many of the same reasons, however the use has become exploitative (FAO 2018). Human actions such as overharvesting (Bailey 2011, Rosenberg 2003), marine traffic(Jukka-Pekka et al 2014), ocean acidification (Gledhill et al 2015, Doney 2009), disrupted sedimentation (Rogers 1990), pollution (FAO 2018), and globalized markets (Eriksson et al 2015) are depleting the health of our global fisheries. Over three billion people depend on fisheries for twenty percent of their daily animal-based protein intake, while others rely on the economic value which include the fish trading industry, employment, transportation, consumption, and by-product production (FAO 2018). The United States generated $9.55 billion dollars in 2016 dollars from the fishing industry, with 13% of the revenue attributed to fisheries off California’s coast (NOAA 2017). Although the importance of fisheries to most of the world can only be measured as invaluable, the monetary value applied to developed countries signify the importance of global fisheries on the general economy and the individuals involved in the fish market. Such demands on global fisheries will only continue to grow as the human population increases, which perpetuates the positive feedback loop and derives the need for understanding fishery management and gauging the public opinion on such matters.
Overview of Current Situation
The health of the world’s fisheries can be monitored using various scientific methodology, including surveying fisherfolk and the general public. Endter-Wada’s (2005) exploration of social and economical changes impacting commercial fishermen in the Southern California Bight area (including the counties of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura) showed most fisherfolk endured changes in regulation, permitting, pursuable fishing areas, and gear restrictions.Thirty-one percent of the focus group reported a change in pursuable fishing areas in the 1990s compared to 3% in the 1960s (Endter-Wada et al 2005). This ten-fold increase indicates how the commercial fishermen’s perception of either the amount of fish, the fish populations overall health, or the competition with other fishers altered thee use of fishing areas. These observations suggest that fishery health began declining during the later half of the twentieth century, although the general public remained unaware of the growing issue.
Over two decades later, Froehlich (2017) inquired about the public opinion and concerns about aquaculture development in the United States and found that the development of offshore infrastructure and the negative impacts on wildlife and fisheries were the top two concerns. The highest amount of negative responses included fishing (1.5-2.5 negative words per response) and concern for wildlife (2-3.75 negative words per response) (Froehlich 2017). These results demonstrate how declining fishery health not only impacts the seafood and fishery production industry, but negatively influences surrounding economies as well. In addition, the public understanding of fishery health and marine management generally increased between the two studies. As more people are directly impacted by homogenized, depleted fisheries the general public will have stronger opinions on coastal and marine management on a state, national, and international scale.
Hypothesis: The public in the coastal counties of Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles supports protection of the coast and of coastal resources, regardless of political affiliation or level of education.
Questions
- (7) Global climate change is a major problem we need to address now (agree, disagree, unsure).
- (9) Overall we are taking too many fish from the sea (agree, disagree, unsure).
- (13) Think about the different factors that may be influencing California’s coastal resources. Which factor do you think plays a bigger role: nature or people? (natural forces, human actions, both, neither).
- (17) Overall, California is adequately managing our coastal and marine resources (agree, disagree, unsure).
- (18) The health of California’s coastal ocean is better now than in the 1950s (agree, disagree, unsure).
- (19) Which of the following institutions have you heard of? California Coastal Commission, California Coastal Conservancy, California Dept. of Boating and Waterways, NOAA, Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Rotation Commission for Ocean Protection, Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, California Ocean Protection Council, California State Lands Commission, Coast Guard, Bureau of Ocean Restitution, Pacific Fishery Management Council, Western Occidental Ocean Authority, Clean Seas).
- (20) California’s marine fisheries are healthier and more abundant now than in the 1950s (agree, disagree, unsure).
- (21) When I purchase seafood in a market or restaurant, I ask where it comes from. (always or nearly always, occasionally, rarely, never, I do not eat seafood, unsure).
- (22) I typically eat seafood: daily weekly, monthly, a few times a year, once a year, never
- (23) Over the past seven days, how many ounces of seafood did you eat? ____ oz
- (24) It is safe to eat seafood from: Gulf of Mexico, Santa Barbara Channel, California, Alaska, Japan, China, Norway, Thailand
- (33) When it comes to the coast, I think our government… (is doing too many things better left to businesses, individuals, should do more to solve problems, unsure).
- (36) Commercial fishing off of California’s Coast is: over regulated, regulated about right, under regulated, unsure.
- (38) Which approaches to protect fish and shellfish populations are you familiar with? (seasonal closures, size limits, gear limitations, marine reserves of MPAs)
- (39) Which of the following comes closer to your opinions of our economic system in the U.S.? (the economic system is rigged in favor of certain groups, the economic system is fair to all Americans, unsure).
Results
The general public feels that….
Global climate change is a major problem we need to address now
Of the individuals surveyed, eighty-nine percent agree that climate change is a major problem that must be addressed today.
Overall we are taking too many fish from the sea
Sixty-six percent of the individuals surveyed believe that we are taking too many fish from the sea.
Humans play the biggest role in influencing California Coastal Resources
Fifty-eight percent of those surveyed believe that humans are playing the biggest role in influencing the coast. Forty-one percent believe that humans and nature together play the largest role in influencing the coast. Only eight percent believe that natural forces play the biggest role on the California coast.
The public is not confident that California is managing their coastal and marine resources well
Forty-eight percent of those surveyed are unsure if California is adequately managing their coastal and marine resources. Meaning a majority of the general public are uninformed about California’s coastal management practices. Thirty-one percent responded that California is not adequately managing our coastal and marine resources, whereas twenty-one percent responded that California is adequately managing our coastal and marine resources. This implies that of those who are informed about California’s coastal management practices, most would argue that these practices are not enough to adequately manage our California coastal and marine resources.
Overall, the public is more confident in the safety of seafood products from the United States
The public shows an overwhelming preference for seafood from United States fisheries. Alaskan caught seafood garnered the most confidence from those surveyed, with 67% of individuals stating that they believed Alaskan caught seafood was safe to eat.
The public is uncertain of current commercial fishing regulations
Forty-eight percent of those surveyed stated that they were unsure about the current state of commercial fishing regulations.
Regardless of knowledge of approaches to protect fish and shellfish populations (Seasons, size regulations, gear restrictions, and Marine Protected Areas) there is no consensus on whether commercial fishing is over regulated, under regulated, or correctly regulated.
Interpretation
We surveyed individuals from different age groups, who vote across the political spectrum, from different economic backgrounds, and with varying levels of education. We have reached the conclusion that the public is overwhelmingly in support of environmental regulation to protect the coast regardless of politics, income, or education.
The public of Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties is not confident in the health of fisheries along the California coastline. Forty-eight percent of those surveyed do not believe that the government is adequately managing California’s coastal resources; this includes government management of seafood and fisheries. Sixty-four percent of those surveyed said that they believe government should step in to do more to protect the coast.
We believe that the public is interested in environmental issues in their communities, and that information regarding coastal management is not as readily available as it should be. While taking surveys, individuals expressed confusion and a lack of confidence in their knowledge of the coast. Local and state governments should make information regarding coastal management readily available for the public because people are interested in the health of their coastline.
The results of our surveys are optimistic. Regardless of dividing factors like income, education, and political leanings, the public is in agreement. The people support the conservation of coastal resources, sustainable fishing practices, and the protection of the coast.
Key Takeaway
The public of the Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles tri-county area is overwhelmingly in support of environmental conservation like sustainable fishing practices, regardless of political leanings, income, or education.
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