Aquaculture America 2024

February 18 - 21, 2024

San Antonio, Texas

LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION AND TRANSITIONS IN SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE ON THE EAST COAST OF THE U.S.

Hayley R. Lemoine* and Sarah E. Lester

Florida State University

Department of Geography

113 Collegiate Loop

 Tallahassee FL

32306

hrl19b@fsu.edu

 



 Shellfish aquaculture is the largest sector of aquaculture in the United States, but it is an anomaly in the agrifood economy because it is primarily comprised of small-scale farms. It is also a relatively new industry compared to land-based farming. The ubiquity of small farms and  shellfish aquaculture’s  recent rise in commercial  seafood  production in the U.S.  make it  an interesting focus for the study of livelihood diversification. Further, aquaculture is often touted by decision-makers as an additional or alternative livelihood option for fishers, though there is very little research on whether fishers in the U.S. are adopting aquaculture, and what fishers or farmers think of this livelihood pathway.  This study uses semi-structured interviews with shellfish farmers and fishers in different communities on the east coast to understand their perspectives on aquaculture as a livelihood diversification option, and if they decided to diversify or transition into aquaculture, why they chose to do so.  The findings from this research indicate that, despite some technical similarities between shellfish fishing and farming, fishers and farmers do not see aquaculture as a logical or straightforward transition from fishing, a view driven largely by the perception of sociocultural differences in fishing and farming communities, and the non-material benefits these industries offer. As shellfish aquaculture continues to expand across the U.S. , research trying to understand why individuals pursue this profession will be of increasing importance to inform regulations and management systems.