Document Type
Article
Abstract
Oyster reefs provide coastal societies with a vast array of ecosystem services, but are also destructively harvested as an economically and culturally important fishery resource, exemplifying a complex social-ecological system (SES). Historically, societal demand for oysters has led to destructive and unsustainable levels of harvest, which coupled with multiple other stressors has placed oyster reefs among the most globally imperiled coastal habitats. However, more recent studies have demonstrated that large-scale restoration is possible and that healthy oyster populations can be sustained with effective governance and stewardship. However, both of these require significant societal support or financial investment. In our study, we explored relationships among how coastal societies (1) perceive and value oyster ecosystem services, (2) recognize and define problems associated with oyster decline, and (3) perceive or support stewardship initiatives. We specifically focused on the SES of eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) and coastal societies in the northern Gulf of Mexico, a region identified as offering among the last and best opportunities to sustainably balance conservation objectives with a wild fishery. We found that, in addition to harvest-related benefits, oysters were highly valued for providing habitat, mitigating shoreline erosion, and improving water quality or clarity. Our results also showed that although most respondents recognized that oyster populations have declined, many respondents characterized the problem differently than most scientific literature does. Among a variety of initiatives for enhancing sustainability, spawning sanctuaries and reef restoration were well supported in all states, but support for harvest reductions was less consistent. Our study suggests that public support for maintaining both harvest and ecosystem services exists at societal levels and that enhancing public awareness regarding the extent and causes of oyster decline could garner additional support for stewardship initiatives. Collectively, the societal, economic, and biophysical complexities of the northern Gulf of Mexico oyster SES illustrate the need and public support for developing more comprehensive management schemes for exploited ecosystem engineers.
First Page
38
DOI
10.5751/ES-06835-190338
Publication Date
2014
Department
Marine and Environmental Sciences
Recommended Citation
Recommended publisher citation: Scyphers, Steven B., et al. “Integrating Societal Perspectives and Values for Improved Stewardship of a Coastal Ecosystem Engineer.” Ecology and Society, vol. 19, no. 3, 2014. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26269616.
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Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, Biodiversity Commons, Bioinformatics Commons, Data Science Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Population Biology Commons, Research Methods in Life Sciences Commons, Sustainability Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Comments
This article was published in the journal Ecology and Society by Resilience Alliance Inc.
A link to the online published version can be found here:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/26269616#metadata_info_tab_contents
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The publisher's recommended citation must be used when citing this article.
This article is made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license [CC BY 4.0], which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium provided the original work is properly cited.