Back to: Site Evaluation
As you start to narrow in on a specific site, it’s critical to consider the social and cultural context of that location. Who lives or works nearby and uses the surrounding waters for recreation, industry, or subsistence? How will your farm impact those activities?
When you farm the ocean, you’re operating in the public commons. Because of this, ocean farms are held to a high standard and asked to demonstrate that farming activities will not negatively impact shared marine and coastal resources.
The more you can do to minimize the negative impacts of your farm—such as reducing visual and noise nuisance, clearly marking site boundaries in popular boating areas, and just generally being a good neighbor—the more public support there will be for your farm and the industry as a whole. This is sometimes referred to as social license to operate, and is an intangible and valuable asset for any ocean farmer.
Supportive beliefs, perceptions, and opinions about a project, held by the local population and other stakeholders. It is intangible, dynamic, and impermanent—because beliefs, opinions, and perceptions are subject to change as new information is introduced. Social license has to be earned and then maintained.
Some of these conflicts you can identify on a map, but most you learn by talking to people involved in the industry and spending time on and around your prospective site. Some farmers find they face a steep, uphill battle of convincing nearby homeowners to support their plans, while others receive broad community support. The more you can do to ease the concerns of different stakeholders early on, the easier your permitting—and, ultimately, farming—journey will be.
Is the shoreline near your site heavily developed?
Would coastal residents consider the buoys of your farm to be a visual nuisance?
Is the water you intend to site a popular place for recreational or commercial fishing?
Are there established navigation channels nearby?
Is this site culturally significant or a traditional harvest area for Indigenous communities in your region?
We recommend reaching out directly to homeowners, Tribal groups, and businesses in the area where you’re considering permitting your site as early as possible.
Write letters and make phone calls, especially to anyone who has voiced public concerns. The more you can do to build relationships, demonstrate good intentions, and assuage concerns, the easier your permitting journey will be.
A characterization of an individual or group’s opposition to something considered undesirable (such as an ocean farm) being located in one’s neighborhood.
If you’re facing staunch resistance from a community group and your outreach efforts aren’t well-received, it may be worth considering a different site.
Having supportive neighbors at your site will make your farming experience much more pleasant in the long run.
We recommend that you consult Indigenous groups in your region during this process. Seaweed is an important traditional food and way of life in many Indigenous cultures. You’ll want to make sure that your site isn’t in conflict with a special harvest area or site of cultural significance. Some states, such as Alaska, notify nearby Tribal entities during the public review process for ocean farm lease applications. But it can also be beneficial to reach out directly to local groups yourself to build rapport, especially when you’re first starting out. If you don’t know any of the Tribal groups in your region, start by asking your local Sea Grant extension agent or state Department of Fish and Wildlife about conflicts with cultural resources, subsistence practices, and special harvest areas.
Read a heated debate in the comments section of a North Carolina newspaper op-ed opposing oyster farming in the region. This exchange is a good example of the type of public misunderstanding and reticence towards the ocean farming industry that you might face, and the public education and advocacy that may be required to gain support in your region.
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