A Social-Ecological System Framework for Marine Aquaculture Research

Teresa R. Johnson, Kate Beard, Damian C. Brady, Carrie J. Byron, Caitlin Cleaver, Kevin Duffy, Nicholas Keeney, Melissa Kimble, Molly Miller, Shane Moeykens, Mario Teisl (), G. Peter van Walsum and Jing Yuan
Additional contact information
Teresa R. Johnson: School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
Kate Beard: School of Computing and Information Science, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
Damian C. Brady: School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
Carrie J. Byron: School of Marine Programs, University of New England, Biddeford, ME 04005, USA
Caitlin Cleaver: Ecology and Environmental Sciences Program, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
Kevin Duffy: Department of Communication and Journalism, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
Nicholas Keeney: School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
Melissa Kimble: School of Computing and Information Science, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
Molly Miller: Ecology and Environmental Sciences Program, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
Shane Moeykens: Maine EPSCoR Office, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
G. Peter van Walsum: Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
Jing Yuan: School of Computing and Information Science, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 9, 1-20

Abstract: Aquaculture has been responsible for an impressive growth in the global supply of seafood. As of 2016, more than half of all global seafood production comes from aquaculture. To meet future global seafood demands, there is need and opportunity to expand marine aquaculture production in ways that are both socially and ecologically sustainable. This requires integrating biophysical, social, and engineering sciences. Such interdisciplinary research is difficult due to the complexity and multi-scale aspects of marine aquaculture and inherent challenges researchers face working across disciplines. To this end, we developed a framework based on Elinor Ostrom’s social–ecological system framework (SESF) to guide interdisciplinary research on marine aquaculture. We first present the framework and the social–ecological system variables relevant to research on marine aquaculture and then illustrate one application of this framework to interdisciplinary research underway in Maine, the largest producer of marine aquaculture products in the United States. We use the framework to compare oyster aquaculture in two study regions, with a focus on factors influencing the social and biophysical carrying capacity. We conclude that the flexibility provided by the SESF is well suited to inform interdisciplinary research on marine aquaculture, especially comparative, cross-case analysis.

Keywords: marine aquaculture; social-ecological systems; interdisciplinary research; social-ecological system framework; aquaculture; oyster aquaculture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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