A Cultural A Cultural Analysis: Analysis: Knowledge, Values, Knowledge, Values, and Chesapeake and Chesapeake Oysters Oysters By By Dr. Michael Paolisso Dr. Michael Paolisso Nicole Dery Nicole Dery Department of Anthropology Department of Anthropology University of Maryland, College Park University of Maryland, College Park Presented to the Maryland Department of Presented to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Natural Resources July 28, 2005 July 28, 2005
Transcript
A Cultural A Cultural Analysis: Analysis:
Knowledge, Values, Knowledge, Values, and Chesapeake and Chesapeake
Oysters Oysters ByByDr. Michael PaolissoDr. Michael Paolisso
Nicole Dery Nicole Dery Department of AnthropologyDepartment of Anthropology
University of Maryland, College ParkUniversity of Maryland, College Park
Presented to the Maryland Department of Presented to the Maryland Department of Natural ResourcesNatural Resources
July 28, 2005July 28, 2005
Environmental Impact Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to Evaluate Statement (EIS) to Evaluate
The State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of The State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia are considering the introduction of the oyster Virginia are considering the introduction of the oyster species species Crassostrea ariakensisCrassostrea ariakensis into the tidal waters of into the tidal waters of Maryland and Virginia. Maryland and Virginia.
The objective of the introduction, coupled with The objective of the introduction, coupled with continued restoration efforts of the Bay’s native continued restoration efforts of the Bay’s native oyster oyster (Crassostrea virginica)(Crassostrea virginica), is to restore the , is to restore the Chesapeake Bay oyster population to a level that will Chesapeake Bay oyster population to a level that will provide self-sustaining harvests comparable to provide self-sustaining harvests comparable to harvests in the 1920-1970 time period. harvests in the 1920-1970 time period.
Historical figures indicate that the annual harvest of Historical figures indicate that the annual harvest of Chesapeake Bay oysters for the 1920-1970 period Chesapeake Bay oysters for the 1920-1970 period averaged 4.9 million bushels.averaged 4.9 million bushels.
Introduce Introduce C. ariakensisC. ariakensis and discontinue native oyster restoration and discontinue native oyster restoration effortsefforts
Continue current oyster restoration and repletion plansContinue current oyster restoration and repletion plans
Expand and accelerate native oyster restoration plansExpand and accelerate native oyster restoration plans
Implement a temporary harvest moratorium and oyster industry Implement a temporary harvest moratorium and oyster industry compensation programcompensation program
Establish and/or expand State-assisted, managed and regulated Establish and/or expand State-assisted, managed and regulated aquaculture operations using the native oysteraquaculture operations using the native oyster
Establish State-assisted, managed, or regulated aquaculture Establish State-assisted, managed, or regulated aquaculture operations using a suitable triploid, non-native oyster speciesoperations using a suitable triploid, non-native oyster species
Introduce and propagate an alternative oyster species other than Introduce and propagate an alternative oyster species other than C. ariakensis C. ariakensis or an alternative strain of or an alternative strain of C. ariakensisC. ariakensis
Consider a combination of alternativesConsider a combination of alternatives
Cultural Analysis for EISCultural Analysis for EIS
Groups vary in their interpretation and valuation Groups vary in their interpretation and valuation of the risks and benefits associated with the of the risks and benefits associated with the proposed EIS actions and alternatives.proposed EIS actions and alternatives.
People use existing and implicit cultural models to People use existing and implicit cultural models to assist them in understanding the issues that arise assist them in understanding the issues that arise in response to the proposed action and in response to the proposed action and alternatives. alternatives.
These cultural interpretations and valuations will These cultural interpretations and valuations will play an important role in determining behavior: play an important role in determining behavior: public support of oyster restoration plans, public support of oyster restoration plans, consumption of oysters, participation in oyster consumption of oysters, participation in oyster restoration programs, involvement in oyster restoration programs, involvement in oyster commercial fishery. commercial fishery.
Culture, Cognition, and Culture, Cognition, and Cultural Models Cultural Models
Culture: “whatever it is one has to know or believe to Culture: “whatever it is one has to know or believe to operate in a manner acceptable to its members.”operate in a manner acceptable to its members.”
Cognitive anthropology: focus is on the way knowledge Cognitive anthropology: focus is on the way knowledge is used in ordinary life and how that knowledge is is used in ordinary life and how that knowledge is organized in thought.organized in thought.
Culture is partially “in the mind”Culture is partially “in the mind”
““Cultural models are presupposed, taken for granted, Cultural models are presupposed, taken for granted, models of the world that are widely shared by the models of the world that are widely shared by the members of a society that play an enormous role in members of a society that play an enormous role in their understanding of that world and their behavior in their understanding of that world and their behavior in it (Holland & Quinn 1987).”it (Holland & Quinn 1987).”
MethodsMethods Literature Review Literature Review
Including published and unpublished information regarding socio-Including published and unpublished information regarding socio-economic impacts of non-native introductions and a review of economic impacts of non-native introductions and a review of biological, ecological, political, and economic issues surrounding biological, ecological, political, and economic issues surrounding oyster restorationoyster restoration
Open-ended Key Informant Interviews Open-ended Key Informant Interviews 23 interviews were conducted with skilled professionals from 23 interviews were conducted with skilled professionals from
stakeholder groupsstakeholder groups
Informal Conversations Informal Conversations Conducted in settings such as restaurants and docks in both Conducted in settings such as restaurants and docks in both
Various Forms of Data Analysis Various Forms of Data Analysis Qualitative Data Analysis, Frequency Analysis, Consensus AnalysisQualitative Data Analysis, Frequency Analysis, Consensus Analysis
Survey SampleSurvey Sample
Sample and Population Estimates by Stakeholder Group for Survey Distribution
Restoration with native oysters could work given more time and the use of new approaches.
7 6 5 4 3 2 1
No Idea Strongly Agree Somewhat Somewhat Disagree Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Disagree
Managed oyster sanctuaries and reserves should be a larger part of the oyster fishery in the future.
7 6 5 4 3 2 1
No Strongly Agree Somewhat Somewhat Disagree Strongly Idea Agree Agree Disagree Disagree
The Primary Goal of Restoration Should be to Have a Population of Oysters that Will Improve the Ecology of the Bay
2 4 107 8 121
1.7% 3.3% 88.4% 6.6% 100.0%
1 4 7 21 33
3.0% 12.1% 21.2% 63.6% 100.0%
1 3 30 34
2.9% 8.8% 88.2% 100.0%
1 4 127 7 139
.7% 2.9% 91.4% 5.0% 100.0%
3 1 16 68 3 91
3.3% 1.1% 17.6% 74.7% 3.3% 100.0%
7 6 34 353 18 418
1.7% 1.4% 8.1% 84.4% 4.3% 100.0%
Count
%
Count
%
Count
%
Count
%
Count
%
Count
%
Public
Scientists
Environmentalists
Recreational Fisher
Watermen
Total
DisagreeSomewhatDisagree
SomewhatAgree Agree No Idea Total
Restoring the Oyster Population Is More Important than Worrying About Differences Between Native and Non-native Oysters
37 11 15 47 12 122
30.3% 9.0% 12.3% 38.5% 9.8% 100.0%
20 7 1 5 33
60.6% 21.2% 3.0% 15.2% 100.0%
15 5 4 9 1 34
44.1% 14.7% 11.8% 26.5% 2.9% 100.0%
30 19 23 57 8 137
21.9% 13.9% 16.8% 41.6% 5.8% 100.0%
16 3 10 58 5 92
17.4% 3.3% 10.9% 63.0% 5.4% 100.0%
118 45 53 176 26 418
28.2% 10.8% 12.7% 42.1% 6.2% 100.0%
Count
%
Count
%
Count
%
Count
%
Count
%
Count
%
Public
Scientists
Environmentalists
Recreational Fisher
Watermen
Total
DisagreeSomewhatDisagree
SomewhatAgree Agree No Idea Total
Summary Findings Summary Findings from Agreement Surveyfrom Agreement Survey
General agreement that restoration as General agreement that restoration as practiced has not worked, although high practiced has not worked, although high levels of “don’t knows” for public and levels of “don’t knows” for public and recreational fishers.recreational fishers.
General agreement that with time and new General agreement that with time and new approaches native oyster restoration could approaches native oyster restoration could work.work.
All five stakeholder groups reported that All five stakeholder groups reported that oyster restoration should have both oyster restoration should have both ecological and industry goals, with some ecological and industry goals, with some uncertainty as to which should be primary.uncertainty as to which should be primary.
Ecological restoration is understood at Ecological restoration is understood at various scale levels across stakeholder various scale levels across stakeholder groups.groups.
Summary Findings from Summary Findings from Agreement Survey Agreement Survey
(continued)(continued) Management options of harvest moratorium with Management options of harvest moratorium with
compensation and reserves elicit mixed support compensation and reserves elicit mixed support across all stakeholder groups (except watermen across all stakeholder groups (except watermen for compensated moratorium).for compensated moratorium).
Agreement that restoration with native oysters Agreement that restoration with native oysters should continue, with some “don’t knows” for should continue, with some “don’t knows” for public and recreational fishers.public and recreational fishers.
Agreement that the native oyster’s place in the Agreement that the native oyster’s place in the natural and cultural history of the Bay is a key natural and cultural history of the Bay is a key consideration for restoration.consideration for restoration.
Strong agreement that we currently don’t know Strong agreement that we currently don’t know enough about non-native oyster to use it for enough about non-native oyster to use it for restoration, with the exception of watermen who restoration, with the exception of watermen who expressed mixed agreement and disagreement.expressed mixed agreement and disagreement.
Summary Findings from Summary Findings from Agreement Survey Agreement Survey
(continued)(continued) Agreement that scientific findings will reduce Agreement that scientific findings will reduce
concerns about possible negative consequences of concerns about possible negative consequences of using a non-native oyster for restoration.using a non-native oyster for restoration.
Agreement that we should continue aquaculture of Agreement that we should continue aquaculture of native oyster for growers and watermen and to native oyster for growers and watermen and to increase understanding.increase understanding.
Agreement that we should continue aquaculture of Agreement that we should continue aquaculture of non-native oyster for growers and watermen and to non-native oyster for growers and watermen and to increase understanding.increase understanding.
Aggregated harvest data do not capture the Aggregated harvest data do not capture the economic and cultural identity significance of oysters economic and cultural identity significance of oysters at watermen household and community levels.at watermen household and community levels.
Watermen will expend more effort if more oysters Watermen will expend more effort if more oysters are available, but they express concern about are available, but they express concern about market. market.
Cultural Consensus Cultural Consensus AnalysisAnalysis
Formally states: shared patterns of Formally states: shared patterns of agreement reflects shared knowledgeagreement reflects shared knowledge
Allows for estimation of individual Allows for estimation of individual knowledge levels (cultural knowledge levels (cultural competence)competence)
Uses factor analysisUses factor analysis
If consensus, strong loading on first If consensus, strong loading on first factor (3:1 ratio with second factor)factor (3:1 ratio with second factor)
All Stakeholder GroupsAll Stakeholder Groups(Experts (“Don’t Knows” (Experts (“Don’t Knows”
Analysis: No Cultural Consensus: It would be better if Analysis: No Cultural Consensus: It would be better if the first factor accounted for more than 3 times the the first factor accounted for more than 3 times the variance of the second.variance of the second.
Note: Variables correlated with underlying factors is their Note: Variables correlated with underlying factors is their “factor loading”. “Factor loadings” squared = individual “factor loading”. “Factor loadings” squared = individual variance; sum of squared factor loadings = eigenvalue.variance; sum of squared factor loadings = eigenvalue.
Analysis: Cultural Consensus; First Factor Analysis: Cultural Consensus; First Factor More Than Three Times Second Factor More Than Three Times Second Factor
Scientists’ Cultural Scientists’ Cultural CompetenceCompetence
ConclusionsConclusions Little cultural consensus, except among scientists and a Little cultural consensus, except among scientists and a
subset of watermensubset of watermen High levels of uncertainty (up to 50% “Don’t Know”)High levels of uncertainty (up to 50% “Don’t Know”) Ceteris paribus, prefer the native oyster for ecological, Ceteris paribus, prefer the native oyster for ecological,
economic and cultural reasonseconomic and cultural reasons Restoration has different meanings to different Restoration has different meanings to different
stakeholder groupsstakeholder groups Oyster is changing roles: from food/industry to Oyster is changing roles: from food/industry to
ecological servicesecological services Sustained importance at the community level for Sustained importance at the community level for
watermenwatermen The oyster is culturally loaded; not just a biological The oyster is culturally loaded; not just a biological
organism in an ecosystem whose harvest supports organism in an ecosystem whose harvest supports watermen communitieswatermen communities
Policy SignificancePolicy Significance We have agreement across stakeholders on key topics, but also We have agreement across stakeholders on key topics, but also
the presence of uncertainty in knowledge and viewpoints. the presence of uncertainty in knowledge and viewpoints. Situation: Pre-paradigmatic and unstable.Situation: Pre-paradigmatic and unstable.
Little shared cultural knowledge in the form of cultural models. Little shared cultural knowledge in the form of cultural models. Cannot assume that rationale or reasoning for viewpoints are Cannot assume that rationale or reasoning for viewpoints are similar across or within groups. Result: risk of unexpected similar across or within groups. Result: risk of unexpected stakeholder response to policy because of lack of cultural stakeholder response to policy because of lack of cultural consensus (exception scientists, VA watermen).consensus (exception scientists, VA watermen).
Oyster restoration is a vector for wide-ranging education and Oyster restoration is a vector for wide-ranging education and collaboration focused on Bay ecology, economy, and culture. collaboration focused on Bay ecology, economy, and culture. Policies need to accommodate agreements and disagreement, Policies need to accommodate agreements and disagreement, uncertainty, and other Bay restoration and management issues. uncertainty, and other Bay restoration and management issues.
Continued integration of perspectives from ecology, economics Continued integration of perspectives from ecology, economics and anthropology in the assessment of risks and benefits of and anthropology in the assessment of risks and benefits of native and non-native oyster restoration. Oysters could be a native and non-native oyster restoration. Oysters could be a model of interdisciplinary research and policy development.model of interdisciplinary research and policy development.
