Coastal resident's perceptions and attitudes of the visual impacts of oyster aquaculture cultivation methods along the Atlantic coast of the US
Coastal residents’ strong aesthetic and recreational ties influence their views on shellfish aquaculture. Survey results show a preference for low‑visibility gear, though familiarity and time spent on the water improve perceptions across gear types. These insights can guide siting and permitting to reduce conflict and support environmentally beneficial aquaculture.
Subject Tags
- Coastal
- Aquaculture
Abstract
The aesthetic and recreational values of coastal marine ecosystems are important factors contributing to coastal residents’ overall health and well-being. Consequently, proposed changes to these landscapes—such as shellfish aquaculture—can face opposition from stakeholders with strong personal and emotional attachments to coastal environments. Incorporating public perceptions into aquaculture planning may help define the acceptable scale and scope of development, reducing the likelihood of conflict. To assess attitudes and perceptions of cultivation methods and gear used in shellfish aquaculture, we surveyed residents along the Eastern United States (US) coast using an online survey through Qualtrics panels. Our findings revealed that coastal residents preferred aquaculture gear with lower visual impacts; however, residents with higher aquaculture knowledge and familiarity with gear types had more favorable perceptions and exhibited relatively equal preferences for all gear types regardless of their vertical relief in the water column. Furthermore, participants who spent more time on the shoreline or in coastal waters gave higher visual scores for cultivation methods and exhibited greater familiarity and knowledge of aquaculture than those who spent less time on the water. These findings have important management implications, as they can help inform both aquaculture farmers and coastal managers on how to mitigate potential conflict with future farm siting and permitting. Farms that utilize gear with limited impacts on the aesthetic and recreational value while maximizing potential environmental benefits are likely to increase synergy between farm operations, ecosystem health, and the well-being of coastal residents, especially in areas with higher potential for user conflict.
Citation
Schultz, K. M., Scyphers, S. B., Hughes, A. R., Kimbro, D. L., Kirk, S., & Grabowski, J. H. (2026). Coastal resident's perceptions and attitudes of the visual impacts of oyster aquaculture cultivation methods along the Atlantic coast of the US. Ocean & Coastal Management, 271, 107951.
TNC Authors
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Stephen Kirk
Director, MA Coastal Program • Massachusetts
The Nature Conservancy
Email: stephen.kirk@tnc.org