Chronic social disruption following a fishery failure

• In Event: 1544 - Disasters

Abstract

Fishery failures are often used to illustrate the negative impacts of humans on coastal oceans but also indicate disrupted livelihoods and communities. In the United States, recent declines in the iconic fishery for Gulf of Maine cod resulted in dramatic, multi-year harvest reductions and a federally declared economic disaster. Using longitudinal surveys of fishing captains, our research revealed widespread and chronic psychological distress and social disruption throughout New England fishing communities. Our results show that 62% of captains exhibited symptoms of severe or moderate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) one year after the crisis began, and these patterns have persisted among active fishers for 5 years. Negative outcomes were greatest among fishers with weaker social capital and among individuals who perceived disruption in their families and communities. While fisheries declines can be clearly driven by both natural and human processes, fisheries communities experiencing collapses share many traits with those impacted by human-caused disasters. Two common characteristics of these communities include a pronounced loss of trust in institutions (i.e., recreancy) and prolonged recovery. Many fisheries management processes are well-structured for assessing the biological status of fish stocks, acceptable catch levels, rebuilding targets, and economic implications of alternative management scenarios. Measuring and managing for social outcomes and human well-being has lagged behind yet is also mandated by federal policy.

Authors

• Steven Scyphers, Northeastern University

• J. Steven Picou, University of South Alabama

• Jonathan Grabowski, Northeastern University