Research Summary:

This research will provide tools for supporting decisions and developing policy through evaluation of environmental interactions at coastal zone sites arising from their potential use for aquaculture and other activities including commercial fisheries, and recreational reserves.

The tools develop and apply a geographical representation of selected sites with respect to the environmental composition of natural resources, existing habitat, commercial activities including aquaculture, and other impacts (e.g., plumes due to toxicology). In the site evaluation process, the environmental interactions of selected marine areas are assessed relative to a standard “ideal” attributed to each environmental component. Area assessment information provides input to a multicriteria decision problem framework that captures conflicting perceptions about the environmental components from the participation of key stakeholders in the coastal zone including government scientists, communities, environmental groups, and industry. These perceptions together with the area assessment are used to rank each group’s area preferences. The results provide valuable insight in support of a structured, participatory governance approach to assist in negotiations on coastal zonal siting decisions and practical policy development.

This project establishes a unique collaboration among scientists with expertise related to aquaculture and environmental interactions, academics with experience in the application of decision-making methods, the aquaculture industry in south-western New Brunswick, and members of Provincial and Federal governments responsible for aquaculture policy.