South Carolina Coast

South Carolina Coast Mariculture

Examining the Social Carrying Capacity for Mariculture Development on the South Carolina Coast

Description:

This project aims to investigate social constraints, barriers, and hurdles to oyster mariculture in South Carolina. Specifically, this project targets assessment of stakeholder perceptions with regard to social acceptability towards the expansion of oyster mariculture and associated infrastructure in Beaufort and Charleston counties. Perceptions from a broad range of stakeholders are assessed including: coastal homeowners, tourists, recreational boaters, and recreational anglers/shellfishers.

Objectives:

Specific objectives of this study include:

To identify issues, factors, variables, and attributes influencing stakeholder perceptions and attitudes towards the expansion of oyster mariculture and develop a set of indicators that will serve as the basis for measuring social carrying capacity/societal acceptance of mariculture in Charleston and Beaufort counties.
To map social values of the coastal landscape using Public Participation GIS mapping (PPGIS).
To determine thresholds to assess social carrying capacity and the societal acceptability of potential management actions for oyster mariculture development on the coast of Charleston and Beaufort counties.
To develop and deliver research results in a way that creates utility to SC Sea Grant, SCDNR, SCDHEC-OCRM, shellfish grower associations, and other organizations that work directly with mariculture farmers.

Collaborators:

Clemson University
South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control - Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management.
Shellfish growers on the South Carolina Coast