“Human Dimensions of Oceans: From a Sociological Perspective” blog series is live on FATHOM.
“Human Dimensions of Oceans: From a Sociological Perspective” blog series is live on FATHOM.
Unparalleled in scope and expertise, our integrated ocean social science research network creates resources for understanding the ocean through the following thematic research areas: Governance, Community, Climate, and Technology
A Blue Economy is the establishment of socially equitable, environmentally sustainable, and economically viable ocean sectors. Prioritizing social equity is what makes a Blue Economy a new and transformative pathway for emerging sectors like renewable ocean energy and established ones like coastal fisheries.
This thematic research introduction was led by Deputy Director and Principal Investigator Andrés Cisneros-Montemayor.
Fisheries are vital for the economy and for the livelihoods of coastal communities. They have cultural values and play an important role in social organization. However, poor management can overlook fishers’ roles and can lead to the loss of food sovereignty. According to Via Campesina, food sovereignty is the “right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems” (Sélingué, 2007).
This thematic research introduction was led by Principal Investigator Michael Fabinyi.
The quality of ocean governance depends on the level of participation and implementation at domestic and international levels, and its legitimacy, accountability and transparency. A key concern is that ocean governance law and policy can be heavily influenced by limited interests and may not always address diverse interests and inclusion.
This thematic research introduction was led by Principal Investigator Quentin Hanich.
While the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) give a direction for global sustainable development, we aim to guide how to address these goals for oceans to minimize tradeoffs and realize co-benefits, towards the ultimate principle to ‘leave no one behind.’
This thematic research introduction was led by Deputy Science Director and Principal Investigator Gerald Singh.
Financial benefits and political interests are often the primary motivating forces of marine and coastal management. We aim to prioritize people via capacity sharing and community-led initiatives through the inclusion of a multiplicity of backgrounds and knowledge to prevent ongoing marginalization and dispossession of the ocean space from people. Equitable marine and coastal management implore the recognition of the intersections of systems of power and oppression and the unification of the natural and social sciences.
This thematic research introduction was led by Strategic Advisor and Principal Investigator Cinda Scott.
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” — World Health Organization, 2023
Key attributes associated with well-being include the fundamental rights of every human being to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health and to participate in decision making processes that promote such standards. The importance of experiencing peace and having social governance and stability. Access to knowledge, health resources and clean environments that promote growth and sustainability are also key to well-being.
This thematic research introduction was led by Principal Investigator Elaine Faustman.
Adaptation planning must concern the multifaceted and combined socio-ecological threats imposed by the drivers of climatic change. As it concerns the oceans and ocean resources, equitable climate adaptation therefore involves prioritizing the interests of marginalized, dispossessed coastal populations and centering policy concerns about distributional and procedural justice in adaptation plans.
This thematic research introduction was led by Research Fellow Brian O’Neill.
Marine conservation includes examining the current strategies and approaches to environmental protection, such as marine protected areas (MPAs), from both conservation and ocean governance perspectives that use an equity lens. We must critically assess the potential risks and realized rewards (rather than potential rewards) of implementation and suggest alternative values and perspectives.
This thematic research introduction was led by Deputy Director and Principal Investigator Wilf Swartz.
There is an interest in applying digital technologies to ocean governance due to claims that they will promote more sustainable futures. However, a lack of discussion about the agency of these technologies leads us to critically assess the equity implications, including: how can AI be applied fairly to reflect the needs of all stakeholders and how can coastal communities retain sovereignty over their own data?
This thematic research introduction was led by Principal Investigator Richard Anderson.