The Political Ecology of Coastal Societies
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Aberdeen
Department Name: Sch of Social Science
Abstract
Both the UK and Japan define their identity by their relationship to the sea and both have struggled with the effects of rising sea levels and climate change. This new research network will bring together British and Japanese scholars to develop new social science approaches to the political ecology of coastal societies. Our network will examine two topics. First, the social and political context surrounding the harvesting of seaweed, with special attention to traditional rights and methods of building a "blue economy". Second, we will also investigate the legacies of community-based flood management and mitigation systems in both UK and Japan with an eye to identifying best practice. Both issues are connected and of central concern to authorities in each area. Our network will build around two network seminars and two "scoping events" where British and Japanese researchers will together converse with stakeholders, managers, and visit local communities to investigate the possibility of designing a major research project around one or the topic.
Planned Impact
This project will involve academic researchers from the UK and Japan, and its central goal is to increase collaboration as a means to develop new, high quality research. However, the main ultimate beneficiaries of the work will be policy makers and coastal communities in both countries. To ensure this outcome, our group will work closely with stakeholders and managers involved in the mitigation of floods, and in the design and elaboration of new forms of aquaculture. Both topics have been of central concern to both regional and national authorities in both countries.
Publications
McKinley E
(2019)
Working with Nature: the Social and Cultural Values of Saltmarshes
Anderson DG
(2019)
The Political Ecology of Costal Societies
Sakaguchi N
(2019)
The Logic of a Fishing Village over the Height of the Seawall
Takakura H
(2019)
The Local Perception among Iso Fishermen in Miyagi
Potts T
(2019)
The Green Economy Research Centre - positioning geographical research in Aberdeen to address the challenges of green economy transitions
in Scottish Geographical Journal
Akamine J
(2019)
Resumption of Coastal Whaling in Japan
Delaney A
(2019)
Lives and Lifeways in the New "Seawall Era"
Anderson DG
(2019)
Hard Times are Coming': Architectures of Cultural Revitalization
Whitehouse A
(2019)
Geese Across Boundaries in the UK and Beyond
Anderson DG
(2019)
Food Sovereignty and Resilience in the Circumpolar North
Burdon D
(2019)
Expanding the role of participatory mapping to assess ecosystem service provision in local coastal environments
in Ecosystem Services
Takakura H
(2019)
Disaster Studies from the Perspective of Political Ecology
Iida T
(2019)
Communal Wellbeing among Competitive Fishermen
Ueda K
(2019)
A Right to Survive with Dynamite Fishing?
| Description | This was a network award designed to bring together a group of scholars in the UK and Japan. Publications were not expected nor encouraged. The original proposal called for two network seminars and a set of pilot studies. We exceeded this plan by organizing a third network seminar and by sponsoring four pilot studies. A central focus of the original proposal was to conduct pilot work leading to an application for research funding. During the period of the grant we submitted to two international funding competitions involving our Japanese partners. |
| Exploitation Route | Our network will allow other civil society actors to bring together ideas on coastal political ecology and apply them to new proposals for marine governance |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Energy,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| URL | https://www.abdn.ac.uk/socsci/research/the-political-ecology-of-coastal-societies-698.php |
| Description | The purpose of this network grant was to build a network of actors interested in coastal societies from both government and the community This was done during the grant period |
| First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | CICADA research network |
| Organisation | McGill University |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The CICADA research network based in Montreal, Canada has put to the foreground the reserach on indigenous forms of tenure in the foreshore and intertidal areas. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We have reported on our work on intertidal resource use in Scotland and Japan |
| Impact | The main output is a colloborative book project |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Pilot Research trip: Brent Geese and Seagrass in Hokkaido |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Andrew Whitehouse and Shiaki Kondo spent a week in Hokkaido in December 2019 conducting a pilot study into Brent Goose migration. The researchers visited sites where Brent Geese can be found around Hakodate and in eastern Hokkaido. They also met with with birdwatchers, conservtionists and seagrass researchers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | The Political Ecology of Coastal Societies - First Network Event Sendai Japan February 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The first seminar consisted of introductions and a plan for future seminars |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.abdn.ac.uk/socsci/research/the-political-ecology-of-coastal-societies-698.php#panel721 |
| Description | The Political Ecology of Coastal Societies - Fourth Network Event Aberdeen December 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The primary purpose of our final meeting was to design a grant application to the ORA Network. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.abdn.ac.uk/socsci/research/the-political-ecology-of-coastal-societies-698.php#panel721 |
| Description | The Politics and Pitfalls of Maritime Governance - Second International Network Event - Aberdeen June 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This three day seminar consisted of short presentations and round table discussions on Maritime Governance. Our focus was on applying for future research funding involving both professionals and industry representatives. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.abdn.ac.uk/socsci/research/the-political-ecology-of-coastal-societies-698.php#panel721 |
| Description | The Politics and Pitfalls of Maritime Governance II - Third International Network Event - Sendai Japan October 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | At the third seminar we discussed plans for further funding and learned in more detail about Japanese contexts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.abdn.ac.uk/socsci/research/the-political-ecology-of-coastal-societies-698.php#panel721 |
| Description | Website - Political Ecology of Coastal Societies |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Our website is the main repository of our lessons learned, a list of members, and a set of futre meetings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| URL | https://www.abdn.ac.uk/socsci/research/the-political-ecology-of-coastal-societies-698.php#panel721 |