Title:

A Rising Tide? The role of alternative networks for women aquaculture producers in Maine and New Hampshire

New England is a leader in sustainable aquaculture practices and, in comparison with other parts of the United States, has high numbers of woman-operated leases for shellfish cultivation. Integrating gender analysis in aquaculture development is critical to ensure equal access and opportunity for women to a viable business, a social support system, and the ability to produce food with positive impacts on ecosystem biodiversity, water quality, and a small or neutral carbon footprint. However, data on gender are not currently collected, for example as part of the aquaculture permitting process. We surveyed a subset of oyster farmers in Maine and New Hampshire to allow for analysis by gender of institutional barriers and opportunities, for example in differences in the role of funding opportunities, training programs, social networks, and gear. We also implemented a Photovoice case study, a participatory action research methodology, with four women oyster farmers to share stories about their experiences as oyster producers in the aquaculture sector and to understand the role of social networks in how women start and build businesses on the water. Our findings provide a baseline of data shedding light on gender in oyster farming in Maine and New Hampshire to foster equal economic opportunities for working on the water and growing local, sustainable seafood. More broadly our findings contribute to emerging research applying gender and social-ecological systems analyses to understand how gender dynamics impact barriers and opportunities for aquaculture producers in the United States.

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