Marine resource dependence in rural coastal communities south of the Reef Corridor of the Southwest Gulf of Mexico

Mitigating Impacts of Natural Hazards on Fishery Ecosystems

Mitigating Impacts of Natural Hazards on Fishery Ecosystems ◽

10.47886/9781934874011.ch12 ◽

2008 ◽

Keyword(s):

Gulf Of Mexico ◽

Hurricane Katrina ◽

New Orleans ◽

Natural Hazards ◽

Coastal Communities ◽

Fishing Communities ◽

Commercial Fishing ◽

Fishing Industry ◽

Northern Gulf Of Mexico

Abstract.—On 29 August 2005, Hurricane Katrina came ashore devastating coastal communities in the northern Gulf of Mexico. This paper examines the impacts of Hurricane Katrina on two fishing communities in Louisiana: Grand Isle and the Empire- Venice area. Both of these areas were heavily involved in the commercial fishing industry before the hurricane hit. Empire-Venice is one of the top commercial fishing ports by volume of landings in the country. As the storm crossed the wetlands south of New Orleans, boats were sunk, houses and businesses were destroyed, and lives were changed, in some cases, perhaps, forever.

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The economic and social impacts of environmental change on fishing towns and coastal communities: a historical case study of Geraldton, Western Australia

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsv196 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 73 (5) ◽

pp. 1437-1446 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

M. Tull ◽

S. J. Metcalf ◽

H. Gray

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Environmental Change ◽

Adaptive Capacity ◽

Western Australia ◽

Resource Dependence ◽

Natural Capital ◽

Economic Importance ◽

Coastal Communities ◽

Fishing Industry ◽

Ecological Vulnerability

Abstract For decades, many Australian coastal communities have been changing, in varying degrees, from traditional “fishing towns” to “mining”, “tourism”, or “retirement” towns. However, environmental changes, such as climate change, have increased the vulnerability of these communities and their capacity to continue to successfully adapt is unknown. A framework for the assessment of socio-ecological vulnerability is used to provide information on the response to change in Geraldton, Western Australia. Geraldton has traditionally been a port and fishing town and has recently become a hub for the expanding mining industry. An innovative historical assessment of adaptive capacity using sustainable livelihoods analysis with indicators of social, economic, human, financial, physical, and natural capital is used to calculate socio-ecological vulnerability over time. The framework integrates adaptive capacity with environmental change, resource dependence, and the socio-economic importance of the fished species during four census years: 1921, 1954, 1981, and 2011. The earlier years are characterized by high adaptive capacity and low socio-ecological vulnerability in keeping with strong economic growth and low unemployment rates following the First and Second World Wars. The years 1981 and 2011 showed markedly higher socio-ecological vulnerability and lower adaptive capacities. This result was due to progressively greater exposure to climate change and the high socio-economic importance of fished species, as well as relatively poor physical, social, and natural capital. With continuing environmental and economic change, the fishing industry and the broader Geraldton population is likely to become increasingly vulnerable. Proactive rather than passive adaptation may speed the recovery and reduce a decline in the fishing industry and local economies. The paper briefly discusses potential adaptation in Geraldton which may be useful as a guideline for other coastal communities.

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Test-Retest Reliability of a Food Frequency Questionnaire to Assess Seafood Intake Dynamics for High-End Consumers in Coastal Gulf of Mexico Communities

Journal of Environmental and Public Health ◽

10.1155/2020/2704074 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Makyba K. Charles-Ayinde ◽

Leah D. Stuchal ◽

Anne E. Mathews ◽

Andrew S. Kane

Keyword(s):

Gulf Of Mexico ◽

Blue Crab ◽

Food Frequency Questionnaire ◽

Kappa Coefficient ◽

Coastal Communities ◽

Seafood Consumption ◽

Food Frequency ◽

Retest Reliability ◽

Household Members ◽

Test Retest Reliability

Background. Estimates for fish and shellfish intake are used to inform communities and healthcare systems about potential health risks and benefits for individuals, communities, and vulnerable populations. A dietary assessment instrument was designed for use in populations of high-end consumers of seafood to examine intake of finfish, shrimp, oysters, and blue crab in coastal communities across the Gulf of Mexico. Objective. To validate the reliability of a novel food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for seafood intake. Design. Test-retest reliability of the FFQ, which included a species-specific photographic portion guide, was evaluated by the inperson administration and readministration of the instrument with each participant by the same interviewer. Responses from coastal and noncoastal participants were compared to discern FFQ reliability in heterogeneous samples. Participants/setting. A convenience sample of 27 coastal participants from Cedar Key, Steinhatchee, and Apalachicola, Florida, reported data for 101 household members; and 15 noncoastal participants from Gainesville, Florida, reported for 42 household members. Analysis. Repeated measures from the FFQ were evaluated using correlation concordance for continuous variables (age, weight, and height) and kappa coefficient for categorical variables (type, amount, and frequency of seafood consumed). Results. Concordance correlation coefficient (1.00) and kappa coefficient (r = 0.73 to 1.00) for yearly and seasonal seafood consumption indicated substantial to almost perfect reproducibility, i.e., participants provided responses that were reproducible. Test-retest agreement was highest for coastal participants who consumed more seafood, as compared to occasional, noncoastal consumers, based on the intergroup comparison of kappa coefficients for yearly and seasonal seafood consumption (r = 0.69 to 0.99). Conclusions. The seafood FFQ instrument evaluated in this study, included as a supplement to this report, used in tandem with a photographic portion guide, provides a utilitarian tool for assessing fish, shrimp, oyster, and blue crab intake dynamics in adult and youth populations drawn from coastal communities.

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