Reframing Coastal Access as a Food Sovereignty Issue: Insights from the Ocean State

Keywords: food sovereingty, seafood systems, blue food, marginalized groups, coastal access
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

Alternative seafood networks (ASNs) – a range of “boat to fork” (and what I propose, “shore to fork”) seafood distribution models supported by community and small-scale fisheries – increasingly provide access to high-quality and sustainable local “blue” foods. ASNs are especially critical sources of dietary nutrition for low-income households, immigrants, and marginalized ethnic and racialized (MER) communities. The behaviors and practices of individuals who fish for reasons other than recreation or commercial fishing are poorly understood in the Northeast. Moreover, despite recent efforts towards increasing inclusion, the perspectives of MER groups remain largely underrepresented in coastal and marine research studies in Rhode Island (RI), the “Ocean State.” Addressing these research gaps, this paper presents findings from 62 structured interviews and 21 in-depth, unstructured interviews with on-shore fishers intercepted across various coastal access points in RI. The findings show that on-shore fishers from MER backgrounds are largely consumption-or-meal-sharing-oriented anglers. While economic need plays a role, cultural tradition is also a significant driver. Fishing and coastal gleaning activities provide access to traditional foodways and activities of cultural and social importance. I argue that coastal access in RI needs to be (re)considered as a food (in)security issue that disproportionately affects MER communities. Furthermore, I emphasize the need to strategically reduce barriers to coastal fishing access for MER groups, recognize their contributions of locally-caught fish to local and regional food security and food sovereignty, and foster local food system resilience by highlighting the diversity of (traditionally underutilized) species MER communities access in RI.