Demographic change and shifting views about marine resources and the coastal environment in Downeast Maine

• Published in: Population and environment Vol. 33; no. 4; pp. 284 - 303
• Main Authors: Safford, Thomas G., Hamilton, Lawrence C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Science+Business Media 01.06.2012; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Attitudes; Censuses; Coastal environments; Coasts; Communities; Community; Demographics; Demography; Economic activity; Economic diversification; Economic models; Economic theory; Educational Attainment; Environment; Environmental Attitudes; Environmental conditions; Environmental conservation; Environmental Degradation; Environmental economics; Environmental impact; Environmental perception; Environmental protection; Environmental sociology; Fish culture; Fishery economics; Ideology; Maine; Mariculture; Marine environment; Marine resources; Migrants; Migration; Ocean fisheries; Oceans; Original Paper; Partisanship; Political Parties; Population Economics; Public Health; Resource management; Retirement communities; Rural areas; Social Sciences; Sociodemographic Factors; Sociology; Studies; Sustainable agriculture; Tourism; U.S.A; Underwater resources; ANW, USA, Maine; Environmental attitudes; Marine resource management; Maine; Community
• DOI: 10.1007/s11111-011-0146-0
• ISSN: 0199-0039

Connections to the sea often define the character of coastal towns. However, as migrants arrive and economic diversification occurs, views about the use of marine resources and the ocean environment can change. Using survey data from Maine, we examined whether shifting demographics affect public perceptions of marine resource uses and coastal environmental concerns. We tested resource use and environmental items against a common set of demographic, background, and place-related variables. Results indicate that the level of education and the county of residence predict Mainers' views about different marine resource uses and oceanrelated environmental issues. Political party affiliation strongly influences environmental concern but not views about the use of marine resources. Migration history, on the other hand, has little effect. Understanding community contexts as well as individual background and ideological orientations will be critical as managers attempt to balance alternative uses of marine resources and resolve coastal environmental problems.