School of Commerce
Centre for Comparative Water Policies and Laws
Centre for Comparative Water Policies and Laws
Abstract:
This paper discusses a Photovoice study of the oyster industry in Cowell
on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. For the last 15 years the
Cowell community has been adding water based farming in the
environmentally sensitive industry of oyster aquaculture to its’ land
based farming. The Capitals approach for assessing community
sustainability was assessed through the medium of Photovoice. Whilst
this study provides data on natural, produced and institutional
capitals, the method enabled subtle reflections to be made on social and
human capitals. Hence it provides some data on these hard to capture
aspects of the Capitals approach.
The method engaged the Cowell community to tell its’ insider looking out story of the impact of oyster aquaculture on their community. The Capitals approach was shown to successfully link to Photovoice methodology, and would have wider applicability in assessing impact of other environmentally sensitive industries and developments in other communities. Findings from the study indicated that oyster aquaculture is viewed by Cowell community members as adding positive social and human capital and that any negative aspects of the industry on the other capitals are seen as minor.
Janine is jointly supervised by Professor Jennifer McKay, and Professor Rhonda Sharp of the Research Centre for Gender Studies
Email: janine.pierce@unisa.edu.au
