WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • SEPTEMBER 2019 31 Focus Group Responses Tables 1-4 (pages 32-35) summarize responses to the questions asked from each of the four focus groups and offers some comparison of concerns and values across groups. • Economic Benefits and Costs. In all focus groups, participants consistently mentioned positive economic impact as a significant benefit from shellfish production and restoration. Shellfish production and restoration are seen to provide jobs in rural areas, including for Native Americans, where other natural resources jobs have disappeared, generate state revenue through shellfish harvest licenses and leases and generally support the local economy and bring in outside spending through tourism and export. Several participants in Oakland Bay indicated that the Oyster Fest event in Mason County is an “incredible” fundraiser that supports many county programs. A participant in Totten Inlet also indicated that shellfish production provides a “green” industry to the region. These same focus groups also noted, however, negative economic impacts of shellfish beaches related to increases in costs to commercial and residential property owners and homeowners due to stringent water quality regulations and septic system retrofits and maintenance, as well as perceived negative economic impacts on other industries such as fishing and tourism. • Social Benefits and Costs. All focus groups noted the cultural benefits of oyster production and restoration. In some cases, “cultural” referred to the subsistence farming and ceremonial practices of tribes or even the “life and blood” of a tribe. In other cases, “cultural” implied a more general sense of shellfish being a significant part of Pacific Northwest heritage. Participants felt that shellfish defines the community and is a source of pride. Others viewed shellfish as an icon, something that connects local people to the marine environment and creates a positive national image of Washington State. In Drayton Harbor and Liberty Bay, shellfish restoration programs are thought to have led to numerous stewardship activities, community events and a chance to volunteer and contribute to the community. In all focus groups participants suggested that production and restoration of shellfish provides educational benefits, promoting awareness of the environment and In April 2009, a team from Northern Economics Inc. conducted four stakeholder focus group meetings in Oakland Bay, Liberty Bay, Drayton Harbor, and Totten Inlet, Washington. The purpose of these focus group meetings was to learn more about stakeholder objectives, perspectives, and values related to shellfish production and restoration in Puget Sound. We selected and invited participants with assistance from staff members of Washington Sea Grant, Puget Sound Restoration Fund, Washington Department of Ecology and the Pacific Shellfish Institute. Participants covered a range of stakeholder groups including representatives of NGOs and native tribes, shellfish growers and commercial harvesters, recreational shellfishers, shoreland property owners, non-shoreland residents and state, local, and federal agency representatives. We sought representation from all stakeholder groups to maintain objectivity and breadth of concerns and perspectives. We asked five questions of each focus group to guide and structure the discussion: 1. What are your overall perceptions, objectives and values regarding shellfish harvest and or restoration? 2. What do you view as the benefits of shellfish production and or restoration? 3. What do you view as the costs or consequences of shellfish production and or restoration? 4. What would you like the future of shellfish production and or restoration to be in your community? 5. What do you think are some of the tradeoffs that are necessary to meet all goals and objectives? Given a particular benefit would you be willing to pay for more of it? (In other words, would you be willing to pay an environmental quality tax?) A professional facilitator posed the questions and carefully controlled the discussion that followed so as not to be drawn into active debate. In general, participants were very willing to engage and provided clear and concise responses. There was little interruption by the facilitator unless clarification of a comment was needed. Project team members present at the focus groups were asked to refrain from offering input. At the conclusion of the session, participants were thanked and asked if they would be willing to participate in a very short email survey and offered a copy of the synthesis of the focus groups upon its completion. Perceptions and Values of Shellfish Stakeholders in Washington State Katharine Wellman (TEXT CONTINUED ON PAGE 36) In all focus groups, shellfish production and restoration are seen to provide jobs in rural areas, including for Native Americans, where other natural resources jobs have disappeared, generate state revenue through shellfish harvest licenses and leases and generally support the local economy and bring in outside spending through tourism and export. These same focus groups also noted, however, negative economic impacts of shellfish beaches related to increases in costs to commercial and residential property owners and homeowners due to stringent water quality regulations and septic system retrofits and maintenance, as well as perceived negative economic impacts on other industries such as fishing and tourism.
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