Framing, Values, and (in)Tractable Conflict in Maine Aquaculture

As the aquaculture sector grows in U.S. coastal waters, so too does related social conflict. Aquaculture is often characterized by competing, polarizing frames that position aquaculture as either a sustainable development ‘silver bullet’ or as catastrophic factory farming imperiling local livelihoods and environments. The goal of our research is to understand how different actors frame the ‘problem’ of aquaculture, identify the values and beliefs underpinning these frames, and consider how these frames shape intractability, or resistance to resolution, in aquaculture conflicts. Through content analysis of news articles, we identify a set of frames commonly used in environmental disputes—identity, characterization, conflict management, gain versus loss, and risk frames—that portray aquaculture in binary terms and communicate an array of values and concerns. Our analysis illuminates how polarization and ideological conflict contribute to intractability, but also reveals potential areas of consensus that may enable reframing, reduce polarization, and encourage tractability.

Duke Scholars

Author Grant Daniel Murray Marine Science and Conservation