MA Thesis Defense-FR

Event Details:

Anthropology Graduate Student Emma Andrews will defend her Thesis entitled, "Stakeholder’s Perceptions of Risk Pertaining to Tidal Power: A Case Study in the Cobscook Bay, Maine, U.S."

ABSTRACT

This thesis investigates the Cobscook Bay, Maine experience with evaluating, approving, and installing a tidal power device. This was done in order to understand stakeholder risk perceptions surrounding the Ocean Renewable Power Company’s tidal power project, with respect to potential impact on local commercial fisheries. Twenty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted representing various stakeholder groups with data analyzed using a grounded theory approach. The results reveal the region’s long and complex history with tidal power and industry in general, which influenced pre-deployment risk perceptions. Risk perceptions post-deployment focused on impacts to livelihood. The analysis showed that the proponent gained a social licence for the project due primarily to acceptance of local/traditional knowledge and experience-based expertise. Contrasting the Maine experience with a recent Canadian tidal power project illustrated several important lessons learned for future sustainable development project consultations.

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