Southeast US and Irish Oyster Farmers' Climate Change and Extreme Weather Perceptions

Extreme weather events and climate change are predicted to impact various aspects of the economy including the oyster farming industry along coastal regions including, the Southeast US and Ireland. Some impacts include increased frequencies in weather-related and disease-related closures preventing oyster harvest. As a result, it is vital to know the variety of impacts of these events may be on the industry, farmers’ knowledge of these impacts, and ways to become more resilient to these future changes. The project aims to examine the oyster farming community members’ perceptions of climate change and extreme weather events, using a survey with Likert-scale and open-ended questions. Following the survey, semi-structured Zoom interviews were conducted to examine what oyster farmers perceive as the most significant impacts of extreme weather events on the industry. A distinct aspect of this project will be comparing the similarities and differences between the perceptions of Southeast US and Irish farmers. This project provides valuable insights into the climate perceptions of oyster farmers which can aid in supporting future efforts aimed at improving climate resilience in the industry.