Green out of the blue, or how (not) to deal with overfed oceans : an analytical review of coastal eutrophication and social conflict

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Authors

Levain, Alix
Barthélémy, Carole
Bourblanc, Magalie
Douguet, Jean-Marc
Euzen, Agathe
Souchon, Yve

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Publisher

Berghahn Journals

Abstract

Despite causing harmful impacts on coastal communities and biodiversity for a few decades, eutrophication of marine systems has only recently gained public visibility. Representing a major land-based pollution, eutrophication is now considered the most striking symptom of intractable disruption of biogeochemical nutrient cycles at a global scale. The objective of this article is to analyze multi-scale dynamics of the problematization and regulation of ocean overfertilization. To do so, we build on a comprehensive literature review of previously published works that address the sociopolitical dimension of eutrophication issues and whose visibility we analyze with a critical perspective. We identify three stages that characterize the social history of marine eutrophication and how it was handled by public authorities. Although social mobilizations focus on emblematic sites, conflicts directly related to eutrophication symptoms spread in diverse hydro-social configurations. We conclude with a typology of four configurations associated with enduring nutrient pollution: noisy, overwhelming, silenced, and disturbing eutrophication.

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Keywords

Coastal eutrophication, Environmental change, Hydro-social confi guration, Public problems, Nutrient-based pollution, Social-environmental conflicts

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Levain, A., Barthelemy, C., Bourblanc, M. et al. 2020, 'Green out of the blue, or how (not) to deal with overfed oceans: an analytical review of coastal eutrophication and social conflict', Environment and Society, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 115-142.