Victoria Rogers

Ever since my first geography course in the early days of my undergraduate degree, I have been intent on pursuing a master’s project on coastal conservation—particularly in tropical areas, such as Southeast Asia. Through education and travel, however, I have developed a better understanding of the fact that coastal areas are incredibly complex and that conservation efforts rarely occur in isolation of other human activities.

From living in a popular tourist destination, Victoria, BC, and traveling abroad, I have often questioned how the social, economic, and ecological benefits of tourism compare to the potential negative impacts. I have also been interested in learning more about the relationships coastal communities have with their natural surroundings, such as fisheries. Being a student with Too Big To Ignore: Global Partnership for Fisheries Research, has expanded my understanding of the important, yet often overlooked, role small-scale fisheries can play in respect to food security, livelihood sustainability, and environmental stewardship.

My learning and interests have been greatly broadened to look at multiple-use coastal areas in light of their inherent complexity. Although specific research questions took time to devise and develop, the interactions between conservation, tourism, and fisheries remained at the forefront of my research interests. With such complexity, further compounded by my plans to conduct my fieldwork in another country, I was not interested in—nor in a position to—suggest specific strategies for improving coastal governance. Instead, I was intrigued by the manner in which these different groups currently interact and was curious to explore the capacity the social system may have in addressing complex problems in light of existing conflicts. This led me to my overarching question of what potential for synergies exist among tourism, fisheries, and conservation operation groups?

This past summer, I travelled to Thailand to conduct my fieldwork. There, I had the opportunity to learn from experienced researchers at Ramkhamhaeng University in Bangkok and to collect data in my study site, Koh Chang—an island located in the upper eastern section of the Gulf of Thailand. Koh Chang is renowned for its natural beauty and diverse coastal ecosystems. Protected within a marine national park, the island’s mountainous terrain and lush tropical rainforest have remained largely intact with development being concentrated along the coastal area. Villages are made up of traditional fishing communities, of mostly small-scale fishing operations, as well as a vibrant tourist scene offering a diverse range of accommodations and activities.

While on the island, I spent my time learning about the local context and preparing my questionnaire through interviewing local leaders and government officials; conversing with tourists, tour operators, and fishers; partaking in various stakeholder activities; visiting the coastal ecosystems; as well as observing the day-to-day operations of the island. Overall, it was an invaluable learning experience, not just with regards to my research aims, but also in gaining practical skills in survey design and administration.