| Description | This report gives a detailed understanding of social/economic make-up of coastal areas, how coastal population in regions of Scotland is changing & possible future directions for coastal communities. |
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| ISBN | N/A (Web Only) |
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| Official Print Publication Date | |
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| Website Publication Date | November 27, 2002 |
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| No.24/2002
Research Findings |
Countryside and Natural Heritage Research Programme |
Scottish Coastal Socio-Economic Scoping Study
School of Resources, Environment and Society, University of Aberdeen
This document is also available in pdf format (104k)
| The coast is an important economic area of Scotland that is not usually investigated as a discrete area. Coastal regions face a series of significant socio-economic pressures, such as unemployment, social instability, deprivation and economic competition. In order to better inform the developing national coastal strategy, this research sought to provide a more detailed understanding of the social and economic make-up of Scotland's coastal areas, how the coastal population in different regions of Scotland is changing and possible future directions for coastal communities. |
Main Findings
- Economic activity at the coast is significant, both historically and currently. 300M of fish are landed each year, aquaculture injects 2M a week into the rural community, whilst port activity is rising.
- Coastal Scotland possesses a mixed sectoral economic profile. However, the use of Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) data highlights the dominance of wholesale, retail and repairs (23% of coastal businesses).
- Coastal Scotland possesses a mixed professional profile, although areas such as Clyde, Solway, Orkney, Banff and the South East display a reliance upon crafts, trades and manual labour.
- There is an identifiable economic split within those regions dominated by small towns.
- There has been a decline in the number of registered unemployed people. However, relatively high levels of unemployment exist in Clyde, Glasgow, the West Coast, the Western Isles, Caithness, Sutherland and Orkney.
- The development of a typology of coastal areas reveals that several areas of the coast are experiencing high levels of deprivation. Those areas with high levels of deprivation tend to be those areas with higher levels of population density.
- The coastal population, along with Scotland as a whole, is predicted to experience a population decline.
- The coastal population is significantly aged.
- There are clear pockets of population movement. The most fluid areas include the majority of urban areas along with Orkney, Shetland, Banff and Tay.
The study in context
This study has evolved out of recognition that there is currently insufficient information on the socio-economic profile of Scotland's coastline to enable the development of effective strategic management initiatives. The emerging integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) agenda within Europe and the UK draw attention to the need to examine the socio-economic characteristics of the coast to ensure that a national coastal strategy takes accounts of all relevant issues and is aware of all the appropriate data requirements.
Aims and Methods
This study aimed to
- provide an overview of the broad socio-economic make-up and issues facing coastal communities,
- provide an overview of how the coastal population in different regions of Scotland is changing its relationship with the sea, and
- suggest possible future directions for these communities.
- To achieve these aims, the project had several specific objectives:
- to provide a social, cultural and economic overview of Scotland's coastal communities;
- to provide a commentary on regional patterns emerging from the study, including reference to any decline in traditional coastal activities and the emergence of new activity;
- to provide a series of case studies to illustrate key innovative coastal developments in Scotland;
- to identify key social and economic issues that could be addressed in a future coastal strategy for Scotland;
- to provide a commentary on the key sectoral issues facing coastal communities and identify opportunities for future development in each sector;
- to make recommendations for future strategic research or activity.
The study divided the Scottish coast into sixteen functional areas based on social and economic characteristics allowing comparison to be made between these areas and national trends. A variety of data were collected and analysed for these areas and a typology of different areas constructed.
Key Conclusions
Rural/coastal linkages. Despite the lack of socio-economic research information available for Scottish coastal areas per se, an insight into the characteristics of coastal areas can partly be obtained from an evaluation of those rural research studies which have accounted for coastal regions as part of the exploration of wider rural debates. Such studies have indicated that rural areas as a whole have been subjected to a variety of demographic, economic and social changes. These relate to the declining significance of the primary sector, the growth of flexible labour markets, the increase in the age of the population, in-migration and peripherality.
Socio-economic characteristics of coastal Scotland. Empirical work for the sixteen coastal areas found that the Scottish coastline is characterised by a significantly aged population and possesses pockets of clear population movement. Those regions which can be described as having 'fluid' households include most urban areas and Orkney, Shetland, Banff and Tay. The data revealed a picture of mixed sectoral activity. Although the primary sector was found to still be of importance to the coastal economy, the most dominant economic sector was wholesale, retail and repairs (accounting for 23% of coastal businesses). It was also clear that those regions dominated by major towns demonstrated a clear sectoral split between town and country.
Other findings include: relatively low income levels, high levels of deprivation in several coastal areas, a decline in unemployment over recent years and a higher number of people employed in crafts, trades and manual labour than the Scottish average.
Coastal dynamics. The research found that:
- coastal areas are being impacted upon by a variety of dynamics relating to demographic, economic and social re-structuring;
- coastal areas face a variety of pressures deriving from various forms of social system failure;
- coastal areas are likely to face both positive and negative impacts arising from migration processes,
- the ability of coastal areas to overcome social disadvantage will be dependent upon an ability to develop effective local partnerships geared towards both improved social capital and economic growth.
Regional innovation. The case study phase sought to evaluate the manner in which coastal communities were responding to change. Through an analysis of innovative development initiatives in different coastal regions in Scotland, the research assessed both the extent to which such innovations had proved effective, and the degree to which they provide appropriate models for future support.
The case studies explored were:
- Sectoral responses to economic change (economic diversification in Shetland).
- Sustainable community development (the Eyemouth and East Berwickshire Partnership and The Initiative at the Edge/Iomairt aig an Oir).
Research implications arising from the study
- ICZM strategies need to take fuller account of the socio-economic characteristics of coastal areas.
- ICZM strategies need to provide a framework for the promotion of local economic development partnerships.
- Further research is needed to explore the role of small towns within regional coastal economies.
- Further research is needed to explore the dynamic processes which operate in coastal areas.
- Further research is needed to explore the nature of coastal rural and urban interactions.
- There is a need to further explore the changing nature of coastal communities, particularly in the North East, Highlands and Islands, where traditional links to fishing are being eroded.
- The full dynamics and implications of the changing social and cultural make-up of coastal communities, particularly those dependent upon fishing, requires further investigation.
- A multitude of initiatives concerning coastal communities are underway with little overall evaluation or any attempt at disseminating best practice. This could be achieved through media such as a web-site.
About this study
The School of Resources, Environment and Society, University of Aberdeen undertook the research between February and September 2002. The study was a desk-based review and analysis of available statistical information from various sources. The report comprises of an overview of the main economic sectors on the coast, an introduction to the trends and processes at the coast and a 16-region analysis. Together with a series of case studies, this allows a number of conclusions and research implications to be reached.
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