Picturing the coast: unravelling community perceptions of seascapes, Blue Growth and coastal change

Abstract Blue Growth is gaining momentum, opening up new frontiers for economic development, with potentially negative impacts on coastal communities and seascapes. The impact of projects seascapes generally understood through narrow technical or approaches that focus the potential loss views depreciating property values, ignoring complex relationships have These often dislodge non-quantifiable community-seascape from strategies, leading to community frustration contestation. Understanding key developing more locally attuned strategies. We conceptualise as a triadic space incorporating perceived, conceived lived dimensions. dimensions an how experience respond use participatory photo-elicitation methodology two groups west coast Ireland understand contestation occurs in places faced multiple pressures mechanisms deploy response. find although care deeply about changes taking place at sea frame their ‘common’ landscapes cultural assets are worthy defence, practices remain impotently emotional focused ephemeral oppositions specific developments. Such responses, however, not strong enough sufficiently mobilising sustainable solution dominant growth models. suggest if properly supported invest knowledge, skills, networks assets, they can mobilise solutions models threaten heritage. Finally, we highlight transformative communities, descriptor different typology landscape, but rather resource affected by options, capacity resist what goal might be future coast.