73 Community Social Vulnerability Indicators (CSVI)

Description: The data presented here are 2022 community social vulnerability indicators in top commercial and top recreational communities in Mid-Atlantic and New England regions.

Indicator family:

Contributor(s): Robert Murphy, Changhua Weng, Tanya Noteva

Affiliations: NEFSC

73.1 Introduction to Indicator

We report the top ten communities most engaged in (both in an absolute and relative sense) commercial and recreational fisheries and the degree to which these communities may be vulnerable to change based on their socio-demographic conditions (i.e., poverty index, population composition index, and personal disruption index) using data for the most recent available year (2022).

The engagement indices demonstrate the importance of commercial and recreational fishing to a given community relative to other coastal communities in a region. In particular, the commercial fishing engagement index measures the number of permits and dealers, and pounds and value of fish landed in a community. Recreational fishing engagement measures shore, private vessel, and for-hire fishing effort. Population relative engagement indices express these numbers based on fishing effort relative to the population of a community. Note that we recast commercial and recreational reliance indicators (from previous reports) as relative engagement indicators given that they are a proxy for how engaged each community is in fishing relative to its total population size and many more factors ultimately contribute to a fishing community’s reliance on fishing. Importantly, the calculation of these indicators remains the same.

Social vulnerability indicators measure social factors that shape a community’s ability to adapt to change. These are derived from the NOAA Fisheries Community Social Vulnerability Indicators (CSVIs) which characterize aspects of well-being for coastal communities engaged in fishing activities. Three of the existing NOAA CSVIs - the poverty index, population composition Index, and personal disruption Index - can be used to specifically examine key aspects of socio-demographic conditions. The personal disruption index includes several variables that aim characterize factors that may make it particularly challenging to respond to change because of personal circumstances affecting family life such as unemployment or educational level. The poverty index includes different metrics of poverty (e.g., families below poverty level and percent receiving cash public assistance income) such that a high score would indicate a community with a lower financial standing relative to other communities. The population composition index characterizes socio-demographic groups within communities that are traditionally thought to be increasingly vulnerable to change such as non-English speakers and female heads of households.

For this report, we selected the top ten communities with the highest engagement scores, the top ten communities with the highest population relative engagement scores, and focused on three socio-demographic indicators within the CSVI toolset (poverty, personal disruption, population composition). Sometimes, a community will appear on both lists (i.e., top ten highest engagement AND population relative engagement scores) such that the total report top communities will sum to less than 20. Here we apply the same selection standard for top fishing communities for both sectors using 2022 data, and again examine several CSVIs in this updated set of communities.

73.2 Key Results and Visualizations

73.2.0.1 Mid Atlantic

In 2022, several communities stood out as having a particularly high engagement in commercial fishing including Cape May, NJ; Reedville, VA; and Montauk, NY. Additionally, Barnegat Light, NJ is much more engaged in commercial fishing relative to its population size when compared to other communities in the Mid-Atlantic. Cape May, NJ also ranked medium on the population composition index (calculated based on proportions of non-white, non-English speaking, and younger populations), suggesting that this important commercial fishing community may be more vulnerable to change in the future. Several other top ranked commercial fishing communities have socio-demographic concerns that could predispose these places to increased impacts including Little Creek, DE; Hampton, VA; Newport News, VA; Bronx/City Island, NY; Quinby, VA; Point Pleasant Beach, NJ; and Hampton Bays/Shinnecock, NY.

Barnegat Light, NJ also stood out as being much more engaged in recreational fishing relative to its population size when compared to other communities in the Mid-Atlantic, although it did not rank medium or higher on the socio-demographic indices. Of those included in the top-ranked recreational communities, both Bivalve, MD and Morehead City, NC had medium or higher ranks for two of three socio-demographic indicators examined here (poverty, personal disruption, population composition). This suggests that future changes to recreational fishing conditions may disproportionately affect these places. Two other top recreational fishing communities had ranked medium or high for one socio-demographic index: Stevensville, MD and Cape May, NJ.

Several communities ranked in the top communities for both commercial and recreational indices; Montauk, NY, Cape May, Barnegat Light, NJ: and Point Pleasant Beach, NJ; meaning these communities may be impacted simultaneously (to a greater degree than others) by commercial and recreational regulatory and ecosystem changes.

73.2.0.2 New England

In 2022, New Bedford, MA stands out as having a particularly high engagement in commercial fishing, while Frenchboro, ME is much more engaged in commercial fishing relative to its population size when compared to other communities in the Northeast. Of particular concern among top commercial fishing communities are New Bedford and Boston, MA as they both have medium or higher scores for all three socio-demographic indicators, while Port Clyde-Tenants Harbor, ME ranked medium for two of the three indicators. Swans Island, ME - another top ranked commercial fishing community -ranked medium on the personal disruption index suggesting that circumstances affecting family life like unemployment or educational level may result in increased vulnerability.

Duxbury, MA was the most engaged place in recreational fishing relative to its population size when compared to other communities in New England, followed closely by Harwich Port, MA, although neither ranked medium or higher on the socio-demographic indices. Of those included in the top ranked recreational communities, only Provincetown, MA had medium or higher ranks for more than one socio-demographic indicator examined. This suggests that future changes to recreational fishing conditions may disproportionately affect Provincetown. Three other top recreational fishing communities ranked medium or high for one socio-demographic index: New Shoreham, RI; Seabrook, NH; and Barnstable Town, MA.

Narragansett/Point Judith, RI ranked as a top community for both commercial and recreational indices, suggesting that it may be impacted simultaneously (to a greater degree than others) by commercial and recreational regulatory changes

73.2.1 MidAtlantic

Community	personal_disruption_rank	pop_composition_rank	poverty_rank
Cape May, NJ	low	med	low
Reedville, VA	low	low	low
Montauk, NY	low	low	low
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ	med	low	low
Hampton Bays/Shinnecock, NY	low	high	low
Barnegat Light, NJ	low	low	low
Bronx/City Island, NY	high	high	high
Newport News, VA	med	low	med
Hampton, VA	med	low	med
Wanchese, NC	low	low	low
Atlantic City, NJ	high	high	high
Ocean City, MD	med	low	low
Swan Quarter, NC	low	low	low
Wachapreague, VA	low	low	low
Quinby, VA	med	low	low
Bowers, DE	low	low	low
Little Creek, DE	high	low	high
Oak Beach, NY	low	low

Community	labor_force_str_rank	housing_characteristics_rank
Cape May, NJ	med high	med
Reedville, VA	high
Montauk, NY	med	low
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ	low	low
Hampton Bays/Shinnecock, NY	low	low
Barnegat Light, NJ	high
Bronx/City Island, NY	low	med
Newport News, VA	low	med high
Hampton, VA	low	med
Wanchese, NC	low	high
Atlantic City, NJ	med	med high
Ocean City, MD	low	med high
Swan Quarter, NC	med high
Wachapreague, VA	high	med
Quinby, VA	high
Bowers, DE	high	med high
Little Creek, DE	low	med high
Oak Beach, NY	low

Community	housing_disrupt_rank	retiree_migration_rank	urban_sprawl_index_rank
Cape May, NJ	high	med high	low
Reedville, VA	med	high
Montauk, NY	high	med	med high
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ	high	med	med high
Hampton Bays/Shinnecock, NY	high	med	med high
Barnegat Light, NJ	med high	high	med high
Bronx/City Island, NY	med	low	high
Newport News, VA	low	low	low
Hampton, VA	low	low	low
Wanchese, NC	low	low	low
Atlantic City, NJ	low	low	low
Ocean City, MD	low	med	low
Swan Quarter, NC		med high	low
Wachapreague, VA	med	high	low
Quinby, VA		med	low
Bowers, DE	med	high	low
Little Creek, DE	med	low	low
Oak Beach, NY		med high

Community	personal_disruption_rank	pop_composition_rank	poverty_rank
Cape May, NJ	low	med	low
Montauk, NY	low	low	low
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ	med	low	low
Barnegat Light, NJ	low	low	low
Ocean City, MD	med	low	low
Virginia Beach, VA	low	low	low
Morehead City, NC	med	low	med
Hatteras township, NC	low	low	low
Wachapreague, VA	low	low	low
Avon, NC	high	low
Atlantic Highlands, NJ	low	low	low
Babylon, NY	low	low	low
Nags Head, NC	low	low	low
Point Lookout, NY	low	low	low
Nanticoke, MD	med high	low	low
Orient, NY	low	low
Bivalve, MD	med	high
Rodanthe, NC	low	low
Topsail Beach, NC	low	low	low
Solomons Island/Solomons/Lusby, MD	low	low	low
Stevensville, MD	med	low	low

Community	labor_force_str_rank	housing_characteristics_rank
Cape May, NJ	med high	med
Montauk, NY	med	low
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ	low	low
Barnegat Light, NJ	high
Ocean City, MD	low	med high
Virginia Beach, VA	low	low
Morehead City, NC	med	med high
Hatteras township, NC	low	med high
Wachapreague, VA	high	med
Avon, NC	med
Atlantic Highlands, NJ	low	low
Babylon, NY	low	low
Nags Head, NC	med high	med high
Point Lookout, NY	high	low
Nanticoke, MD	low
Orient, NY	high	low
Bivalve, MD	high
Rodanthe, NC	low
Topsail Beach, NC	high	med
Solomons Island/Solomons/Lusby, MD	low	low
Stevensville, MD	low	low

Community	housing_disrupt_rank	retiree_migration_rank	urban_sprawl_index_rank
Cape May, NJ	high	med high	low
Montauk, NY	high	med	med high
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ	high	med	med high
Barnegat Light, NJ	med high	high	med high
Ocean City, MD	low	med	low
Virginia Beach, VA	low	low	low
Morehead City, NC	med	med	low
Hatteras township, NC	low	low	low
Wachapreague, VA	med	high	low
Avon, NC		low	low
Atlantic Highlands, NJ	med	low	med
Babylon, NY	med high	low	high
Nags Head, NC	low	high	low
Point Lookout, NY	med high	med high	high
Nanticoke, MD		high
Orient, NY	high	high	med
Bivalve, MD		high
Rodanthe, NC		low	low
Topsail Beach, NC	low	high
Solomons Island/Solomons/Lusby, MD	low	low	med
Stevensville, MD	med	low	med

73.2.2 NewEngland

Community	personal_disruption_rank	pop_composition_rank	poverty_rank
New Bedford, MA	med high	high	med high
Narragansett/Point Judith, RI	low	low	low
Gloucester, MA	low	low	low
Portland, ME	low	low	low
Boston, MA	med	high	med high
Port Clyde-Tenants Harbor, ME	med	low	med
Harpswell/Bailey Island, ME	low	low	low
Chatham, MA	low	low	low
Stonington, ME	low	low	low
Friendship, ME	low	low	low
South Kingstown/Kingston/Wakefield-Peacedale, RI	low	low	low
Steuben, ME	low	low	low
Vinalhaven, ME	low	low	low
Newington, NH	low	low	low
Beals, ME	low	low	low
Swans Island, ME	med	low	low
Winter Harbor, ME	low	low	low
Cranberry Isles, ME	low	low	low
Frenchboro, ME	low	low
Matinicus Isle, ME	low	low	low

Community	labor_force_str_rank	housing_characteristics_rank
New Bedford, MA	low	med high
Narragansett/Point Judith, RI	med	low
Gloucester, MA	low	low
Portland, ME	low	med
Boston, MA	low	low
Port Clyde-Tenants Harbor, ME	high	med
Harpswell/Bailey Island, ME	med	med
Chatham, MA	high	low
Stonington, ME	med	med high
Friendship, ME	med high	med high
South Kingstown/Kingston/Wakefield-Peacedale, RI	med	med
Steuben, ME	low	high
Vinalhaven, ME	high	med high
Newington, NH	med	low
Beals, ME	low	high
Swans Island, ME	low
Winter Harbor, ME	high	med high
Cranberry Isles, ME	low
Frenchboro, ME	low
Matinicus Isle, ME	high

Community	housing_disrupt_rank	retiree_migration_rank	urban_sprawl_index_rank
New Bedford, MA	med	low	med high
Narragansett/Point Judith, RI	med high	med	low
Gloucester, MA	med	low	med
Portland, ME	med high	low	med
Boston, MA	high	low	high
Port Clyde-Tenants Harbor, ME	med	high	low
Harpswell/Bailey Island, ME	med	med high	low
Chatham, MA	high	high	med
Stonington, ME	high	med	low
Friendship, ME	low	high	low
South Kingstown/Kingston/Wakefield-Peacedale, RI	med	med	low
Steuben, ME	low	low	low
Vinalhaven, ME	high	high	low
Newington, NH	med high	med	med
Beals, ME	med	low	low
Swans Island, ME	med	low	low
Winter Harbor, ME	low	high	low
Cranberry Isles, ME	low	low	low
Frenchboro, ME		high	low
Matinicus Isle, ME	high	high

Community	personal_disruption_rank	pop_composition_rank	poverty_rank
Narragansett/Point Judith, RI	low	low	low
Gloucester, MA	low	low	low
Newington, NH	low	low	low
Barnstable Town, MA	low	med	low
Westport, MA	low	low	low
Plymouth, MA	low	low	low
Hampton, NH	low	low	low
Sandwich, MA	low	low	low
Provincetown, MA	low	med	med high
Seabrook, NH	med	low	low
Duxbury, MA	low	low	low
Harwich Port, MA	low	low	low
Truro, MA	low	low	low
Bourne, MA	low	low	low
New Shoreham, RI	med	low	low
Newburyport, MA	low	low	low
Dennis, MA	low	low	low
Falmouth, MA	med	low	med high
Ogunquit, ME	low	low	low
Waterford, CT	low	low	low
Old Saybrook, CT	low	low	low
Clinton, CT	low	low	low

Community	labor_force_str_rank	housing_characteristics_rank
Narragansett/Point Judith, RI	med	low
Gloucester, MA	low	low
Newington, NH	med	low
Barnstable Town, MA	low	low
Westport, MA	low	med
Plymouth, MA	low	low
Hampton, NH	low	low
Sandwich, MA	low	low
Provincetown, MA	low	med
Seabrook, NH	med	med high
Duxbury, MA	low
Harwich Port, MA	med high	med
Truro, MA	med high
Bourne, MA	high	med
New Shoreham, RI	med high	low
Newburyport, MA	low	low
Dennis, MA	high	low
Falmouth, MA	high	med
Ogunquit, ME	high	low
Waterford, CT	low	med
Old Saybrook, CT	low	low
Clinton, CT	low	med

Community	housing_disrupt_rank	retiree_migration_rank	urban_sprawl_index_rank
Narragansett/Point Judith, RI	med high	med	low
Gloucester, MA	med	low	med
Newington, NH	med high	med	med
Barnstable Town, MA		med	low
Westport, MA	med	med	med
Plymouth, MA	med	med	med
Hampton, NH	low	med	med
Sandwich, MA	med	med	low
Provincetown, MA	med	low	med
Seabrook, NH	low	med	med
Duxbury, MA	low	low	high
Harwich Port, MA	low	high	low
Truro, MA	low	high	low
Bourne, MA	low	high	low
New Shoreham, RI	med	med high	med high
Newburyport, MA	med high	low	med high
Dennis, MA	med high	high	low
Falmouth, MA	med high	high	med
Ogunquit, ME	med	high	low
Waterford, CT		low	low
Old Saybrook, CT		med	med
Clinton, CT	low	med	low

73.3 Indicator statistics

Spatial scale: Communities located in marine coastal counties in the U.S.

Temporal scale: Year of 2022

Synthesis Theme:

73.4 Implications

These indicators provide a snapshot of the presence of socio-demographic concerns in the most highly engaged commercial and recreational fishing communities in the Mid-Atlantic and New England. These communities may be especially vulnerable to changes in fishing patterns due to regulations and/or ecosystem changes. Many of these communities, especially top commercial fishing communities, demonstrated medium to high vulnerability indicating that they may be at a disadvantage responding to change.

73.5 Get the data

Point of contact: Robert Murphy (robert.murphy@noaa.gov)

ecodata name: ecodata::engagement

Variable definitions

1. Name: Community Name: name of the community.
2. Commercial Engagement Index: commercial engagement factor score.
3. Commercial Relative Engagement Index: commercial relative engagement factor score.
4. Recreational Engagement Score: recreational engagement factor score.
5. Recreational Relative Engagement Index: recreational relative engagement factor score.
6. Social vulnerabilities: categorical rankings of social vulnerability.
7. Personal Disruption Index: personal disruption factor score.
8. Population Composition Index: population composition factor score.
9. Poverty Index: poverty index factor score. 10) 1 std: 1 standard deviation.
10. 0.5 std: 0.5 standard deviation.

Indicator Category:

73.6 Public Availability

Source data are NOT publicly available.

73.7 Accessibility and Constraints

No response

tech-doc link https://noaa-edab.github.io/tech-doc/engagement.html