From Exploitation to Restoration: Revive the Coastal Common

We all share a vast, interconnected space — the ocean commons — a realm of resources that sustains life across the planet. With the rise of industrialization under capitalism, the management of these common-pool resources has shifted dramatically. The Blue Revolution and industrial aquaculture have emerged as strategies to meet the demands of a growing population, yet they often conceal deep cultural and economic exploitation. In the global south, communities are reduced to sources of cheap labor for the global north, while the destruction of mangrove ecosystems for industrial development accelerates coastal poverty and ecological loss.
In this project, I examine the history of global agriculture and its profound impact on the natural coastal environment, tracing how human activity has shaped — and in many cases degraded — these ecosystems. I explore the potential for reactivating coastal commons in the global north as a way to address these inequities. Using Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, USA as an example, the study assesses the role of coastal commons in highly urbanized regions through historical, cultural, and ecological lenses. Within the tension between environmental devastation and restoration, the project proposes reviving wild oyster habitats to restore public access to natural resources. By reactivating these commons, we can strengthen local economies, rehabilitate ecosystems, and improve access to essential ecological resources — contributing to a more equitable and sustainable global food system.