Adam Smith Business School

Dr Leanne Morrison, University of Tasmania

"Salmon Tales: Shifting political frontiers through community dialogue about the social and environmental impacts of the salmon farming industry"
Wednesday, 25 October. 12:00
Room 282 Hot House. Adam Smith Business School

Abstract

This paper examines ideas about communication, power dynamics and the political frontiers between community stakeholders and a single, highly impactful industry. These complex exchanges are examined through the lens of critical dialogic accountability. The foci of the exchanges are on the social and environmental impacts of the industry, and the community’s varying responses to this impact. We trace the shifting political boundaries in the liminal spaces between these exchanges.

We carefully examine the dialogic exchanges by considering the perspectives of local community members in comparison with the sustainability reports, and other accounts from the two largest companies making up the Tasmanian salmon farming industry. Semi-structured interviews are undertaken with community members in order to discern individual views about the industry’s environmental impact as well as corporate responses to those concerns. An ‘insider’ approach shapes the study which brings to light patterns of dialogue which reflect a context exhibiting agonistic communication patterns. 

Findings include a pattern of dialogue which is evident in the divergent language being used by various stakeholders, and a range of dynamic political frontiers which undulate between multiple voices and perspectives. We also note the corporatised approach to environmental reporting and community engagement adopted, which attempts to concretise a political frontier which favours the industry. This leads to higher risks for the industry, and growing distrust amongst the community in which they operate.

Bio

Dr Morrison loves to explore the connections between business, nature and people. Her work is informed by a strong sense of social and environmental justice. Dr Morrison is the Accounting Discipline Lead in the Tasmanian School of Business and Economics (TSBE). At the University of Tasmania, Dr Morrison has developed several climate awareness and climate accounting courses, inspired by a deep sense of care for and society, including an undergraduate certificate in climate accounting, UNPRME Climate Literacy Training, and a Climate Informed Business short course. Dr Morrison is also the Deputy Chair of the UTAS Sustainability Committee, and founder of the Tasmanian Business School Climate Network. Prior to joining the University of Tasmania in 2022, Dr Morrison was a lecturer at RMIT University, Melbourne, where she led the Climate Change & Environment research group within the Business and Human Rights Research Centre. Dr Morrison completed her PhD at the University of Tasmania, on the topic of Corporate Environmental Reporting. Her industry experience includes roles in taxation, and various board positions in the environmental and community not-for-profit sectors.

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First published: 9 October 2023