Is There Space for People of Color in Ocean Recreation?
Addressing barriers to ocean recreation among people of color in California
California is the most culturally diverse state in the country. It has a reputation of radical acceptance for people of all backgrounds, and with over 840 miles of coastline, it is also one of the leaders in the nation in terms of coastal accessibility. In a place where diversity and coastal access intersect so significantly, one might assume that people of all backgrounds participate equally in coastal activities. This is not the case. In California, people of color make up over half of the population but represent only a fraction of participants in coastal activities.
Ocean activities and sports are very beneficial to human health. They support both physical and mental wellbeing. So why is there such a divide between who lives in California and who is actually getting in the ocean.
Geographical Barriers
To understand the disparity in coastal recreation between people of color and White residents, it is important to know where people of color live in California. When looking at California’s minority population by county, it becomes clear that people of color are more concentrated in central and inland counties, while many counties directly on the coastline are predominantly White.
Historically, people of color have been pushed out of coastal areas by higher housing costs, gentrification, and discrimination. Longer commutes to coastal areas make it less likely that residents will become regular participants in ocean sports. Conversely, when the ocean is your backyard, you are more likely to go play in it.
A Gap in Coastal Belonging
California Ocean Access: Benefits and Barriers is a research project being conducted by the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation. They conducted a survey of residents of California coastal counties about their use of beaches and coastal areas. This survey revealed that people of color, especially Black people, feel less connected to coastal areas and less able to participate in ocean activities.
Black people consistently responded lowest in categories regarding feelings of belonging and accessibility in coastal areas, and having the necessary skills to participate in ocean activities.
At California beaches, there is a clear divide between who dives in, and who stays on land. According to the COA Survey, people of color chose land-based activities, such as fishing, playing beach games, or just enjoying the view from the car, as their most common coastal pastime. Contrastingly, the majority of non-POC respondents chose in-ocean sports/activities (swimming, surfing, paddle boarding, etc).
Despite making up 57% of the population in California, people of color account for less than half of participants in ocean sports. This gap is most apparent in the Black and Hispanic communities, with only 7% of Black participants and 9% of Hispanic participants choosing ocean sports as their favorite coastal activity. Of those small percentages, certain activities had no Black or Hispanic participants at all, such as sailing, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
For people of color in California, it is a common experience to have the ocean in the periphery, while never feeling completely comfortable engaging with it. In the article, “Born Near the Beach, Raised Without Access”, scientific diver Jasmine Rosario describes her experience growing up in San Diego, “I loved the beach, but I feared the water. It shimmered with possibility, but held a quiet threat I couldn’t name.”
Unfortunately, barriers to ocean recreation extend beyond personal choice. Historical inequalities, geography, and accessibility shape who feels comfortable participating in coastal activities and ocean sports. Until these barriers are addressed, the gap in coastal belonging will continue to divide Californians.
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