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Public perceptions of the UK marine environment

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  • Jefferson, R.L.
  • Bailey, I.
  • Laffoley, D. d′A.
  • Richards, J.P.
  • Attrill, M.J.

Abstract

The damaging effects of human activities on marine health suggest that a major shift is required in the way marine systems are used by individuals. Identifying how to engage society in this shift is an on-going debate. This includes strengthening the positive connections between society and the sea. This study uses a survey (n=1047) to investigate UK public perceptions of subtidal species and marine health to assess whether it is possible to build more positive connections between society and the sea. Respondents showed considerable interest in traditionally charismatic species (puffins, seals and seahorses) although many respondents thought these species did not live in UK seas. Gender and experience of marine environments influenced public perceptions of species. Public perceptions of marine health showed issues such as litter to be considered as the greatest indicator of poor health. Ecological concepts of habitat integrity and biodiversity were also rated as important to marine health. Social values were found to influence public perceptions of marine health. The results show that perceptions are far from uniform across the population, and such diversity of perceptions is likely impact upon methods to catalyse societal engagement with marine conservation. These findings reinforce previous research on public perceptions of UK seas, and identify opportunities for building positive connections between society and the sea. Research priorities to further the debate of engaging society with the sea are identified.

Suggested Citation

  • Jefferson, R.L. & Bailey, I. & Laffoley, D. d′A. & Richards, J.P. & Attrill, M.J., 2014. "Public perceptions of the UK marine environment," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 327-337.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:marpol:v:43:y:2014:i:c:p:327-337
    DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2013.07.004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. McKinley, Emma & Fletcher, Stephen, 2012. "Improving marine environmental health through marine citizenship: A call for debate," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 839-843.
    2. Rees, Siân & Fletcher, Stephen & Glegg, Gillian & Marshall, Charlotte & Rodwell, Lynda & Jefferson, Rebecca & Campbell, Maria & Langmead, Olivia & Ashley, Matthew & Bloomfield, Helen & Brutto, Daniel , 2013. "Priority questions to shape the marine and coastal policy research agenda in the United Kingdom," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 531-537.
    3. Aviva Patel & David J. Rapport & Loren Vanderlinden & John Eyles, 1999. "Forests and societal values: comparing scientific and public perception of forest health," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 239-249, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Stafford, Richard & Jones, Peter JS Dr, 2019. "Viewpoint – Ocean Plastic Pollution: a convenient but distracting truth?," MarXiv fu5dp, Center for Open Science.
    2. Watson, Stephen C.L. & Paterson, David M. & Queirós, Ana M. & Rees, Andrew P. & Stephens, Nicholas & Widdicombe, Stephen & Beaumont, Nicola J., 2016. "A conceptual framework for assessing the ecosystem service of waste remediation: In the marine environment," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 69-81.
    3. Slater, Anne-Michelle & Irvine, Katherine N & Byg, Anja A. & Davies, Ian M. & Gubbins, Matt & Kafas, Andronikos & Kenter, Jasper & MacDonald, Alison & O'Hara Murray, Rory & Potts, Tavis & Tweddle, Jac, 2020. "Integrating stakeholder knowledge through modular cooperative participatory processes for marine spatial planning outcomes (CORPORATES)," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    4. Fletcher, Stephen & Jefferson, Rebecca & Glegg, Gillian & Rodwell, Lynda & Dodds, Wendy, 2014. "England's evolving marine and coastal governance framework," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 261-268.
    5. Zanoli, Raffaele & Carlesi, Lorenzo & Danovaro, Roberto & Mandolesi, Serena & Naspetti, Simona, 2015. "Valuing unfamiliar Mediterranean deep-sea ecosystems using visual Q-methodology," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 227-236.
    6. Lopes, Rita & Videira, Nuno, 2019. "How to articulate the multiple value dimensions of ecosystem services? Insights from implementing the PArticulatES framework in a coastal social-ecological system in Portugal," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 1-1.
    7. Yang, Y.C. Ethan & Passarelli, Simone & Lovell, Robin J. & Ringler, Claudia, 2018. "Gendered perspectives of ecosystem services: A systematic review," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 31(PA), pages 58-67.
    8. Guest, Haley & Lotze, Heike K. & Wallace, Douglas, 2015. "Youth and the sea: Ocean literacy in Nova Scotia, Canada," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 98-107.
    9. Börger, Tobias & Hattam, Caroline, 2017. "Motivations matter: Behavioural determinants of preferences for remote and unfamiliar environmental goods," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 64-74.
    10. Neilson, Alasdair, 2018. "Considering the importance of metaphors for marine conservation," MarXiv rhefa, Center for Open Science.
    11. Ruiz-Frau, A. & Krause, T. & Marbà, N., 2018. "The use of sociocultural valuation in sustainable environmental management," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 29(PA), pages 158-167.
    12. Eleiton, Nalumu Elizabeth & Corless, Rebecca. & Hynes, Stephen, 2015. "Public Perceptions of Marine Environmental Issues: A Review," Working Papers 262590, National University of Ireland, Galway, Socio-Economic Marine Research Unit.
    13. Friedrich, Laura A. & Jefferson, Rebecca & Glegg, Gillian, 2014. "Public perceptions of sharks: Gathering support for shark conservation," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 1-7.
    14. Simon Willcock & Javier Martinez-Lopez & Norman Dandy & James M. Bullock, 2021. "High Spatial-Temporal Resolution Data across Large Scales Are Needed to Transform Our Understanding of Ecosystem Services," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-6, July.
    15. Barbara Sowińska-Świerkosz & Malwina Michalik-Śnieżek & Alicja Bieske-Matejak, 2021. "Can Allotment Gardens (AGs) Be Considered an Example of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) Based on the Use of Historical Green Infrastructure?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-20, January.
    16. Maria Barreiro-Gen & Angela Carpenter & Robin Von Haartman & Rodrigo Lozano, 2019. "Examining Relations Between Public Participation and Public Expenditure: Opinions from English and French Users on Environmental Issues in the English Channel," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-14, April.

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