Non-indigenous species and ecological degradations in Marinas: Perceptions and willingness to pay for improvements

Marinas have a major ecological footprint, not only because of the pollution they generate but also because of the introduction and spread of non-indigenous species (NIS). This invites us to reconsider both the practices and infrastructures of marinas but also their uses and users, as marinas are increasingly recognized as places of well-being. The twofold objective of this article is to analyze the public's perception of environmental and ecological degradation in marinas and to assess the willingness to pay to improve their environmental quality. We conducted a field survey among residents and boaters of four marinas in France and showed that both have a relatively low knowledge of NIS, as well as of the responsibility of the boating activity for their spread. Other environmental degradations, such as the pollution generated by boats, are better identified and many agree on the positive economic impact of marinas. We showed a high willingness to pay to improve the environmental quality of marinas and on this basis make recommendations on how to encourage support for reducing environmental degradation. In particular, we discuss the appropriation of marinas by a wider population, including residents, young people and women. The challenge is for marinas to become multifunctional spaces, with the extension of their uses to a wider range of users going hand in hand with an improvement in their environmental quality.