| Author |
Buckley, Paul Terry, Geraldine Guerrero, Matias Castilla, Juan Carlos Chilvers, Jason Pinnegar, John K. Gelcich, Stefan Lorenzoni, Irene Valdebenito, Abel Duarte, Carlos M. |
| Description |
Author Affiliation: Gelcich S ( Laboratorio Internacional en Cambio Global and Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability, Departamento de Ecologia, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile); Buckley P ( Marine Climate Change Centre, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 OHT, United Kingdom); Pinnegar JK ( Marine Climate Change Centre, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 OHT, United Kingdom); Chilvers J ( Science, Society and Sustainability Research Group, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom); Lorenzoni I ( Science, Society and Sustainability Research Group, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom); Terry G ( School of International Development, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom); Guerrero M ( Laboratorio Internacional en Cambio Global and Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability, Departamento de Ecologia, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile); Castilla JC ( Laboratorio Internacional en Cambio Global and Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability, Departamento de Ecologia, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile); Valdebenito A ( Laboratorio Internacional en Cambio Global and Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability, Departamento de Ecologia, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile); Duarte CM ( University of Western Australia Oceans Institute and School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia); |
| Abstract |
Numerous international bodies have advocated the development of strategies to achieve the sustainability of marine environments. Typically, such strategies are based on information from expert groups about causes of degradation and policy options to address them, but these strategies rarely take into account assessed information about public awareness, concerns, and priorities. Here we report the results of a pan-European survey of public perceptions about marine environmental impacts as a way to inform the formation of science and policy priorities. On the basis of 10,106 responses to an online survey from people in 10 European nations, spanning a diversity of socioeconomic and geographical areas, we examine the public's informedness and concern regarding marine impacts, trust in different information sources, and priorities for policy and funding. Results show that the level of concern regarding marine impacts is closely associated with the level of informedness and that pollution and overfishing are two areas prioritized by the public for policy development. The level of trust varies greatly among different information sources and is highest for academics and scholarly publications but lower for government or industry scientists. Results suggest that the public perceives the immediacy of marine anthropogenic impacts and is highly concerned about ocean pollution, overfishing, and ocean acidification. Eliciting public awareness, concerns, and priorities can enable scientists and funders to understand how the public relates to marine environments, frame impacts, and align managerial and policy priorities with public demand. |
