Public awareness of marine environmental issues in the UK

Fletcher, Stephen; Potts, Jonathan; Heeps, Carolyn; Pike, Kate

doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2008.08.004

Cited by 86 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 8 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…While some certification programs have played a role in improving fisheries sustainability and possibly aided interested consumers [49], a greater emphasis should be placed on activating the public's role not just as consumers, but also as citizens too [32]. While efforts have been made to conduct public outreach campaigns, further investigation is still needed as to how to better engage the public as consumers and as citizens to improve the stewardship of wild capture fisheries [50,51].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can Consumers Understand Sustainability through Seafood Eco-Labels? A U.S. and UK Case Study

Gutiérrez

Thornton

2014

Sustainability

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:In the United States and the United Kingdom, over the last decade major retail chains have increasingly publicized their efforts to supply sustainably sourced and eco-labelled seafood. Debate exists over the extent of consumer demand for this product. Seafood eco-labels purportedly resolve the information asymmetry between producer and consumer, allowing consumers who care about sustainability to easily find and purchase these products. This paper discusses the idealized model of seafood eco-labelling in promoting sustainability and presents results of US and UK case studies based on consumer interviews and surveys, which found that consumers had often seen one or more seafood eco-labels. Two well-established eco-labels, dolphin-safe and organic, drove these rates of sustainable seafood awareness. These rates are interpreted in the context of consumer's understanding of sustainable. The Sustainable Seafood Movement's efforts to increase the supply of eco-labelled seafood and elaborate corporate buying policies for sustainable seafood are influencing consumer's recognition and purchase of certified sustainable seafood products. However, eco-labels are a means to communicate messages about sustainable fisheries to consumers, not an end. Efforts to educate consumers about eco-labels should be a component of ocean literacy efforts, which educate the public about the need for sustainable fisheries.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can Consumers Understand Sustainability through Seafood Eco-Labels? A U.S. and UK Case Study

Gutiérrez

Thornton

2014

Sustainability

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The limited body of research on the public understanding of the ocean suggests that the public is not well versed in ocean-related functions, processes, and issues [69,58,66,27,38]. A national study found that only 24% of Americans had heard of OA, and only 32% of this subpopulation recognizes CO 2 as a driver [38].…”

Section: Public Understanding Of Oceans and Ocean Acidificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gauging perceptions of ocean acidification in Alaska

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

a b s t r a c tWhile ocean acidification (OA) poses a significant threat to ocean-related ecosystems and communities reliant on marine fisheries, aquaculture, and coral reef systems, limited public understanding and awareness can prevent coastal regions from being able to adequately assess the need for OA adaptation or mitigation. This study assessed public understanding of OA and how social and demographic factors influence the public's concern for OA. The analysis was based on 311 questionnaires from full-time Alaska residents. The results showed that most Alaskans self-reported to have a basic awareness of OA, and subsequently were able to recognize that CO 2 emissions related to human activity are the dominant driver of changing ocean conditions. However, there was a low recognition of how natural variability in the marine environment affects OA, and most respondents were not very confident in their understanding of OA-related science. Moreover, even though many communities in Alaska are reliant on commercial and subsistence fishing activities, the respondents had a low awareness of fisheries-related OA risk. Given the ongoing debate associated with climate change research, evaluating CO 2 mitigation efforts through the perspective of OA could give individuals an unbiased way to assess the pros and cons of more intensive efforts to curb CO 2 emissions. Furthermore, using OA communication to enhance the understanding of how natural variability influences OA around the state and the potential economic implications for Alaska fisheries would help residents and stakeholders make informed decisions when considering fisheries management plans, food security, and job diversity as OA intensifies. Solidifying the understanding that any reduction in pH and intensification of OA can have implications for marine species that are irreversible on human timescales will reinforce not only that OA is an immediate concern, but also the importance of taking action now.

show abstract

“…To ensure sustainable use of ocean resources there is a need for both top-down and bottom-up approaches; that is, responsible policies, regulations and management strategies [29] as well as individual behavior changes [27]. However, it has become increasingly evident that citizens in many countries have a poor understanding of marine science and ocean issues [36,4,37,35,21,17], which may act as a barrier to individual behavior changes [20]. Furthermore, there is growing awareness that formal education curricula do not adequately communicate ocean science to young people, as low levels of ocean science understanding are evident among students in a number of countries [6,7,15,3,14,35].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%