Resident and expert opinions on marine related issues: Implications for the ecosystem approach

Marine management is never an exclusively science-based endeavour. Putting the concept of ecosystem-based management (EBM) into practice requires building up a collective vision for Europeʹs regional seas where the values and views of different groups of stakeholders are identified and integrated. To date, such integration is lacking and Europeʹs marine policy is mostly driven by scientific and technical advice with little input from citizens and stakeholders. Here we report an overview of peopleʹs perceptions and views regarding marine environmental issues, where the opinions of the general population and a group of marine experts were analysed and compared. Results based on 735 face-to-face interviews conducted in the Azores archipelago (north-eastern mid-Atlantic) showed significant differences among experts and public opinion regarding drivers of change, marine pressures and management priorities. The survey also showed that the public was poorly informed about marine protected areas (MPAs) and eco-labelling schemes (ELSs). Taken together these results build upon the widely held perception that there is a gap between what is known among the scientific community and what the public know and understand about the marine environment, and emphasise the importance of involving the public, scientists and other stakeholders in all stages of the marine management process. If EBM is to move forward as a successful public policy more participatory and adaptive approaches are required to enhance citizen and stakeholder engagement, building up social capital and collaborative partnerships towards a more effective and equitable management of Europeʹs regional seas.