title: Ways forward for aquatic conservation: Applications of environmental psychology to support management objectives.
abstract: The success or failure of environmental management goals can be partially attributed to the support for such goals from the public. Despite this, environmental management is still dominated by a natural science approach with little input from disciplines that are concerned with the relationship between humans and the natural environment such as environmental psychology. Within the marine and freshwater environments, this is particularly concerning given the cultural and aesthetic significance of these environments to the public, coupled with the services delivered by freshwater and marine ecosystems, and the vulnerability of aquatic ecosystems to human-driven environmental perturbations. This paper documents nine case studies which use environmental psychology methods to support a range of aquatic management goals. Examples include understanding the drivers of public attitudes towards ecologically important but uncharismatic river species, impacts of marine litter on human well-being, efficacy of small-scale governance of tropical marine fisheries and the role of media in shaping attitudes towards. These case studies illustrate how environmental psychology and natural sciences can be used together to apply an interdisciplinary approach to the management of aquatic environments. Such an approach that actively takes into account the range of issues surrounding aquatic environment management is more likely to result in successful outcomes, from both human and environmental perspectives. Furthermore, the results illustrate that better understanding the societal importance of aquatic ecosystems can reduce conflict between social needs and ecological objectives, and help improve the governance of aquatic ecosystems. Thus, this paper concludes that an effective relationship between academics and practitioners requires fully utilising the skills, knowledge and experience from both sectors.
authors.affiliation: Understanding Risk Research Group, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK. Electronic address: k.walker-springett@exeter.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walker-Springett
authors.affiliation: RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL, UK; Centre for Marine and Coastal Policy Research, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK. Electronic address: rebecca.jefferson@rspb.org.uk.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jefferson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: kerstin.boeck@boku.ac.at.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Böck
authors.affiliation: Leibniz-Center for Tropical Marine Ecology (ZMT), Bremen, Germany. Electronic address: annette.breckwoldt@zmt-bremen.de.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Breckwoldt
authors.affiliation: CNRS UMR 5600 Environnement, Ville, Société, University of Lyon, ENS de Lyon, 15 Parvis René Descartes, BP 7000, 69342 Lyon CEDEX 07, France. Electronic address: emeline.comby@ens-lyon.fr.
authors.forename: Emeline
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Comby
authors.affiliation: CNRS UMR 5600 Environnement, Ville, Société, University of Lyon, ENS de Lyon, 15 Parvis René Descartes, BP 7000, 69342 Lyon CEDEX 07, France. Electronic address: marylise.cottet@ens-lyon.fr.
authors.forename: Marylise
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cottet
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06099 Halle, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: gundula.huebner@psych.uni-halle.de.
authors.forename: Gundula
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hübner
authors.affiliation: CNRS UMR 5600 Environnement, Ville, Société, University of Lyon, ENS de Lyon, 15 Parvis René Descartes, BP 7000, 69342 Lyon CEDEX 07, France. Electronic address: yves-francois.le-lay@ens-lyon.fr.
authors.forename: Yves-François
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Le Lay
authors.affiliation: School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4067, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: sylvie.shaw@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK. Electronic address: kaw@pml.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kayleigh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wyles
mesh_terms: D059001:Aquatic Organisms; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D017753:Ecosystem; D000069551:Environmental Psychology / Q000379:methods; D005398:Fisheries; D005618:Fresh Water; D006801:Humans; D011639:Public Opinion
keywords: Conservation; Environmental management; Environmental values; Freshwater; Human well-being; Marine