title: Public awareness and attitudes towards marine protection in the United Kingdom.
abstract: Public perception research evaluating awareness and attitudes towards marine protection is limited in the United Kingdom (UK) and worldwide. Given public opinion can help drive policy and affect its successful delivery we conducted nationwide surveys in 2005, 2010 and 2015 to assess public knowledge of UK (England, Scotland and Wales) sea 'health' and management. Respondents from all three surveys were relatively pessimistic about sea 'health', perceiving this as poor-fair and largely in decline. Enthusiasm for marine conservation was high with almost two-thirds of respondents in each survey wanting >40% of UK seas highly protected from fishing and damaging activities. In 2015 there was considerable dissatisfaction with the rate of progress in Marine Conservation Zone designation and over three-quarters of respondents considered dredging and trawling to be inappropriate in protected areas, contrary to management. The UK government and devolved administrations need to better align future conservation and management with public expectations.
authors.affiliation: Environment Department, Wentworth Way, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5NG, UK. Electronic address: Julie.hawkins@york.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Julie P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.affiliation: Environment Department, Wentworth Way, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5NG, UK.
authors.forename: Bethan C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.affiliation: Environment Department, Wentworth Way, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5NG, UK.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bassett
authors.affiliation: Environment Department, Wentworth Way, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5NG, UK.
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: Environment Department, Wentworth Way, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5NG, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rakowski
authors.affiliation: Environment Department, Wentworth Way, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5NG, UK.
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reeve
authors.affiliation: Environment Department, Wentworth Way, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5NG, UK.
authors.forename: Callum M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001290:Attitude; D001364:Awareness; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D005398:Fisheries; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D011639:Public Opinion; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Marine conservation zone; Marine protected area; Public understanding; Questionnaire; UK marine Act