Critical coastal values impacted by marine bioinvasions: What the public value about marine and coastal areas and what is at stake?

Abstract

Understanding values of coastal areas that the public hold, and which values would potentially be impacted by non-indigenous marine species (NIMS) and subsequent management actions, are necessary to predict social responses to marine biosecurity interventions. With that in mind, we used survey data from a representative sample of the New Zealand population (n = 1001) to spatially identify the public’s values of coastal areas, and societal ‘hotspots’, which are either value-rich or vulnerable to the impacts of NIMS and/or management actions, and examined socio-demographic patterns in the public’s valuation of beaches and coastal areas. We used three different value categorisations to capture the large spectrum of public values in this dynamic context. Three value indices (i.e., intensity, richness, and diversity of values) were adopted for each categorisation. Our findings highlight the highly multidimensional characteristics of the values people held for marine and coastal areas; a large part of which were unrepresented using ecosystem service approaches. Moreover, the identified societal ‘hotspots’ were spatially different using different value categorisations and different value indices. These outcomes suggest a need for a comprehensive societal value typology that ensures that the public is heard, and that the identified values are accurate and meaningful. The public valuation of beach and coastal areas was different among gender, educational backgrounds, respondents’ residential city sizes, and the relative location between respondents’ hometown and their favourite beaches. The recognition of these demographic patterns can inform marine biosecurity risk and intervention communication strategies.