Public perceptions of marine protected areas: an Italian study

Abstract

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been gaining increasing importance in modern conditions, characterised by environmental challenges like climate change, loss of biodiversity, pollution and overexploitation of marine resources. MPAs represent an effective tool for marine conservation and the current policies aim to increase their number to protect 30% of our ocean by 2030. To obtain the achievements derived from MPAs, public engagement is paramount and requires an understanding of people's perceptions of MPAs. Italy has a relevant coastline affected by extreme anthropic pressures linked to tourism, fisheries and other industries, with several MPAs established over the years to mitigate these pressures. Through an online questionnaire distributed in 2014 and 2021 via snowball sampling, this study investigated public perceptions of MPAs in Italy. Despite the sampling limitations, the results showed a temporal change in environmental awareness and pro-environmental behaviours. This finding could be linked to the greater availability and accessibility of information related to the marine environment, joined with the growing urgency to face environmental challenges that involve different sectors of the population. Despite the improvements reached in public education, efforts should still be undertaken to engage citizens, especially in inland areas, to disseminate the impact of daily actions on the marine environment and to increase the acceptability of and efforts in MPAs' implementation and effective management.