| dc.description | Determining how citizens relate to the coastal zone is as an important element of coastal governance today. Previous research has identified several indicators to examine connections between coastal communities and marine environments, but do those data reflect the perceptions of the people who live there? A growing body of literature points to the importance of integrating public perceptions into coastal decision-making processes. Here, a 2017 survey conducted in Falmouth, Massachusetts acts as a case study, investigating how residents perceive connections to the ocean. Results point to 1) strong sensory and place-based attachments to the marine environment and a variety of social values or intangible connections tied to the coast, 2) uncertainty related to the adequate protection of the community regarding flood risk, 3) a significant importance for the protection of wetland and coastal habitats, 4) a call to limit human-made coastal structures and restore natural barriers, and 5) a desire for more public-scientist interaction, and accessibly communicated ocean science. Analysis includes recommendations on how public perceptions data can be used by science communicators and coastal planners, and identifies relational values as a means to frame connections in broader public discourse. This study suggests that public perceptions could provide the foundation for a community-based Ocean Connectivity Index, to better understand how social values relate to spatial parameters in coastal areas. | en_US |
