Public Perceptions of Marine and Coastal Restoration in Ireland

Under the requirements of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation, significant investment in the restoration of marine and coastal ecosystems will be necessary in EU Member States. A certain level of knowledge among the population will be required to ensure authorities have the required social license to pursue marine ecosystem restoration activities, and awareness raising campaigns will likely be a part of the body of actions taking place to support the delivery of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation. This survey assesses the baseline awareness, attitudes and support for marine and coastal restoration amongst the Irish adult population. Relatively low levels of awareness of both restoration initiatives and the regulation are documented, with approximately 15% of respondents aware of restoration activities and 19% aware of the regulation. While distance to the coast isn’t always strongly correlated with awareness and support, connection to the marine—represented by visiting the coast and being concerned about the marine environment—is strongly correlated with these metrics. The results indicate that information campaigns around marine and coastal restoration should attempt to highlight the benefits society receives from the marine and coastal environment and foster a sense of connection with it.