Understanding public demands and preferences are crucial for policy success. A study performed as part of the EU-funded EcoScope project, of which EMB is a partner, revealed strong public support for sustainable fishing practices, particularly those that protect marine life, even though most citizens remain unfamiliar with the term “Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management”.
The large-scale survey led by Marie Briguglio from the University of Malta gathered responses from over 1,500 individuals in the UK, Bulgaria, and Malta. These people were representative of each country’s population, reflecting a wide range of ages, incomes, education levels, and ethnic backgrounds.
Key findings were that the majority of people eat fish at least once a week, support regulations to improve fisheries management – particularly if they protect marine life - and are willing to pay more for fish labelled as ‘sustainable stock’ or ‘protects marine life’ — despite the overwhelming majority having never heard of EBFM.
Although there was a large gap in public awareness on EBFM, the results of the study showed that citizens support the principles both as citizens and and as consumers.
This Policy Brief highlights the main findings of the survey and provides recommendations for policy makers and scientists, namely to educate the public about EBFM and its benefits, consider public concerns and priorities when designing fishing regulations, and understand and research the social implications of fisheries policies.
You can download the Policy Brief here.
