Activities

SOPHIE Survey

Listening to: Public

The aim of the Seas, Oceans and Public Health in Europe survey has been to improve understanding of the European public’s beliefs about how marine issues affect human health and wellbeing.

View the full ‘citizens and the sea’ survey report here.

Download the graphical overview here.

The survey considered activities such as fishing, aquaculture, oil and gas extraction, marine renewable energy, tourism and coastal management.

The survey has shed light on the public perceptions of the potential impacts of these activities to human health, the environment and the economy – both positive and negative. As well as perceptions of potential risks to health from factors like pollution.

The content of the survey consisted of questions taken from a number of pre-existing social and environmental questionnaires. It gathered responses to these questions from 14,000 people across 14 European nations.

We measured participants’ interactions with the marine environment and collected information about their social status. This information has helped us to understand beliefs and perceptions in different groups and cultures across Europe.

The responses from the survey aim to inform policy makers about the aspirations and fears of the public, and recommends steps for policy makers to balance the needs of economic development, environmental protection, and public health and wellbeing.

This project was conducted with support from all SOPHIE partners.

Project partners involved

Seascape Belgium

Seascape Belgium

University of Exeter

University of Exeter

Oonagh McMeel

Oonagh McMeel

Seascape Senior Project Officer

Sophie Davison

Sophie Davison

PhD Student

Lora E Fleming

Lora E Fleming

Professor of Oceans and Human Health

Mathew White

Mathew White

Environmental Psychologist

Nathalie Tonné

Nathalie Tonné

Seascape Project Officer

Jan-Bart Calewaert

Jan-Bart Calewaert

MD, Seascape Belgium

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