Five social science intervention areas for ocean sustainability initiatives

Partelow, Stefan and Schlüter, Achim and Ban, Natalie C. and Batterbury, Simon and Bavinck, Maarten and Bennett, Nathan J. and Bleischwitz, Raimund and Blythe, Jessica and Bogusz, Tanja and Breckwoldt, Annette and Cinner, Joshua E. and Glaser, Marion and Govan, Hugh and Gruby, Rebecca and Hatje, Vanessa and Hornidge, Anna-Katharina and Hovelsrud, Grete K. and Kittinger, John N. and Kluger, Lotta Clara and Kochalski, Sophia and Mawyer, Alexander and McKinley, Emma and Olsen, Julia and Pittman, Jeremy and Riechers, Maraja and Riekhof, Marie-Catherine and Manez, Kathleen Schwerdtner and Shellock, Rebecca J. and Zoysa, Rapti Siriwardane-de and Steins, Nathalie A. and Assche, Kristof Van and Villasante, Sebastian (2023) Five social science intervention areas for ocean sustainability initiatives. npj Ocean Sustainability, 2 (1): 24. ISSN 2731-426X

Abstract

Ocean sustainability initiatives – in research, policy, management and development – will be more effective in delivering comprehensive benefits when they proactively engage with, invest in and use social knowledge. We synthesize five intervention areas for social engagement and collaboration with marine social scientists, and in doing so we appeal to all ocean science disciplines and non-academics working in ocean initiatives in industry, government, funding agencies and civil society. The five social intervention areas are: (1) Using ethics to guide decision-making, (2) Improving governance, (3) Aligning human behavior with goals and values, (4) Addressing impacts on people, and (5) Building transdisciplinary partnerships and co-producing sustainability transformation pathways. These focal areas can guide the four phases of most ocean sustainability initiatives (Intention, Design, Implementation, Evaluation) to improve social benefits and avoid harm. Early integration of social knowledge from the five areas during intention setting and design phases offers the deepest potential for delivering benefits. Later stage collaborations can leverage opportunities in existing projects to reflect and learn while improving impact assessments, transparency and reporting for future activities.