Oceans and society: feedbacks between ocean and human health

Kirsty L Nash; Ingrid van Putten; Karen A Alexander; Silvana Bettiol; Christopher Cvitanovic; Anna K Farmery; Emily J Flies; Sierra Ison; Rachel Kelly; Mary Mackay; Linda Murray; Kimberley Norris; Lucy M Robinson; Jennifer Scott; Delphi Ward; Joanna Vince

doi:10.1007/s11160-021-09669-5

Oceans and society: feedbacks between ocean and human health

Rev Fish Biol Fish. 2022;32(1):161-187. doi: 10.1007/s11160-021-09669-5. Epub 2021 Aug 4.

Authors

Kirsty L Nash^{1

2}, Ingrid van Putten^{1

3}, Karen A Alexander^{1

2}, Silvana Bettiol⁴, Christopher Cvitanovic^{1

5}, Anna K Farmery^{1

6}, Emily J Flies⁷, Sierra Ison^{1

2}, Rachel Kelly^{1

2}, Mary Mackay^{1

3}, Linda Murray⁸, Kimberley Norris⁹, Lucy M Robinson^{10

11

12}, Jennifer Scott⁹, Delphi Ward^{1

2}, Joanna Vince^{1

13}

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Marine Socioecology, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia.
² Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia.
³ CSIRO, Oceans and Atmosphere, Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, TAS 7004 Australia.
⁴ Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS 7000 Australia.
⁵ Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
⁶ Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
⁷ School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia.
⁸ School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Massey University, Wellington, 6140 New Zealand.
⁹ School of Psychological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 30, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia.
¹⁰ Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009 Australia.
¹¹ Oceans Graduate School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009 Australia.
¹² CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Crawley, WA 6009 Australia.
¹³ School of Social Sciences, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1340, Launceston, TAS 7250 Australia.

Abstract

The concentration of human population along coastlines has far-reaching effects on ocean and societal health. The oceans provide benefits to humans such as food, coastal protection and improved mental well-being, but can also impact negatively via natural disasters. At the same time, humans influence ocean health, for example, via coastal development or through environmental stewardship. Given the strong feedbacks between ocean and human health there is a need to promote desirable interactions, while minimising undesirable interactions. To this end, we articulate two scenarios for 2030. First, Business-as-Usual, named 'Command and (out of) Control', focuses on the anticipated future based on our current trajectory. Second, a more sustainable scenario called 'Living and Connecting', emphasises the development of interactions between oceans and society consistent with achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. We describe a potential pathway to achieving the 'Living and Connecting' scenario, centred on improving marine citizenship, achieving a more equitable distribution of power among stakeholders, and more equitable access to resources and opportunities. The constituent actions of this pathway can be categorised into four groups: (i) improved approaches to science and health communication that account for society's diverse values, beliefs and worldviews, (ii) a shift towards more trusted relationships among stakeholders to enable two-way knowledge exchange, (iii) economic incentives that encourage behavioural changes necessary for achieving desired sustainability outcomes, and (iv) stronger regulations that simultaneously focus on ocean and human health. We contend that these changes will provide improved outcomes for both oceans and society over the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11160-021-09669-5.

Keywords: Food system; Human development; Human health; Power and agency; Sense of place; Well-being.