How much do people in Scotland value characteristics of marine and coastal areas

Footnotes

1. Within the 2.5% and 10% range of total sea area tested in this choice experiment

2. This study assessed values for proposals that included 25 Scottish potential Marine Protected Areas that were being discussed at the time of study.

3. The term ‘choice context’ is used to describes the overall framing of the choice experiment. In the literature, this is sometimes also described as the ‘scenario’ or ‘hypothetical market’ and these terms are considered to be synonymous in this report.

4. For more information, see: Your Charges 2023 - 2024 - Scottish Water

5. In a choice experiment, there are typically multiple ‘choice cards’, which all have the same attributes but varying levels of these attributes. Respondents usually fill out several ‘choice cards’. See example choice card in Figure 5.

6. ChoiceMetrics (choice-metrics.com)

7. Biodiversity strategy to 2045: tackling the nature emergency - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

8. A Blue Economy Vision for Scotland - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

9. Marine and coastal areas are any part of the seas and coastline around Scotland, including beaches, coastal cliffs and coastal towns and settlements.

10. Figures presented in tables and charts may not sum due to rounding.

11. Potential protesters were kept in the final analysis as their inclusion/exclusion did not have a material impact on the results.

12. It is recognised that there are many personal characteristics not captured in these quota questions that may have had an impact on respondent’s views and perceptions. Furthermore, as is the case in most online surveys, groups of people who do not use or have access to digital devices are likely to be underrepresented.

13. Sources: Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland 2019-22 (data.gov.scot); Scottish Household Survey Data Explorer; Scotland’s Labour Market Trends April 2023

14. The industries considered as a ‘marine industry’ were: commercial fishing, farming of fish, farming of shellfish and seaweed, fish processing, oil & gas, marine renewable energy, ports and shipping, marine/coastal recreation and tourism, scientific research such as marine biology and shipbuilding.

15. Respondents were asked to consider the ‘most important’ activity as the activity that they undertake most often, they care the most about, or they would not let go.

16. It is important to recognise that this result only applies to the range of area tested in this choice experiment, which was between 2.5% and 10% of Scotland’s total sea area. Beyond this range, application of results should be treated with extreme caution.

17. Low restrictions – only the most damaging fishing activity is not allowed, all other human activities allowed

Moderate restrictions – all damaging fishing not allowed, all damaging human activities need a license

18. Within the 2.5% and 10% range of total sea area tested in this choice experiment