PERCEPTIONS, VALUES & KNOWLEDGE

This research sub-module focuses on the ‘meta-order’ elements of change, e.g., in values, perceptions, beliefs and knowledge. The work in this sub-module begins with the recognition that human impacts on the environment are changing the oceans’ physical and biological characteristics. Yet, people who live in the interface between land and sea, and depend on marine resources for food and income are the most impacted by the changes on the oceans, and the decisions related to marine management.

At the core of any environmental agenda and conservation struggles, are the values and beliefs of specific groups and individuals, differentiated by gender, among other things. The wide spectrum of values through which people attribute meaning and importance to nature is rarely recognized or explicitly taken into account by policy (Pascual et al., 2017). Understanding these values and beliefs can shed light in how to strengthen the relationship among stakeholders and find a common language (Bath, 2000; Martinez-Alier, 2002) for conservation and sustainable uses of oceans, seas and marine resources.

The sub-module undertakes two projects; one drawing upon human dimensions (HD) research to be conducted in Newfoundland and the other following the ethnographic method of participant observation that will be conducted in Labrador. In both cases, gender perspectives will be incorporated through the support of International Collaborator Katia Frangoudes. More specifically, the first project focuses on understanding and describing individual’s core values and marine value orientations, and assessing the influence of values and beliefs (e.g., perceptions of responsibility) on people’s predisposition to engage in sustainable uses of marine resources (i.e., behavioral intentions).

The latter study takes place in Labrador coastal communities to track how the perceptions and values of different stakeholders encounter each other as they are translated from observations into knowledge, policies and practices related to Labrador coastal fisheries and to the larger transition. This component of the sub-module thus focuses on the dynamic aspects of perceptions, values and knowledge.