Photo Credit: Pat Kight, Oregon Sea Grant (2012)
People receive many benefits from coastal and marine environments, whether they live near or far from the ocean. Coastal uses and benefits can be classified as social, economic, or ecological, and provide resources to both individuals and communities. Research on this topic may include assessments of value, development of new technologies, and measurements of environmental impacts of certain uses. Common human uses of the marine environment include aesthetic/cultural values, aquaculture, development/urbanization, marine renewable energy, recreation, and tourism (in alphabetical order).
In 2011, a study was conducted to quantify and summarize non-consumptive coastal and ocean recreation in Oregon. This work was completed as a joint project by NaturalEquity, the Surfrider Foundation, and Ecotrust. The purpose of this was to aid in planning for future uses of the Oregon coast, specifically development of marine renewable energy. The researchers used online surveys with a mapping tool to collect spatial data across large stretches of coastline. They asked Oregon citizens about visits to the coast, specific activities and areas visited and financial expenditures. By focusing on private, shore-based visits, they were able to provide a quantitative baseline of coastal visitation. A key finding from this study was that the majority of coastal trips in Oregon are non-consumptive. Click here for the full report.
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/aquaculture.html
http://surfridercdn.surfrider.org/images/uploads/publications/OR_rec_study.pdf
Cooper, N., Brady, E., Steen, H., & Bryce, R. (2016). Aesthetic and spiritual values of ecosystems: Recognising the ontological and axiological plurality of cultural ecosystem ‘services.’ Ecosystem Services, 21, 218–229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2016.07.014
Neumann, B., Vafeidis, A. T., Zimmermann, J., & Nicholls, R. J. (2015). Future Coastal Population Growth and Exposure to Sea-Level Rise and Coastal Flooding - A Global Assessment. PLoS ONE, 10(3), 1–34. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0118571