Visitors to Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) provide income and can help MPAs achieve their objectives, thereby contributing to the maintenance and restoration of ocean health. However, MPAs are less well known than terrestrial protected areas. Based at the uShaka Sea World aquarium in South Africa, this multi-phase case study sought to describe visitors’ knowledge of MPAs; use the information to design a new temporary interpretive exhibit on MPAs and then use timing and tracking to assess visitors’ engagement with the exhibit and a free response postcard system to assess the influence of the exhibit on visitors’ perceptions of MPAs. Initial survey results showed that visitors had little knowledge of MPAs. Assessment after installation revealed some surprising levels of engagement and the free response postcards showed positive perceptions and a deeper understanding of MPAs. The results provide recommendations to enhance communication and engagement strategies both in aquariums and MPAs.
AttwoodC. G.MannB. Q.BeaumontJ.HarrisJ. M. (1997). Review of the state of marine protected areas in South Africa. South African Journal of Marine Science, 18(1), 341–367.
2.
BallantyneR.PackerJ. (2005). Promoting environmentally sustainable attitudes and behaviour through free-choice learning experiences: What is the state of the game?Environmental Education Research, 11(3), 281–295.
3.
BallantyneR.PackerJ.HughesK. (2009). Tourists support for conservation messages and sustainable management practices in wildlife tourism experiences. Tourism Management, 30, 658–664.
4.
BallantyneR.PackerJ.HughesK.DierkingL. (2007). Conservation learning in wildlife tourism settings: Lessons from research in zoos and aquariums. Environmental Education Research, 13(3), 367–383.
5.
BallantyneR.PackerJ.SutherlandL. A. (2011). Visitors’ memories of wildlife tourism: Implications for the design of powerful interpretive experiences. Tourism Management, 32(4), 770–779.
6.
BanN. C.PicardC. R.VincentA. C. (2009). Comparing and integrating community-based and science-based approaches to prioritizing marine areas for protection. Conservation Biology, 23(4), 899–910. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2009.01185.x
7.
BennettN. J. (2016). Using perceptions as evidence to improve conservation and environmental management. Conservation Biology, 30(3), 582–592. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12681
8.
BennettN. J.DeardenP. (2014). Why local people do not support conservation: Community perceptions of marine protected area livelihood impacts, governance and management in Thailand. Marine Policy, 44, 107–116.
9.
BranchG.BranchM. (2018). Living shores: Interacting with southern Africa’s marine ecosystems. Penguin Random House.
10.
BraunV.ClarkeV. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.
11.
CarterJ. (2001). A sense of place. An interpretive planning handbook. 2nd ed.Scottish Interpretation Network.
12.
CeleN.NdlovuJ.PhoofoloT. (2017). Stakeholders’ perceptions about recreational events within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. African Journal for Physical Activity and Health Sciences, 23, 115–132.
13.
Chalmin-PuiL. S.PerkinsR. (2017). How do visitors relate to biodiversity conservation? An analysis of London Zoo’s ‘BUGS’ exhibit. Environmental Education Research, 23, 1462–1475. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2016.1259395
14.
ClaytonS.FraserJ.SaundersC. D. (2009). Zoo experiences: Conversations, connections, and concern for animals. Zoo Biology, 28, 377–397.
15.
ColeD. N.HammondT. P.McCoolS. F. (1997). Information quantity and communication effectiveness: Low-impact messages on wilderness trailside bulletin boards. Leisure Sciences, 19(1), 59–72.
16.
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). (2022). Conference of the parties to the convention on biological diversity Fifteenth meeting – Part II Montreal, Canada, 7-19 December 2022, Agenda item 9A.
17.
DavisK.Ferris-SmithM.LeeM.MillerS.OttsJ.ZilinskasM. (2014). Engaging communities in marine protected areas: Concepts and strategies from current practice. Project towards MSc. University of Michigan.
18.
DayA.LaffoleyD.DavisJ.JeffreyA.MusardO.VickC. (2014). Innovation in communications about marine protection. Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 24(S2), 216–237.
19.
EaglesP. F. J.McCoolS. F. (2002). Tourism in national parks and protected areas: Planning and management. CABI Publishing.
20.
EarllB. (2018). Marine conservation. People, ideas and action. Pelagic Publishing.
21.
FindlayK. (2020). Challenges facing marine protected areas in Southern African countries in light of expanding ocean economies across the sub-region. In HumphreysJ.ClarkR. W. E. (Eds.), Marine protected areas (pp. 37–65). Elsevier.
22.
FrancisD.EssonM.MossA. (2007). Following visitors and what it tells us. Journal of the International Zoo Educators Association, 43, 20–24.
23.
FrancoliniE. M.Mann-LangJ. B.McKinleyE.MannB. Q. (2023). Socio-economic challenges and solutions for effective management of the Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area in South Africa. Marine Policy, 148, 105470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105470
24.
GellF. R.RobertsC. M. (2003). Benefits beyond boundaries: The fishery effects of marine reserves. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 18(9), 448–455.
25.
GollanN.BarclayK. (2020). ‘It’s not just about fish’: Assessing the social impacts of marine protected areas on the wellbeing of coastal communities in New South Wales. PLoS One, 15(12), e0244605–e0244624. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244605
26.
Grorud-ColvertK.LesterS. E.AiraméS.NeeleyE.GainesS. D. (2010). Communicating marine reserve science to diverse audiences. PNAS, 107(43), 18306–18311.
27.
Grorud-ColvertK.Sullivan-StackJ.RobertsC.ConstantV.HortaE.CostaB.PikeE. P.KingstonN.LaffoleyD.SalaE.ClaudetJ.FriedlanderA. M.GillD. A.LesterS. E.DayJ. C.GonçalvesE. J.AhmadiaG. N.RandM.VillagomezA.BanN. C.. . . LubchencoJ. (2021). The MPA guide: A framework to achieve global goals for the ocean. Science, 373(6560), eabf0861. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abf0861
28.
HawkinsJ. P.O’LearyB. C.BassettN.PetersH.RakowskiS.ReeveG.RobertsC. M. (2016). Public awareness and attitudes towards marine protection in the United Kingdom. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 111(1–2), 231–236.
29.
HesselinkF.GoldsteinW.Van KempenP. P.GarnettT.DelaJ. (2007). Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) A toolkit for National Focal Points and NBSAP coordinators. Montreal, Canada.
30.
HuangZ.WengL.BaoJ. (2022). How do visitors respond to sustainable tourism interpretations? A further investigation into content and media format. Tourism Management, 92, 104535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2022.104535
31.
HughesK.BallantyneR. (2013). Winning hearts and minds through interpretation: Walking the talk. In BallantyneR.PackerJ. (Eds.), International Handbook on Ecotourism (pp. 322–335). Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.
32.
JeffersonR.McKinleyE.GriffinH.NimmoA.FletcherS. (2021). Public perceptions of the ocean: Lessons for marine conservation from a global research review. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.711245
33.
JenksB.VaughanP. W.ButlerP. J. (2010). The evolution of rare pride: Using evaluation to drive adaptive management in a biodiversity conservation organization. Evaluation and Program Planning, 33(2), 186–190.
34.
KellyR.EvansK.AlexanderK.BettiolS.CorneyS.Cullen-KnoxC.CvitanovicC.de SalasK.EmadG. R.FullbrookL.GarciaC.IsonS.LingS.MacleodC.MeyerA.MurrayL.MurungaM.NashK. L.NorrisK.. . . PeclG. T. (2022). Connecting to the oceans: supporting ocean literacy and public engagement. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 32, 123–143. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-020-09625-9
35.
KerwathS. E.WinkerH.GötzA.AttwoodC. G. (2013). Marine protected area improves yield without disadvantaging fishers. Nature Communications, 4(1), 6.
36.
KirkmanS.MannB.SinkK.AdamsR.LivingstoneT. C.Mann-LangJ.PfaffM.SamaaiT.van der BankM.WilliamsL.BranchG. (2021). Evaluating the evidence for ecological effectiveness of South Africa’s marine protected areas. African Journal of Marine Science, 43(3), 389–412. https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232x.2021.1962975
37.
KotowiczD. M.RichmondL.HospitalJ. (2017). Exploring public knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument. Coastal Management, 45(6), 452–469. https://doi.org/10.1080/08920753.2017.1373451
38.
KrugerM.SaaymanM. (2010). Travel motivation of tourists to Kruger and Tsitsikamma national parks: A comparative study. South African Journal of Wildlife Research, 40(1), 93–102.
39.
LemmS.AttwoodC. G. (2003). State of Marine Protected Area Management in South Africa. WWF-SA.
40.
LombardA. T.BanN. C.SmithJ. L.LesterS. E.SinkK. J.WoodS. A.JacobA. L.KyriaziZ.TingeyR.SimsH. E. (2019). Practical approaches and advances in spatial tools to achieve multi-objective marine spatial planning. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6, 1–9.
41.
LuebkeJ. F. (2018). Zoo exhibit experiences and visitors’ affective reactions: A preliminary study. Curator: The Museum Journal, 61, 345–352. https://doi.org/10.1111/cura.12253
42.
MannJ. B. (2016). Exploring the implications of cultural diversity for environmental learning at an African aquarium [PhD thesis, Doctor of Philosophy, Social Sciences, University of Queensland].
43.
MannJ. B.BallantyneR.PackerJ. (2018). Penguin promises: Encouraging aquarium visitors to take conservation action. Environmental Education Research, 24(6), 859–874.
44.
MannJ. B.BallantyneR.PackerJ. (2020). The role of aquariums and zoos in encouraging visitor conservation action. In GoldsteinM. I.DellaSalaD. A. (Eds.), Encyclopedia of the world’s biomes (pp. 380–389). Elsevier Inc.
45.
MannJ. B.VernonC. L. (2013). Using aquariums and their visitor experiences to promote ecotourism goals: Issues and best practices. In BallantyneR.PackerJ. (Eds.), International handbook on ecotourism (pp. 452–463). Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.
46.
Mann-LangJ.BranchG.MannB.SinkK.KirkmanS.AdamsR. (2021). Social and economic effects of marine protected areas in South Africa, with recommendations for future assessments. African Journal of Marine Science, 43(3), 367–387. https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232x.2021.1961166
47.
MartinV. Y.WeilerB.ReisA.DimmockK.ScherrerP. (2017). “Doing the right thing”: How social science can help foster pro-environmental behaviour change in marine protected areas. Marine Policy, 81(April), 236–246.
48.
MazeK.BarnettM.BottsE. A.StephensA.FreedmanM.GuentherL. (2016). Making the case for biodiversity in South Africa: Re-framing biodiversity communications. Bothalia, 46(1), 1–8.
49.
McKinleyE.BurdonD. (2020). Understanding ocean literacy and ocean climate-related behaviour change in the UK: An evidence synthesis. Final report produced for the Ocean Conservation Trust and Defra.
50.
McLellanE.MacQueenK. M.NeidigJ. L. (2003). Beyond the qualitative interview: Data preparation and transcription. Field Methods, 15(1), 63–84. https://doi.org/10.1177/1525822x02239573
51.
MellishS.PearsonE. L.SandersB.LitchfieldC. A. (2016). Marine wildlife entanglement and the seal the Loop initiative: A comparison of two free-choice learning approaches on visitor knowledge, attitudes and conservation behaviour. International Zoo Yearbook, 50(1), 129–154. https://doi.org/10.1111/izy.12132
52.
MellishS.RyanJ. C.PearsonE. L.TuckeyM. R. (2019). Research methods and reporting practices in zoo and aquarium conservation-education evaluation. Conservation Biology, 33(1), 40–52. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13177
53.
MortanS.YalowitzS. (2003). Evaluating the Kelp Forest Feeding Program at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Visitor Studies Today, 6(1), 6–9.
54.
MoscardoG.BallantyneR.HughesK. (2007). Designing Interpretive Signs: Principles in Practice. Fulcrum Publishing.
55.
MossA.EssonM.FrancisD. (2010). Evaluation of a third-generation zoo exhibit in relation to visitor behavior and interpretation use. Journal of Interpretation Research, 15(2), 11–28.
National Association for Interpretation (NAI). (2018). About interpretation. http://www.interpnet.com/
58.
O’LearyJ. K.GoodmanM.TudaA.MachumuM.WestL. (2020). Opportunities and challenges in achieving co-management in marine protected areas in East Africa: A comparative case study. Journal of the Indian Ocean Region, 16(3), 317–347. https://doi.org/10.1080/19480881.2020.1825201
59.
PfaffM. C.LogstonR. C.RaemaekersS. J. P. N.HermesJ. C.BlameyL. K.CawthraH. C.ColenbranderD. R.CrawfordR. J. M.DayE.du PlessisN.ElwenS. H.FawcettS. E.JuryM. R.KarenyiN.KerwathS. E.KockA. A.KrugM.LamberthS. J.OmardienA.. . . KirkmanS. P. (2019). A synthesis of three decades of socio-ecological change in False Bay, South Africa: Setting the scene for multidisciplinary research and management. Elementa Science Anthology, 32, 1–49.
60.
RobertsC. M.O’LearyB. C.McCauleyD. J.CuryP. M.DuarteC. M.LubchencoJ.PaulyD.Sáenz-ArroyoA.SumailaU. R.WilsonR. W.WormB.CastillaJ. C. (2017). Marine reserves can mitigate and promote adaptation to climate change. PNAS, 114(24), 6167–6175.
61.
SalaE.MayorgaJ.BradleyD.CabralR. B.AtwoodT. B.AuberA.CheungW.CostelloC.FerrettiF.FriedlanderA. M.GainesS. D.GarilaoC.GoodellW.HalpernB. S.HinsonA.KaschnerK.Kesner-ReyesK.LeprieurF.McGowanJ.. . . LubchencoJ. (2021). Protecting the global ocean for biodiversity, food and climate. Nature, 592, E25. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03496-1
62.
SalazarG.MillsM.VeríssimoD. (2019). Qualitative impact evaluation of a social marketing campaign for conservation. Conservation Biology, 33(3), 634–644.
63.
SANParks. (2020). South African National Parks Annual Report 2019/20.
64.
SettinaN.MarionJ. L.SchwartzF. (2020). Leave no trace communication: Effectiveness based on assessments of resource conditions. J Interpret Res, 25(1), 5–25.
65.
SinkK. (2016). The Marine Protected Areas debate: Implications for the proposed Phakisa Marine Protected Areas network. The Marine Protect Areas Debate [Online]. Retrieved October 2, 2018, from https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.17159/sajs.2016/a0179
66.
SinkK.AdamsR.MannJ.WhiteheadO.FrankenM. L.MazeK. (2019). South Africa’s new Marine Protected Areas. South African National Biodiversity Institute, an entity of the Department of Environmental Affairs.
67.
SkibinsJ. C.PowellR. B. (2013). Conservation caring: Measuring the influence of Zoo Visitors’ connection to wildlife on pro-conservation behaviors. Zoo Biology, 32(5), 528–540. https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.21086
68.
SmartT.CounsellG.QuinnellR. J. (2021). The impact of immersive exhibit design on visitor behaviour and learning at Chester Zoo, UK. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research, 9(3), 139–149.
Stoll-KleemannS. (2019). Feasible options for behavior change toward more effective ocean literacy: A systematic review. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6, 273. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00273
71.
The Ocean Project. (2009). America and the ocean (report).
72.
ThomasS. (2020). Social change for conservation: The world zoo and aquarium conservation education strategy. WAZA Executive Office.
73.
TunleyK. (2009). State of management of South Africa’s marine protected areas. WWF South Africa Report Series.
74.
TuohyP.CvitanovicC.ShellockR. J. (2022). Understanding visitor awareness and knowledge of marine parks: Insights from the Ningaloo Coast, Australia. Ocean & Coastal Management, 227, 106282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2022.106282
75.
TydlaskaM. M.EdwardsM. S. (2022). Comparisons of visitor knowledge and behavior between rocky intertidal habitats with different levels of protection in San Diego County, California. Ocean & Coastal Management, 221, 106122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2022.106122
76.
Uffman-KirschL. B.RichardsonB. J.van PuttenE. I. (2020). A new paradigm for social license as a path to marine sustainability. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7, 1–6.
77.
Van der MerweP.SaaymanM.BothaE. (2020). Interpretation needs and preferences of visitors to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Koedoe - African Protected Area Conservation and Science, 62(1), a1613.
78.
VoyerM.GladstoneW.GoodallH. (2014). Understanding marine park opposition: The relationship between social impacts, environmental knowledge and motivation to fish. Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 24(4), 441–462.
79.
WormB.ElliffC.FonsecaJ.GellF.Serra-GonçalvesC.HelderN.MurrayK.PeckhamH.PrelovecL.SinkK. (2021). Making ocean literacy inclusive and accessible. Ethics in Science and Environmental Politics, 21, 1–9.
