Sustainable management of marine resources through national marine park establishment

The sustainable management of marine resources requires greater understanding of social and ecological systems. How humans choose to use the environment is influenced by their connection with it, their understanding, knowledge and respect for it. National Marine Parks (NMPs) are a tool for enhancing that connection.

If developed well and in collaboration with local communities these can be used for the enhancement of ecological, social and economic benefits. This PhD aims to determine how to optimise the benefits associated with the establishment of National Marine Parks whilst minimising the costs to vulnerable communities. Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, UK's first NMP, will be used as a case study example.

The findings will inform the development and establishment of future national marine parks in the UK to achieve optimal outcomes in terms of the management of marine resources in UK waters.

What are the likely additional benefit flows from NMP establishment? How can an equitable flow of benefits be achieved? What are the most appropriate metrics of well-being for NMPs? How do the socio-economic drivers for NMP establishment link to metrics of ecological enhancement? How can NMPs achieve ecologically positive outcomes? What interventions in the current system are required to optimise the benefits and minimise the costs of NMP status?

The student will have training opportunities in social science, economic and ecological data collection and analysis techniques. They will also develop skills in systems thinking approaches and analysis to determining best outcomes for environmental management issues related to NMP establishment and beyond.

The first year will primarily be a literature review, training, stakeholder engagement, secondary data collection and planning of primary data collection and analysis. Year 2 will be primarily data collection and analysis for the social and economic components of the project. Year 3 will be primarily data collection and analysis for the ecological components of the project and Year 4 will be the synthesis, systems analysis and final write up.