Recent research has suggested that decision makers may misunderstand public attitudes regarding natural resource use. Using research on Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) in six European countries, we illustrate one case in which this is true. We describe two studies: one revealing stakeholders’ beliefs about the environmental sustainability of IMTA in addition to their beliefs regarding public perceptions of the same; and a second investigating perceptions held by the public. In comparing the studies, we identified a gap between what decision-makers believe the public perceives and what the public actually perceives. There is reason to believe that this phenomenon is not sector-specific because policy and planning mechanisms for incorporating the views of stakeholders and the larger public tend to be the similar, regardless of sector. This may cause a dilemma for developing natural-resource based industries, as well as public policy. For this reason, we suggest, as an alternative to over-reliance on citizens’ initiative, making greater use of mechanisms that actively elicit opinions, such as deliberative consultation/engagement models that both inform and elicit pReferences

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	perception gap, public attitudes. natural resources, sustainability, governance
Research Division:	Environmental Sciences
Research Group:	Environmental Science and Management
Research Field:	Natural Resource Management
Objective Division:	Environment
Objective Group:	Environmental Policy, Legislation and Standards
Objective Field:	Coastal and Marine Management Policy
Author:	Alexander, KA (Dr Karen Alexander)
ID Code:	122738
Year Published:	2018
Deposited By:	Oceans and Cryosphere
Deposited On:	2017-11-24
Last Modified:	2018-10-09
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