Does quality of scuba diving experience vary according to the context and management regime of marine protected areas?

Author(s)

Marconi, Marina ^[1] ; Giglio, Vinicius J. ^[1] ; Pereira Filho, Guilherme H. ^[1] ; Motta, Fabio S. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Marine Ecol & Conservat Lab LABECMar, Rua Dr Carvalho de Mendonca 144, BR-11070100 Santos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT; v. 194, AUG 15 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Sustainability of scuba diving tourism should be assessed not only in environmental terms, but also concerning the quality of the diving experiences. Through the application of semi-structured questionnaires, we assessed differences in the scuba diving experiences from three subtropical Brazilian marine protected areas (MPAs) with different contexts and management regimes. We found that MPAs of more restrictive categories attracted mostly divers motivated by their natural attributes. We also found that satisfaction levels were significantly lower in the no-take MPA, where public use planning is stricter. Although we could not replicate the MPAs' contexts, our findings highlight the importance of management strategy as well as the influence of MPA age and socioecological context on scuba diving experiences. In this regard, managers and dive operators are encouraged to assess user characteristics and the context in which the MPA finds itself to plan and develop sustainable tourism. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/22273-0 - Ecological effects of recreational diving in subtropical marine protected areas
• Grantee: Vinicius Jose Giglio Fernandes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 19/19423-5 - Science applied to public use management and knowledge boundaries of Marine Protected Areas: from visitors' experience to biodiversity of subtropical mesophotic reefs
• Grantee: Fabio dos Santos Motta
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Regular Research Grants