Characterising potential participants in kelp monitoring in the recreational diving community: A comparative study of South Africa and New Zealand

Abstract

Coastal and marine recreational groups have been widely involved in activities of environmental monitoring, also referred to as participatory or citizen science. There are, however, several factors influencing interest and ultimately participation by these groups, ranging from demographic to recreation specialisation, attitudinal and behavioural variables. These need to be considered when designing citizen science projects as well as recruitment and engagement approaches. Kelp forests are cold-water coastal ecosystems holding enormous intrinsic and extrinsic value and are under pressure from local and global stressors. Scientists worldwide have called for increased long-term kelp monitoring efforts to fill data gaps and exploit the ecological indicator properties of kelp to monitor environmental change. They have also called for research focusing on people and raising public awareness to garner support for kelp conservation. Citizen science could be one of many strategies to address these calls, with recreational divers being central contributors to local and international kelp monitoring projects. This study aimed to assess recreational divers’ interest in kelp monitoring, characterising those wishing to contribute based on variables known to influence interest and participation in citizen science, and comparing different geographic regions. A phenomenology approach in qualitative research was used to collect data from 100 kelp divers in South Africa and New Zealand. Thematic analysis, the quantification of qualitative data and statistical analysis were used to describe the sample. All participants were interested in kelp monitoring, providing reasons which were significantly related to specific variables. Previous participation in kelp projects by a proportion of the sample enabled the profiling of those who may ultimately commit to kelp monitoring. Geographic comparisons revealed how kelp divers largely have experiences, knowledge and attitudes regarding kelp and its monitoring in common, while also showing important context-specific differences. The results of this study were used to generate five scenarios of recreational divers’ involvement in kelp citizen science, including field-based monitoring as part of local and international projects, public education, miscellaneous conservation activities, and “opportunistic” kelp monitoring. The data ultimately aim to provide useful information for the planning and development of both local and international kelp monitoring initiatives based on citizen science.