Knowledge Co-construction by Citizens and Researchers to Create a SNAPSHOT of the Marine Environment During and After the Covid-19 Lockdown

Rita Giuffredi,Giovanni Fanelli,Alba L’Astorina,Giuseppe Portacci,Antonella Petrocelli,Raffaele Giordano,Laura Criscuolo,Alessandra Pugnetti,Amelia De Lazzari

doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.718214

Abstract

Lockdown measures adopted in Italy to contain the diffusion of Covid-19 altered many variables influencing the anthropogenic pressure on marine ecosystems. Public reactions included surprise at how quickly changes in human activity seemingly improved natural recovery and, at the same time, a generalized anxiety to restart economic activities. In this situation several Institutions from the Italian National Research Council (CNR) made a joint effort to quantify the effects of the unprecedented experimental conditions induced by the reduction of many anthropogenic pressures. The resulting project was conceived with a holistic, interdisciplinary approach, geared to combine scientific, economic and cultural observations to promote collective actions suitable to the governance of socio-ecological systems, reconciling respect for the environment with human activities and wellbeing, and thus grounding an ethical approach to marine resources. Alongside collecting considerable amount of scientific observations, the project is working to complement samplings and analyses with the non-formal knowledge carried by the inhabitants of a set of coastal zones, thus enriching the generated knowledge and widening inclusion and pluralism in defining the challenges at stake; simultaneously it focuses on stimulating a reflection in the research community over the process of knowledge co-construction, its meaning, role and responsibility in the societal context. After a brief contextualization of this activity, we present here the perspective adopted by researchers to build a responsible marine research plan, inclusive on the grounds of both involved actors and knowledge sources. We comment the process- and community-related features, explore limits and opportunities, and propose a set of recommendations, based on a preliminary review of our experience and oriented to promote the development of a shared Ocean ethics.

Highlights

On March 9th, 2020 Italy entered the first lockdown phase
To contain the spread of Sars-Covid 19 coronavirus infection, non-essential economic activities were interrupted and the population was induced to stay at home until May 4th
Other European and Mediterranean countries followed with similar measures

Summary

INTRODUCTION

On March 9th, 2020 Italy entered the first lockdown phase. To contain the spread of Sars-Covid 19 coronavirus infection, non-essential economic activities were interrupted and the population was induced to stay at home until May 4th. It needs to be able to speak to all the diverse stakeholders’ communities, including the citizenry and the decision-making circles at a local and national level; to imagine, describe and propose viable paths to achieve actual impacts, respecting the values, interests and positions of all; to be adequately communicated, in order to enter the public debate All these requirements are very demanding, if compared to the classical outcomes of research projects, but if properly handled they will represent an important opportunity for the involved marine community gathered to reflect over their research work and collectively imagine a communitarian, desirable and ethical future for the Italian marine environment

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

ETHICS STATEMENT