Socio-economics
The marine environment contributes a
tremendous amount to the social and economic prosperity of society
with millions of people around the world depending upon the oceans
for a diverse array of resources and services. Not only does
the marine environment provide direct benefits, such as food,
recreation and raw materials, but also indirect benefits, such as
nutrient cycling, climate regulation, cultural heritage and
identity.
Socio-economics concerns research evaluating the
drivers behind current and future patterns of resource use by
investigating the social and economic impacts of marine-related
activities. By understanding the socio-economics of the ocean,
environmental concerns can be integrated morefully into the
decision making processes and trade-offs between economic, social
and environmental objectives can be appreciated. PML Applications'
team includes socio-economists working closely with
Plymouth Marine Laboratory's socio-economics team and alongside its
natural scientists.
