Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation
 

Wild Waters : Perspectives on Oregon’s Marine Reserves as Marine Wilderness Areas

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https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/rr1721546

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  • Designation of areas as marine wilderness has been proposed as a strategy for managing the increasing threats facing the world’s oceans. Although social factors influence marine protected area success, the human dimensions of marine wilderness remain minimally explored. This thesis examines views of marine wilderness expressed by a representative sample of residents in Oregon’s most populous region. Data were collected from a mixed-mode (e.g., mail, internet) survey of Oregon residents living from Portland to Ashland between the Coast and Cascade mountain ranges (n = 530). The first of two related articles investigates whether the concept of wilderness is thought to apply to the ocean in general and to Oregon’s current marine reserves in particular. Further exploration of the meanings of ‘marine protected area,’ ‘marine reserve,’ ‘wilderness,’ and ‘marine wilderness’ are conducted with content analysis of open-ended survey questions. The anticipated effect of wilderness designation on visitation and attitudes associated with marine reserves is also measured. Respondents were generally willing to apply the concept and label of wilderness to ocean spaces, including Oregon’s marine reserves, although land areas were deemed more appropriate for wilderness. The designations of ‘marine protected area,’ ‘marine reserve,’ ‘wilderness,’ and ‘marine wilderness’ evoked distinct meanings with ‘marine protected area’ and ‘marine reserve’ associated with rules and restrictions, and ‘wilderness’ and ‘marine wilderness’ tightly bound with ideas of pristineness. Most respondents indicated that marine wilderness designation of Oregon’s marine reserves would not change either their attitudes toward or visitation of these areas. Of those who indicated a change, most specified positive attitude change and increased visitation. The second article builds on this concept of marine wilderness by using a path model to examine the values and attitudes that residents have for Oregon’s marine reserves, and whether these attitudes could change with designation of these reserves as wilderness. Respondents clearly preferred that Oregon’s marine reserves provide values that foster environmental protection over values that strictly provide for human wellbeing. These environmental protection values had a positive relationship with both general attitudes toward the marine reserves and attitude change associated with wilderness designation of the reserves. In contrast, recreation values had a negative relationship to both general attitudes and attitude change. General attitudes toward the marine reserves were positively related to attitude change with possible wilderness designation of the marine reserves. The relationships between environmental protection values, recreation values, and attitude change were partially mediated by general attitudes toward the marine reserves. Although this population seems potentially receptive to the idea of marine wilderness, this thesis reveals expectations, associations, and important values that must be understood if marine wilderness areas were ever to be designated in Oregon. Together, these articles provide a foundational understanding of the social dynamics surrounding the application of the concept of wilderness to marine areas. This understanding can help foster the success of marine wilderness and other marine protected areas.
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