Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Oregon
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

This project will explore the effect of ocean awareness on the climate actions and climate adaptation policy preferences of coastal visitors. We will use a two-pronged research approach combining 1) an online representative survey of Oregon residents and 2) visitor intercept surveys of visitors to the Oregon coast. In the first research phase we will identify the degree to which a) climate action behavior and behavioral intentions and b) climate adaptation policy support are related to beliefs about ocean acidification and feelings of connectedness to the Oregon coast and, more specifically, the Oregon Marine Reserves. We will use these results to inform the second research phase, in which we will assess the salience of ocean acidification and climate adaptation needs among coastal visitors, and test the impact of different climate nudges on coastal visitors’ future climate action. Results from this research will inform Oregon Marine Reserves Program and other ODFW communication strategies related to coastal and marine ecosystems, including climate adaptation.