We need your valuable input to analyze the effectiveness of current datasets in combating illegal activity within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). As an MPA practitioner, your experiences and perceptions of drivers behind illegal fishing activity are vital. This research aims to identify these drivers and understand their regional and contextual patterns to enhance future data collection efforts. Led by Chris Kerry, a PhD student at the University of Exeter’s Institute of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, this study involves a team of researchers including Dr. Kristian Metcalfe, Dr. Sam Weber, and Dr. Saptarshi Das from the University of Exeter, along with Dr. Claire Collins and Dr. Tom Letessier from the Zoological Society of London, and Prof. Karyn Morrissey from the Technical University of Denmark. Rest assured, this research has undergone ethical review by the FESE Cornwall Research Ethics Committee (reference: 529457). Should you have any concerns, you can contact the committee at cgr-reg@exeter.ac.uk. Completing the survey will take approximately 20-30 minutes and consists of three sections. The first explores your experience as an MPA practitioner, the second gathers information about the MPA(s) you are associated with, and the third entails a ranking exercise for drivers of illegal activity within the MPA(s), along with some additional relevant information. Participating in this study holds no personal benefit, but it contributes to societal knowledge. There are no risks associated with participation beyond your daily encounters. You retain the right to withdraw at any point before submitting the survey, and your anonymity is guaranteed. The University of Exeter is the Data Controller for this research, and any inquiries regarding data protection can be directed to dataprotection@exeter.ac.uk. Your voluntary participation is invaluable, and your responses will be used in academic papers and presentations. To stay updated on the results of this study, please email c.kerry@exeter.ac.uk.
Together, let’s drive effective conservation efforts and combat illegal activity within MPAs! Complete the survey and make your voice heard.
Link to survey: https://exetercles.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6Ew4khMKADwYJBY