Ocean Literacy: Access to the Coast

Access and experience' is a key element for ocean literacy in terms of how (or how not) the public uses the coast and the ocean, and their experiences whilst they were there. (Marine Conservation Society, n.d.)

How many people visit the coast?
A study into ocean literacy in Scotland undertaken in 2022 found that over the previous 12 months, 56% of people surveyed had visited the marine environment, 32% not visited in the last 12 months, and 10% never visited marine environment at all (Scottish Government, 2022).

What kinds of 'blue space' do people access?
Beaches, the sea, and other coastlines are the most commonly used blue space - 71% of the Scottish public reported visiting in the previous 12 months. This is compared to other blue spaces such as river (61%), loch/lake (55%), harbour (44%), and esplanade/promenade (36%) (Scottish Government, 2023).

Proximity to the coast:
Access to the coast can be determined by coastal proximity. 20% of those living in urban areas are non-users of the coast compared to 15% of those living in rural areas. 30% of those living in rural areas are frequent users of the coast compared to 16% of those living in urban areas (Scottish Government, 2023).

How do people access the coast?
49% of people travelled 10 miles or less to visit the marine environment, with 32% travelling 11-50 miles and 17% travelling more than 50 miles. The majority of people used a car, van, or motorbike to access the coast (67%), with 17% accessing the coast on foot/walking, 11% by public transport, 2% by bike/mountain bike, and 1% by mobility aid (Scottish Government, 2022).

Are there barriers to access?
One study found that poor weather, living too far away/taking too long to get to coast, being too busy, and poor transport links or access to coast were key barriers to access (Scottish Government, 2022). Another study found that there were four broad categories of barriers or enablers to access: motivation, capability, physical barriers, and social factors. For example, some barriers/enablers cited include: identity/connection to the coast, weather/daylight, travel barriers (personal vs public transport), time, and cultural norms (Scottish Government, 2023).