Beachgoers of Maine Who are they and what do they think about water quality

Transcription

1 Beachgoers of Maine Who are they and what do they think about water quality Ross Anthony 1a, Charles Colgan 1b, Caroline Noblet a, Kathleen Bell a 1 Presenting author, a University of Maine, b University of Southern Maine

2 Why do we care? ME and NH context Inform policy and management Promote public health Contribute to communication of water quality of beaches Health context (Hlavsa et al., 2011) (Dorevitch et al., 2012) (Fleisher & Kay, 2006) Disclosure context (Loewenstein et al., 2014) (Weil et al., 2006) Ogunquit beach, Ogunquit Photograph: Carl D. Walsh/Aurora Photos/Corbis Hampton Beach, Hampton Photograph: Gail Frederick/flickr

3 What did we do? Who is our sample? NEST Safe Beaches and Shellfish Project (Fox et al., 2016) 2015 mail survey to Maine and New Hampshire coastal residents N=1,176 (33% response rate) Beach version: N=598 (51% of total sample) Demographics 58% male/42% female Average age: 59 Average income in Maine: $85k; New Hampshire: $100k Some college education or higher: 81% Primary residence: 98% Lived in Maine: 40.1 years; New Hampshire: 34.3 NEST Beach Intercept Survey 2014: NH Beaches, Wells-Ogunquit, Saco Bay (N=3,182) 2015: York Beaches (N=875) 2016: Portland Harbor Beaches (N=554) Focus in this presentation on samples Demographics Portland: 71%F/29%M Some College +: 91.7% Median Age: 37 Resident 76% Visitor: 24% York: 64%F/36%M Some College Median Age 50 Resident 43% Visitor 57

4 Coastal Resident Mail Survey Results

5 HIDDEN What activates does our sample typically do at the beach? 65% Activities typically done at the beach Multiple choice Green = direct water contact 43% 38% 38% 32% 25% 16% 16% 11% 1 5% Walking Reading/Relaxing Sight Seeing Swimming Eating at Local Restaurants Sunbathing Glass and Shell Collecting Photography Beach Games and Sports Boating Sea Kayaking Shopping Surfing

6 Awareness of disclosures does not affect perception of risk of a beach under an advisory. 26.3% of respondents have seen or heard of a coastal beach advisory Perception of health risk at a beach under advisory: If a beach has an advisory recommending that people not to enter the water, and a person like yourself enters the water, in your opinion how likely is it that this person gets sick? Average: 44.9% chance of becoming ill No significant difference in perception by: State Actively seeking safety information Advisory awareness Images from: NH: ME: Photo credit to Abigail Kaminski

7 News media, family, and friends are the primary sources of those who seek safety information. 62% Sources among those who sought safety information about water quality (WQ) at coastal beaches Multiple choice 64% 43% 35% 26% 26% 24% 18% 25% 18% 14% 7% News media Family and friends Department of Marine Resources Department of Environmental Protection Local beach manager Maine Healthy Beaches News media Family and friends Department of Environmental Services Fish and Game University of New Hampshire Local beach manager ME residents who seek safety info: 19.4% NH residents who seek safety info: 18.4%

8 ME and NH have highest perceived WQ in coastal Northeastern US among total sample. 5 (Excellent) (Poor) 4% 1% 1% 1% 5% 1% 5% 11% 6% 5% 7% 27% % 34% 34% 38% 44% 47% 51% 39% 43% 44% 43% 24% 18% 14% 15% 13% 8% 1 3 2% 2% Nova Scotia New Brunswick Maine New Hampshire Massachusetts Rhode Island Connecticut Average:

9 Perceptions of WQ differed by ME and NH respondents. NH rated average WQ perception higher for both states. Test for difference in average rating and distribution by state Distribution of ME WQ by state P= Distribution of NH WQ by state P= (Poor) (Excellent) 1 (Poor) (Excellent) ME NH ME NH Average ME WQ by state Average NH WQ by state ME NH ME NH ME WQ P= NH WQ P=0.0000

10 Between 29-48% of sample have incorrect perceptions of what changes WQ. 1 (Makes water worse) (Makes water better) 44% 41% 42% 51% 48% 45% 27% 19% 24% 18% 25% 12% 3% 1% 5% 7% 3% 2% 1 3% 13% 12% 5% A large number of swimmers at the beach Wind and high waves Large number of birds or other animals (including dogs) Recent heavy rainfall Rivers flowing into the sea

11 Back to risk perception What influences it? Communication? Past experiences? Personal/public perceptions? Demographics? Let s take a look at the full distribution Recall: average was 44.9%

12 Risk perception of beach under advisory 35% 3 25% % of sample 15% 1 5% 0-5% % % % % 46-49% % % % % % Risk perception (% chance of becoming ill) Low risk perception High risk perception

13 Risk perception of beach under advisory 35% 3 25% % of sample 15% 1 5% 0-5% % % % % 46-49% % % % % % Risk perception (% chance of becoming ill) Low risk perception High risk perception

14 Ordered logit Dependent variable: Risk perception of beaches under advisory N=314 Communication Past experiences Personal perceptions Public perceptions Demographics Significance levels * 1, ** 5%, *** 1% Risk perception Low Uncertain High Seeking information about water quality + Scientists provide reliable information + Coastal beach advisory awareness + Past sickness after swimming + Risk aversion *** +** +*** Home state water quality perception + Issue Public health = 1; Marine environment = 0 + Gov t responsible + Male +** * ** Education + Income + Age + Age 2 + +

15 Portland and York Intercept Survey Results

16 Basic questions 1. What factors are associated with people noticing and responding to water quality warnings at the each beach? Signs Flags Reported Behavior Water contact Visitor Characteristics Beach Characteristics 2. What kinds of information strategies might improve awareness of water quality issues?

17 HIDDEN Water quality at time of interview was good overall but better at York beaches % 84% Portland 8% 92% York Blue Orange P=<.001

18 Only a quarter of respondents check on-beach info, but more urban beaches are a little more likely to be checked Did you check the sign/flag today? 35% 3 25% % 28.6% 24.5% 26.1% 30.4% 15% % 15.2% 5% All Respondents East End Willard Beach Long Sands North Long Sands South Short Sands Cape Neddick York Harbor P=<.001

19 When you go to the beach do you check the on-beach information about water quality? % % % 1.3% 5.3% Every time Frequently Usually, but not always Rarely Never

20 Water contact today? Not going in water, 17% Gender of Respondent Education Level Male, 33 Resident, 17% % Going in the Water, 83% Female, 67% Visitor, 83% Water Contact and Check Water Quality 21.6% 24.8% 78.4% 75.2% Not going in Water Going in the Water Checked WQ-NO Checked WQ-Yes P= Gender and Check Water Quality Male Checked WQ-NO Female Checked WQ-Yes P= Education and Check Water Quality 22.6% % 75. No College Degree Checked WQ-NO College Degree Checked WQ-Yes P=.425

21 HIDDEN What were those who checked the warning sign doing in the water? Activities of those who checked warning sign (Multiple Choice) % 3 31% 13% 1 3% 2% Swimming Wading Surfing Kayaking/Boating Paddleboard

22 Children in Party Portland York Residents and Visitors Visitors, 23. Resdents, 76.8% Portland Visitors, 57. Resdents, 43. York College Degree 78.3% 77.8% Portland York Children and Check Water Quality 29.3% 26.7% Residents/Visitors and Check Water Quality College Degree and Check Water Quality 22.6% % 73.3% % 75. No Children With Children Checked WQ-NO Checked WQ-Yes No College Degree College Degree Checked WQ-NO Checked WQ-Yes P=.365 Resident Visitor P=..634 Checked WQ-NO Checked WQ-Yes P=.820

23 For those times when you encountered a water quality advisory would you say you Went to another beach 33% Stayed at beach but out of water 57% Went in water anyway 1

24 Prior to coming to the beach do you check? Percent choosing (Multiple Choice) 5 45% 35% 3 25% 15% 1 5% 45.2% 37.2% 7.6% Tides Weather Surf Conditions Maine Healthy Beaches Water Temp

25 What sources do you check? % % 5.1% 5.6% 5.3% 1.9% TV Radio Web Newspapers Local Buinesses Friends/Relatives

26 Would you be interested in signing up for internetbased beach information delivered to you? Yes, 43.3% Maybe, 9.5% No, 47.2% Yes, 30.4% Maybe, 7. No, 62.5% Resident Visitor

27 Desired information % 25% 22.8% 15% 17.3% 16.9% % Tides Weather Water Temp Surf Conditions Bacteria Conditions

28 Desired mode % 52.8% % 19.9% 17.9% 18.6% % Text Social Media App All Respondents Bacteria Info Wanted

29 Desired mode for residents/visitors % 54.8% % 21.9% 10.4% 9.3% 20.1% 14. Text Social Media App Residents Visitors

30 Characteristics of those indicating interest in bacteria conditions information Residence Education Visitor 35% No College Degree 18% Gender Resident 65% College Degree 82% Children Male 29% Without Children 24% Female 71% With Children 76%

31 Different beach systems have different visitor accommodation profiles, requiring different contact strategies Friends/Rela tives 11% New Hampshire Friends/Rela tives 7% Saco Bay Vacation Home (Own) 11% Hotel 18% Vacation Home (Own) 25% Friends/Rela tives 6% Wells Ogunquit Hotel 36% Vacation Home (Rent) 25% Campground 7% Friends/Rela tives 7% York Vacation Home (Rent) 39% Hotel 26% Campground 16% Vacation Home (Own) 26% Vacation Home (Rent) 26% Campground 21% Portland Vacation Home (Own) 6% Hotel 25% Vacation Home (Own) 29% Friends/Rela tives 3 Vacation Home (Rent) 24% Campground 6% Vacation Home (Rent) 33% Hotel 32% Campground 8%

32 Conclusions Statewide Coastal Resident Mail Survey 74% of sample have not seen or heard of a coastal beach advisory News media, family, and friends are primary sources of information about water quality More than half of sample understands what makes water quality worse 71% of sample has low to uncertain risk perception of water at a beach under advisory There is no difference in average or distribution of risk perception by advisory awareness Actively seeking safety information and advisory awareness has no effect on risk perception Intercept Survey in Portland Harbor and York Only a quarter of respondents check the sign though more urban beaches do a little better No clear distinguishing characteristics of those who do check on beach information A significant portion of respondents indicate when the encounter an advisory they take action to avoid the water People do check info before going to the beach, mostly weather and tides from the web. There is interest in internet info, preferably by , including bacteria conditions Special efforts needed for visitors in places like York

33 HIDDEN What can be done? Call for policy and practices Pushing work forward on communication Public education events Continued collaboration with NEST (UMaine, USM, and UNH) Capacity building with social media presence Future work Risk perception Sensitivity to recreation demand

34 Thank you! This project is a part of the New England Sustainability Consortium (NEST) Safe Beaches and Shellfish Project and is funded by the National Science Foundation Award 11A to Maine EPSCoR at the University of Maine. The authors also gratefully acknowledge funding from USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture under Hatch projects ME (Maine Agriculture and Forest Experiment Station). Contact jordan.anthony@maine.edu caroline.noblet@maine.edu colgan@maine.edu