Ethical Value of Coastal Resources as Implicit Driver for Conservation: Insights into Artisanal Fishers’ Perceptions

Abstract

The sustainability of coastal ecosystem resources hinges on collective action; however, conservation programs often fail when the underlying values that shape human behavior are overlooked. Anchored in behavioral change theory and common-pool resource governance, this study explores artisanal fishers’ subconscious value orientations as drivers of conservation. Relational value, as defined by IPBES, was used to assess the strength of the relationship between artisanal fishers and coastal resources. Principal Component Analysis of survey data revealed three value components, Natural Legacy Value (NLV), Non-Economic Value (NEV), and Economic Value (EV), and two conservation orientations, tangible and intangible. Relational valuation, blending intrinsic and instrumental motives, strongly influences conservation attitudes. NEV correlates with religion and intangible measures (knowledge, cultural practices) (R = 0.153, p < 0.05), while EV supports both tangible and intangible strategies but none of the demographic factors, indicating strategic leverage points for inclusive engagement. Conversely, NLV’s negative association with tangible measures reflects cultural sensitivities that can hinder compliance. The results suggest that embedding value-sensitive approaches into co-management frameworks can foster trust, reciprocity, and behavioral change, key elements in Ostrom’s design principles. This study contributes to sustainability science by linking socio-psychological drivers to governance strategies for promoting coastal socio-ecological systems resilience.

1. Introduction

An understanding of artisanal fishers’ perceptions of value and sustainable conservation is essential for decision-makers in designing effective coastal conservation programs incorporating fishers’ engagement. Andaman artisanal fishers tend to have close interactions with nature, sharing coastal fishery resources (common-pool resources) with other sectors, and using simple fishing gear. This close relationship makes artisanal fishers particularly vulnerable to changes in coastal ecosystems driven by anthropogenic and natural stressors, such as pollution and biodiversity loss. Despite these challenges, artisanal fishers strive to manage these pressures to enhance sustainability. However, studies primarily focusing on the perceptions of artisanal fishers on the value of coastal resources seem limited, especially in terms of developing engaging strategies for sustainable conservation.

Several approaches have been experimented with to better understand the myth surrounding commons management, and Ostrom’s design principles have emerged as a foundational framework to achieve common-pool resources management [1,2]. However, understanding why individuals cooperate in conservation requires examining both governance structures and psychological drivers of behavior [1,2]. Two influential frameworks, Ostrom’s design principles for common-pool resources (CPRs) [1] and behavior change theories [3], tend to provide complementary insights into sustaining collective action in coastal systems. In particular, the Ostrom’s eight design principles, outline institutional conditions that foster robust CPR governance: (1) clearly defined boundaries of resources and user groups; (2) rules aligned with local conditions; (3) collective-choice arrangements enabling user participation; (4) monitoring by accountable actors; (5) graduated sanctions for non-compliance; (6) accessible conflict-resolution mechanisms; (7) minimal recognition of users’ rights to self-organize; and (8) nested governance across multiple scales [1]. These principles emphasize decentralization, trust, and shared norms, which reduce transaction costs and strengthen cooperation [1]. Since institutional design alone cannot guarantee success, the motivations underlying individual behavior remain critical. Hence, various strategies have been implemented to engage local communities in conservation programs, yielding mixed outcomes; some successful and sustainable, others less effective.

While Ostrom’s eight design principles are widely acknowledged as foundational for common-pool resource governance [1], the underlying drivers that motivate artisanal fishers to participate in sustainable conservation programs remain insufficiently understood. Behavioral change theories, such as the Theory of Planned Behavior [3], emphasize that attitudes, perceived behavioral control, social norms, and moral obligations strongly influence pro-environmental actions. Building on these insights, this study investigates how artisanal fishers’ value orientations, encompassing natural legacy, non-economic, and economic dimensions, tend to function as subconscious drivers shaping conservation behavior, offering a bridge between behavioral theory and institutional design for coastal resource governance.

The Andaman coast is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, rich biodiversity, and tourist appeal. Its value has been recognized since 2021, when the Andaman Sea Nature Reserves of Thailand were placed on UNESCO’s tentative list for World Heritage designation [4]. However, besides its renowned stature, the Andaman coast is home to a community of artisanal fishers who depend primarily on coastal resources for economic and social sustenance. The Royal Ordinances on Fisheries (B.E. 2558) defines artisanal fishery in Thailand as fishing conducted with or without a boat in the coastal sea, distinct from commercial fisheries [5] (P. 4). While it is difficult to ascertain the exact number of artisanal fishers, at least 218 coastal community groups are registered with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources [6]. Among these groups, 21 explicitly identify themselves as “artisanal fisheries”. Additionally, coastal conservation groups include artisanal fishers among their members. Coastal conservation programs in Thailand established by the government are primarily implemented by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, focusing on the conservation of rare marine species (e.g., sea turtles, leopard sharks, and dugongs), as well as the restoration of mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs. Areas of interest for these programs include coastal and marine waste, blue swimming crab banks, and the enhancement of biodiversity in coastal plants and organisms. From a holistic perspective, these conservation programs are likely to encompass the necessary elements for preservation. However, the long-term cooperation of local communities remains unclear due to the continuous nature of these programs, as they lose interest in engaging in conservation through local efforts. Several of the coastal conservation programs tend to include local community members, such as artisanal fishers, as their engagement is a key factor in achieving long-term, sustainable conservation goals. Particularly, for artisanal fishers whose livelihood is closely tied to nature.

Recent research underscores the importance of relational values, which combine intrinsic appreciation of nature with instrumental and cultural meanings, in shaping these behavioral intentions, which implicitly complex the linkage between psychological hindrances and behavior expression. When conservation interventions align with local values, compliance and stewardship improve, reinforcing collective-choice and monitoring mechanisms within governance systems.

Classical value assessments typically focus on the intrinsic and instrumental values of natural resources. Recently, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) provided guidelines on reconciling human well-being with environmental health, emphasizing a balanced approach to sustainable development, involving economic, social, and environmental elements [7]. This guide examines the relationships between various worldviews and values, as well as a typology of values. In addition, it provides recommendations for designing and implementing valuation methods that incorporate the diverse values of nature into decision- and policy-making processes [6]. IPBES introduces the concept of “relational values” to describe the complex connections between humans and nature, encompassing intrinsic and instrumental values [7]. Hime and Muraca [8] further elaborate on relational values, describing them as values associated with non-human nature that are not purely instrumental but are linked to a sense of well-being, meaning, and ethical responsibility, and often referred to as “Eudaimonic value.” IPBES [7] highlights that relational values capture the interdependent nature of these relationships. The term relational value, as used by IPBES, was employed in our study to determine the strength of the relationship between artisanal fishers and coastal resources. In this paper, ‘relational value’ refers to the complex, multidimensional relationships between artisanal fishers and coastal resources, shaped by patterns of resource use, livelihood dependence, and embedded cultural and spiritual values.

This study examines the perceptions of Andaman artisanal fishers on the value of coastal resources and their potential for motivating conservation efforts. In addition, several social factors (gender, religion, age, education, and fishing experience) were analyzed for their correlation with the value components. Understanding the nuanced relational values that link artisanal fishers to coastal resources, rather than relying on broad notions of perception, is essential for designing engagement strategies that are both effective and sustainable.

2. Materials and Methods

To identify the value perceptions of artisanal fishers regarding coastal resources and their services, a group of artisanal fishers along the Andaman coast was selected. Registered and non-registered groups of artisanal fishers were sampled, although registration was not compulsory. The registration lists were explored from the Department of Fisheries and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources in Thailand. In this study, we collected and reported the physical and socio-economic views of a particular community.

2.1. Study Site Characteristics

The Andaman coast is located in southwestern Thailand, part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (12°30′ N 92°45′ E/12.500° N 92.750° E), and it stretches 1093.14 km along the western side of Thailand, opposite the Thai Bay (Figure 1). The coast comprises six provinces and is geographically divided into two regions: the northern coast (Ranong, Phang Nga, and Phuket) and the southern coast (Krabi, Trang, and Satun). It is a deep-sea area with depths exceeding two kilometers in some locations [9]. Many areas along the coast are popular tourist destinations for snorkeling and scuba diving due to the abundance of coral reefs and the rich biodiversity of coastal resources. In addition, coral reefs, mangrove forests, and seagrass beds play a vital role as habitats for fishery resources.

2.2. Field Sampling and Assessment Tools

A field survey and purposive sampling were conducted between May and July 2024 in Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Satun, Trang, and Krabi provinces along the Andaman coast. The target respondents were individuals at least 18 years old and of Thai nationality. Participants’ families’ primary source of income should be artisanal fishing, although the fishers may also engage in other income-generating activities to supplement their earnings. This condition is essential to identify individuals who genuinely depend on coastal resources for their livelihood, as many engage in multiple occupations. In some cases, those who self-identify as artisanal fishers may earn their primary income from tourism rather than fishing.

A research team conducted interviews with respondents using a semi-structured questionnaire for approximately 20–30 min per person. Before the interview, the respondents were informed of the research objectives and relevant details, and then they signed a consent form to participate in the study. Respondents had the right to stop answering questions whenever they felt uncomfortable. This process followed the IRB procedure and was approved by the IRB committees (IPSR-IRB: COA No. 2022/12-240).

The semi-structured questionnaire (Supplementary Table S1) consisted of four parts: General Information (Part 1) included five factors (gender, age, religion/belief, highest education, and fishing experience), Ethical Value Statement (Part 2), Conservation Perceptions (Part 3), and Open Suggestion (Part 4). A five-point Likert scale was employed to assess perceptions and reach an agreement (1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = not applicable (N/A), 4 = agree, and 5 = strongly agree). The codes of value and conservation statements are listed in

Table 1. Code of value statements and perceptions on conservation and coastal resources.

Code Identification
Instrumental value A value increase or decrease depends on the human justification for usage (adapted from O’Neill et al. 2012) [10]	Intrinsic value A value in itself remains the same value even if no one uses it (adapted from Katz 1992) [11]
V1 A role as food for humans	V8 Non-market price
V2 A source of income	V9 Non-useable but better present than absent
V3 A choice for sale or consumption	V10 To be restored and continue life
V4 A source of life stability	V11 To be transferred to future generations
V5 A private asset	V12 Well-being without a monetary regime
V6 Holding the market price	V13 A part of coastal integrity
V7 A source of prosperity	V14 Equivalent to human life
Willingness to participate in conservation programs
C1 All kinds of programs
C2 Any kind, though not relevant to living organisms
C3 Only about the main catch
C4 Only focusing on increasing the number of fish
C5 Helping conservation through knowledge transfer
C6 Only about the non-main catch
C7 Will continue using simple gear
C8 Will continue with artisanal fishing
C9 Any chance to change job

.

The initial participants were identified through community leaders, who then facilitated additional recruitment using a snowball sampling approach. Community leaders were considered reliable informants for verifying membership of genuine artisanal fishers within their communities. This process was essential to ensure the selection of representative samples for the study. In all, 279 artisanal fishers participated.

Although the Andaman coast is geographically divided into northern and southern sections, samples were combined and analyzed as a single region, as site-specific comparisons were not intended. Based on the previously described selection criteria, we hypothesized that artisanal fishers share similar livelihood contexts due to comparable natural living conditions and legal restrictions on specific fishing gears and coastal boundaries. From a regional perspective, artisanal fishers along the Andaman coast exhibit no substantial physical or operational differences among sites.

2.3. Data and Statistical Analysis

The frequency of sample attributes, including gender, religion, age, education, and fishing experience, was analyzed and expressed in percentages. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to reduce the dimensionality of the data and identify the primary patterns that explained the most variance in artisanal fishers’ perspectives on the value of coastal resources and conservation. The dataset obtained from Parts 2 and 3 of the questionnaires was employed for PCA. Then, Kendall’s tau_b coefficient was used to test for any possible correlation between the perception of ethical values and conservation. The Mann–Whitney U test was also used to assess for any significant differences in the distributions of scores between genders and religions within each group of the sample attributes for each ethical value and conservation component, as determined through the PCA. Furthermore, the Kruskal–Wallis test was used to determine whether there were any significant differences in age, education, and experience. All analyses were conducted using the statistical software SPSS (version 18), at p < 0.05.

3. Results

3.1. General Information

3.1.1. Descriptive Information on Demographic Data

The sample from artisanal fisher communities comprised more male than female respondents. Age range between 41 and 60 years was the largest group of respondents, followed by those older than 60 years, 20–40 years, and less than 20 years, respectively. Most respondents were Muslims, followed by Buddhists and Christians. Most of the artisanal fishers had a primary to high school-level educational background, followed by those without any formal education (

Table 2. Demographic information of the samples.

Demographic Factor	n	Percentage (%)
Gender
Male	158	56.63
Female	121	43.37
Age (years)
<20	4	1.50
20–40	56	20.20
41–60	146	52.70
>60	73	26.40
Religion
Buddhist	81	37.20
Muslim	190	68.10
Christian	2	0.70
Education
None	25	9.00
Lower and high school	237	84.90
Bachelor	15	5.40
Higher bachelor	2	0.7

). Those with bachelor’s and higher degrees were 5.4% and 0.7%, respectively (Table 2).

Most artisanal fishers (71%) were native to the study sites (Figure 2a). Approximately 10.7% and 8.6% of the artisanal fishers were migrants from other regions of Thailand who had resided at the study sites for longer than 10 years and less than 10 years, respectively (Figure 2a). Most artisanal fishers (78.1%) had more than 20 years of fishing experience, whereas 10.4%, 7.5%, and 3.9% had between 11 and 20 years, 5 and 10 years, and less than 5 years of fishing experience, respectively (Figure 2b). They generally employed a crab gill net (27.2%) and other fishing gear, such as an oyster dredge or a muddy board (26.2%) (Figure 2c). In addition, around 18.6% of artisanal fishers employed a shrimp gill net and a mullet gill net (10.4%) along the coast (Figure 2c).

3.1.2. Physical Environment and Common Fishery Resources

From field observations, it seems that artisanal fisher communities settled along the coast and live in simple structures. Islam is the dominant religion in Krabi, Trang, and Satun, whereas Buddhism is dominant in Ranong, Phang Nga, and Phuket. Some indigenous people, particularly the Urak La Woi, Morgan, and Morgane, are believed to have inhabited the coast for over 100 years.

The fishers use simple fishing gear, including fish traps, crab traps, and gill nets, with or without a boat of less than 10 Gross Register Tons (GRT).

Common fishery resources caught by artisanal fishers include the banana shrimp (Fenneropenaeus merguiensis), blue swimming crab (Portunus armatus), sea bass (Lates calcarifer), brown spotted grouper (Epinephelus malabaricus), dog conch (Laevistrombus canarium), musk crab (Charybdis cruciata), serrated mud crab (Scylla serrata), mullet (Mugilidae), herring (Clupeidae), and short mackerel or Indian mackerel (Scombridae).

Several sites are adjacent to tourist attractions; thus, some artisanal fishers take advantage of the opportunity to earn additional income by transporting tourists from the mainland to the islands. Furthermore, some communities promote their fishing lifestyle by providing ecotourism services, while others oppose tourists, fearing the loss of their traditional way of life. Besides fishing, some fishers earn extra income through oil palm cultivation, rubber plantations, and paid labor.

3.1.3. Artisanal Fisher Community Context

Most fisher communities observed at our study sites reside close to or within mangrove forests, except for one community in Phuket, which is located along a sandy beach and is very close to luxury tourist accommodation.

The location of the settlement is likely to have influenced the livelihoods and mindsets of individuals who support pro-environmental conservation, especially fishers residing in mangrove areas. For instance, the communities living along the mangroves in Trang demonstrate their approach to coastal conservation through the preservation of the mangroves by supporting community forest management (Figure 3).

In addition to those who live in Krabi, artisanal fishers have also adopted conservation management strategies suggested by the government sector, such as establishing a blue swimming crab bank (Figure 4).

In order to live in harmony with nature, a subconscious sense of the importance of environmental conservation is likely embedded within the fishers’ cultural livelihood. Therefore, coastal valuation by artisanal fishers is described in Section 3.2, with a subsequent discussion.

3.2. Component Analysis

3.2.1. Value Components

The principal component analysis (PCA) of data (from Part 2 of the questionnaire) showed that the ethical values perceived by artisanal fishers across the region could be divided into three components. The variance could be explained by 38.31% of the total (

Table 3. Principal component analysis for values of coastal resources.

Component	Initial Eigenvalues			Extraction Sums of Squared Loadings			Rotation Sums of Squared Loadings
	Total	% of Variance	Cumulative %	Total	% of Variance	Cumulative %	Total	% of Variance	Cumulative %
1	2.691	19.222	19.222	2.691	19.222	19.22	2.097	14.976	14.976
2	1.464	10.454	29.675	1.464	10.454	29.675	1.907	13.622	28.599
3	1.209	8.638	38.314	1.209	8.638	38.314	1.360	9.715	38.314
4	1.188	8.483	46.796
5	1.066	7.614	54.410
6	1.004	7.172	61.582
7	0.926	6.615	68.197
8	0.891	6.361	74.559
9	0.782	5.587	80.145
10	0.708	5.056	85.201
11	0.630	4.496	89.698
12	0.603	4.306	94.004
13	0.484	3.459	97.463
14	0.355	2.537	100.00
Value Code				Rotate Component
				1		2		3
V12 well-being definition				0.673		0.174		0.050
V3 choice				0.616		0.202		−0.033
V5 ownership				0.569		0.052		0.009
V11 transfer resource to future generations				0.541		0.023		−0.007
V2 income				0.319		−0.153		−0.025
V9 non-used				−0.024		0.815		0.069
V8 non-economic value				0.008		0.689		0.039
V13 coast integrity				0.479		0.541		−0.150
V10 restoration technology				0.179		0.499		0.030
V4 stability				0.010		0.255		0.070
V6 sale				−0.115		0.154		0.712
V7 fishing technology				−0.164		−0.082		0.606
V14 equity				0.477		0.173		0.512
V1 A role as food for humans				0.119		0.063		0.430

Rotation converged in five iterations.

).

The first component, which relates to well-being and life equity, comprises five value variables (V12, V3, V5, V11, and V2) and reflects a sense of ownership toward coastal resources (Table 2). Thus, the first component was named Natural Legacy Value (NLV). The second component relates to the non-economic value, including five value variables (V9, V8, V13, V10, and V4). This component reflects the intrinsic value of coastal resources that artisanal fishers perceive as being available even though they cannot exploit them for some time; this component was named the Non-Economic Value (NEV) (Table 2). The third component relates to economic value, including four variables (V6, V7, V14, and V1). This component was named Economic Value (EV), and it reflects the instrumental value that coastal resources hold for artisanal fishers, who tend to perceive them as having monetary benefits (

Table 4. Value components for coastal resources as perceived by artisanal fishers along the Andaman coast.

Value Component 1	Eigenvalue	% of Variance	Highest Factor Loading	Value Statement (Supplementary)
NLV 2	2.097	14.976	0.673	V12, V3, V5, V11, V2
NEV 3	1.907	13.622	0.815	V9, V8, V13, V10, V4
EV 4	1.360	9.715	0.712	V6, V7, V14, V1

¹ KMO = 0.639, p < 0.05, ² Natural legacy value, ³ Non-economic value, ⁴ Economic value.

).

Regarding the value components in Table 4, each component after the PCA comprises both instrumental and intrinsic values. This classification emphasizes the concept of “relational value” of coastal resources in the value perception system of artisanal fishers, as shown in Figure 5.

3.2.2. Conservation Components

Two components emerged from the data from Part 3 of the questionnaire explained 47.11% of the variance (

Table 5. Principal component analysis for perception of coastal resources conservation.

Component	Initial Eigenvalues			Extraction Sums of Squared Loadings			Rotation Sums of Squared Loadings
	Total	% of Variance	Cumulative %	Total	% of Variance	Cumulative %	Total	% of Variance	Cumulative %
1	2.526	28.067	28.067	2.526	28.067	28.067	2.521	28.008	28.008
2	1.713	19.038	47.105	1.713	19.038	47.105	1.719	19.097	47.105
3	0.987	10.963	58.068
4	0.896	9.958	68.027
5	0.826	9.179	77.206
6	0.747	8.302	85.508
7	0.680	7.556	93.064
8	0.402	4.466	97.530
9	0.222	2.470	100.000
Value Code						Rotate Component
						1		2
C4 only fish conservation						0.882		0.127
C3 only main catch						0.843		0.078
C6 only non-main catch						0.831		0.082
C9 surly change career						0.522		−0.257
C5 fishing transfer						−0.030		0.684
C2 not relate to fishes						−0.013		0.661
C8 remain career as it is						0.109		0.559
C1 all kinds of programs						−0.213		0.525
C7 will continue using simple gear						0.095		0.362

Rotation converged in three iterations.

).

Component 1 comprises four variables (C4, C3, C6, and C9) characterized by the highest factor loadings (Table 5), and named “tangible conservation”, which relates to conserving only aquatic fauna, either the main catch or non-main catch (

Table 6. Conservation components as perceived by artisanal fishers along the Andaman coast.

Conservation Component 1	Eigenvalue	% of Variance	Highest Factor Loading	Conservation Statement (Supplementary)
Tangible Conservation	2.521	28.008	0.882	C4, C3, C6, C9
Intangible Conservation	1.719	19.097	0.684	C5, C2, C8, C1, C7

¹ KMO = 0.689, p < 0.05.

). The main catch refers to fishery resources that artisanal fishers can sell, whereas the non-main catch refers to aquatic fauna that may be used for consumption or occasionally sold. Component 2, grouped by PCA in descending order (Table 5), comprises five variables (C5, C2, C8, C1, and C7), named “intangible conservation” (Table 6). Intangible conservation relates to coastal resources and how their attributes can be transferred to future generations: the resources or the knowledge on fishing.

3.3. Relationships Among Variables

3.3.1. General Variables (Demographic Data) (Mean Rank of Each Factor Shown in Supplementary Tables S2–S11)

The Mann–Whitney U Test results showed a significant difference between male and female participants regarding intangible conservation (

Table 7. Value components among groups (p < 0.05).

Independent Variables	a Mann–Whitney U Test
	b (Asymp. Sig. 2-Tailed)
	NLV 1		NEV 2		EV 3		Tangible 4		Intangible 5
Gender	9437 a	0.854 b	8997 a	0.396 b	9388 a	0.796 b	9026 a	0.489 b	7669 a	0.006 b
Religion	8255 a	0.987 b	6444 a	0.003 b	7529 a	0.230 b	5911 a	0.000 b	6679 a	0.014 b
	a Kruskal–Wallis Test
	b (Asymp. Sig. 2-tailed)
Age interval	0.474 a	0.925 b	8.544 a	0.036 b	8.130 a	0.043 b	1.135 a	0.769 b	3.339 a	0.342 b
Educational level	1.65 a	0.648 b	7.426 a	0.059 b	5.029 a	0.170 b	6.717 a	0.081 b	4.014 a	0.260 b
Fishing experience	1.721 a	0.632b	1.143 a	0.767 b	6.153 a	0.104 b	2.526 a	0.471 b	5.628 a	0.131 b

¹ Natural legacy value, ² Non–economic value, ³ Economic value, ⁴ Conservation relating to conserving only aquatic fauna, either the main catch or non-main catch, ⁵ Conservation relating to coastal resources and how their attributes can be transferred to future generations, whether the resources themselves or the knowledge on how to fish. “^a” means for the value of Mann-Whitney U Test and for the value of Kruskal-Wallis Test. “^b” means for the value of Asymp. Sig.2-Tailed.

). The results suggest that gender does not seem to influence all three value components. In addition, there was no significant difference between male and female participants in terms of perception of tangible conservation (Table 7). However, perception of intangible conservation tends to differ between male and female fishers (150.96 > 124.41; Table S3). Religion significantly correlated with the NEV, with a higher perception among Muslim fishers compared to Buddhist fishers (148.58 > 118.07; Table S4). Furthermore, Buddhist fishers tend to have a higher perception of tangible and intangible conservation compared to Muslim fishers (164.77 > 126.61; 155.84 > 130.65, respectively; Table S5). Age interval was only significantly correlated with NEV and EV, and not with perceptions on conservation (Table 7). Artisanal fishers under 20 years old perceived NEV more highly than those aged 20–40 years, 41–60 years, and above 60 years did, respectively (169.00 > 165.12 > 136.52 > 126.10: Table S6). Respondents below age 20 years perceived EV as higher compared to those older than 60 years and in the age 41–60 years and 20–40 years groups (162.75 > 150.69 > 144.15 > 113.62: Table S6).

3.3.2. Value and Conservation Components

Both value and conservation components, analyzed using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, were significant (p < 0.05; Table 5). The results suggest that NLV is negatively correlated with tangible conservation (R = −0.240, p < 0.05; Table 5). However, NLV showed no correlation with intangible conservation (

Table 8. Correlation analysis between value and conservation components (p < 0.05).

Non-Parametric Correlation	Kolmogorov–Smirnov	Kendall’s tau_b
		Tangible Conservation		Intangible Conservation
		R	p	R	p
NLV 1	0.366 (p = 0.000)	−0.240	0.000	−0.015	0.366
NEV 2	0.330, (p = 0.000)	−0.103	0.009	0.153	0.000
EV 3	0.178, (p = 0.000)	0.219	0.000	0.197	0.000

¹ Natural legacy value, ² Non-economic value, ³ Economic value.

). NEV was also found to be negatively correlated with tangible conservation (R = −0.103, p < 0.05) but positively correlated with intangible conservation (R = 0.153, p < 0.05; Table 5). EV is positively correlated with both tangible (R = 0.219, p < 0.05; Table 5) and intangible conservation (R = 0.197, p < 0.05; Table 5).

4. Discussion

“How do people value and conserve coastal resources?” This question has been asked across platforms for decades, and a range of responses have emerged across fields and perspectives, differing depending on who values which resources. According to Chakraborty et al. [13], the multiple or plural value of coastal resources can be recognized through ecosystem services, which align with the relational value of coastal resources identified in our study. Our findings indicate that the perceptions of artisanal fishers along the Andaman coast regarding the value of coastal resources can be grouped into three categories: natural legacy value (NLV), non-economic value (NEV), and economic value (EV), as well as two types of conservation programs: tangible and intangible.

4.1. Natural Legacy Value (NLV)

Coastal resources are prioritized by artisanal fishers the most. They perceived these resources as representing one of the primary factors in their sustenance and well-being, and thus feel responsible for preserving them and passing them on to future generations. This is consistent with the work of Sangha et al. [14], who suggested that well-being is related to sustaining livelihoods and the connection between socio-cultural and economic value. Moreover, socio-cultural and economic factors related to people’s well-being encompass not only livelihood but also social, cultural, and spiritual values [14]. The NLV likely encompasses these attributes and may be crucial in motivating artisanal fishers to prioritize coastal conservation. The livelihood of artisanal fishers tends to be deeply connected to nature. Thus, the diversity of coastal resources represents a vital asset in their socio-economic sustainability and survival. Hence, the connection between artisanal fishers and coastal resources can be expressed using relational values [15,16]. The value statements in the NLV component indicate that artisanal fishers have a sense of ownership of coastal resources and are active in coastal protection as a result. Sretthachau et al. [17] suggested that artisanal fishers in Satun perceived the land that they inhabited and the surrounding sea boundaries as assets inherited from their ancestors. Thus, the sense of ownership of coastal resources, passed down from one generation to the next, appears to have fostered a mindset of protecting these resources for future generations. This finding is consistent with the observation in Dar es Salaam by Shalli et al. [18] that coastal communities in Tanzania value beach resources as an essential part of cultural heritage. Likewise, inhabitants of the Batinah Coast in Oman highly value the coastline, as it serves as an area for landing, cleaning fishing boats, relaxation, and socialization [19].

Despite NLV being the priority value for artisanal fishers, none of the demographic characteristics were associated with NLV in our study. This suggests that fishers value coastal resources as their legacy, to be passed on to future generations; this mindset is not unique among community members. It seems that fishers perceived NLV differently; fishers likely do not care whether conservation programs benefit them or not. This finding is consistent with the report that the gender of coastal resource users does not influence their perception of the value of beach litter in Argentina [20]. However, a study in Fiji indicates that male fishers tend to place a higher value on mangroves than female fishers owing to their ecological importance as a habitat provider [21]. On the contrary, women in South Africa were reported to place a higher non-instrumental value on mangroves than men [22].

4.2. Non-Economic Value (NEV)

The invaluable nature of the relational value of coastal resources in the survival of artisanal fishers may explain their perception of NEV. The value statements within the NEV component suggest that artisanal fishers have a strong connection with coastal resources and ecosystems due to their intrinsic value. For instance, artisanal fishers feel a sense of pride and still prefer the availability of small fishery resources, even if they are unable to catch them. Similarly, an “abundant coastal ecosystem” must encompass diverse biotic and abiotic components associated with functional interrelationships vital for ecological sustainability. This interrelation may be important to artisanal fishers even if they are not engaged in it. The association of NEV with age suggests that younger fishers tend to value NEV more than older fishers. This is in line with Silva and Lopes [23], who noted that young, small-scale fishers were perceived to be more conservation-prone and tended to agree more with the establishment of marine protected areas. In this instance, marine protected areas could serve as an example of the non-economic value of coastal ecosystems. Although the study suggests that fishers under 20 years old may have the highest perceived NEV, the small sample size limits the reliability and interpretation of this finding. Therefore, it seems more plausible to conclude that artisanal fishers aged 20–60 years strongly perceived NEV than those over 60 years. This seems to be consistent with over 35 years old inhabitants of Taytay Bay, Palawan, Philippines, who place a high value on cultural ecosystem services such as heritage, identity, inspiration, spirituality, and their sense of place [24]. The NEV of coastal resources in this study can also be explained through the value statement, which indicates that artisanal fishers perceived the use of advanced technology to restore seagrass meadows could help sustain their livelihood. NEV has a different meaning from NLV in that artisanal fishers view coastal resources as crucial based on their current use rather than on preservation for future generations. This perception aligns with coastal communities’ understanding that seagrass meadows not only provide economic value but also enhance the natural beauty of coastal waters, supporting fishery production, protecting the coast, contributing to seawater clarity, and offering space for relaxation [18]. Thus, they prefer to maintain coastal integrity, which may lead to greater certainty of a stable livelihood. In addition, the deterioration of coastal resources could cause insecurity and threaten well-being in coastal communities, potentially leading to adverse impacts on spiritual well-being, cultural norms, and identity [25,26,27,28].

NEV was associated with religion, specifically Buddhism and Islam. This indicates that religious doctrines and belief systems among Andaman artisanal fishers may have likely encouraged them to recognize the non-economic value of coastal resources. Ives et al. [29] observed that religion plays a crucial role in encouraging religious people to conserve nature through three core forms of agency: personal, social, and more-than-human. These forms of agency can intersect with values at deeper levels, including worldviews, knowledge systems, and broader values [29]. Our results suggest that Muslim fishers tend to have a higher perceived NEV than Buddhist fishers. This is consistent with Muslim artisanal fishers’ respect for the doctrine that humans are permitted to use resources to maximize benefits while sharing them within the community through “Zakat” [30,31]. According to Islamic teachings, the wasteful or excessive use of resources is sinful [30,32]. This belief, passed down through generations, influences sustainable livelihoods in the fishery sector [31]. Additionally, in African traditional religions, protecting and conserving the environment aims to preserve nature for future generations as a divine legacy from God [33], which is in line with our observations among Muslim artisanal fishers who tend to value NEV of coastal resources, recognizing their worth beyond market price. Even though there seems to be limited Buddhist literature specifically discussing natural conservation, religion per se appears not to be a key factor in encouraging local people to participate in conservation [34]. However, emotionally powerful cultural symbols reinforce the idea of a sacred respect for nature.

4.3. Economic Value (EV)

Our study suggests that artisanal fishers primarily rely on fishery resources as the main source of food and income. This perception aligns with the economic value (EV) of coastal resources, perceived as instrumental in providing value to Andaman artisanal fishers. Monetary value could be criticized for disregarding the value of nature and perceiving resources as holding marketable or commodifiable value [8,35], a perception similar to that of Andaman artisanal fishers. In our study, artisanal fishers perceived EV through value statements in the EV component, such as “I am sure that all coastal living organisms near my house can be caught and sold anytime (V6)” or “I am sure that an advanced fishing technology will raise my prosperity (V7).” This highlights anthropocentric attributes, emphasizing human-centered concerns regarding instrumental value [16,36,37]. In addition, the instrumental values of nature encompass the provisioning of services, such as food, energy, and medicinal resources, as well as regulating services, including water purification [38].

It is unclear why the economic value (EV) of coastal resources seems unrelated to the demographic data of artisanal fishers in this study. This could be due to differences in value perception among fishers who share the same physical and ecological factors. However, EV tends to explain fishers’ perceptions of participation in conservation programs. The relationship between EV and conservation suggests that economic value may encourage artisanal fishers to participate in various conservation programs, implying that tangible conservation programs could be more attractive.

4.4. Tangible Conservation Perception

Tangible conservation was perceived to be preferable among artisanal fishers along the Andaman coast. This implies that artisanal fishers are willing to participate in a conservation program that provides some benefits. For instance, conservation statements such as “I join only a conservation program focusing on fish…” or “I join a conservation program whenever it involves my main catch” had higher loading factors in the tangible conservation component. This suggests that artisanal fishers care about the positive effects of their efforts in conserving coastal resources. This tends to reflect the instrumental value that artisanal fishers place on coastal resources. Furthermore, our results indicate that tangible conservation is negatively associated with NLV and NEV but positively associated with EV. However, this observation cannot be explained by demographic variables since EV showed no relationship with these variables. The relationship between EV and tangible conservation perception suggests that EV may likely encourage artisanal fishers to participate in conservation programs. This finding appears consistent with Siddiqi et al. [39], who observed that the advocacy of shark-based marine tourism in the Global South region motivates shark conservation among community members. Their study suggests that tangible benefits (e.g., economic and human capital) need to be equitably shared with community members to promote the stewardship and conservation value of targeted local resources [39]. Thus, equitable sharing of conservation benefits seems essential in maintaining collective community responsibility for the protection of resources in the long term [39].

4.5. Intangible Conservation Perception

Intangible conservation perceptions among artisanal fishers included, “I always transfer my fishing knowledge rather than physical factors”, “I join any coastal conservation program even though it is not associated with fish and fauna”, “I intend to continue my current fishing occupation because I believe the coastal resources are sufficient to sustain my livelihood”, “I join all types of coastal conservation programs in my community”, and “I do not need advance gears for fishing and I can survive”. These statements highlight how artisanal fishers instinctively connect with coastal ecosystems. The perception of intangible conservation may seem too optimistic, but it is possible among artisanal fishers who value coastal resources for their non-economic value (NEV). Moreover, the perception of economic value (EV) is also associated with intangible conservation. This suggests that economic value is a powerful tool in encouraging artisanal fishers to participate in various conservation programs. Consequently, the greater the economic value, the more tangible benefits are likely to be expected as a result of conservation. In addition, efforts to achieve long-term conservation and sustainability must seriously consider the intangible aspects of conservation design while not overly prioritizing economic value as a measure of return. However, it is unclear from our study whether NLV can encourage artisanal fishers to participate in intangible conservation programs. Artisanal fishers perceived that these coastal resources hold non-economic value, and they are willing to participate in conservation programs that focus not on monetary benefits but rather on whether resources can be successfully passed on to future generations.

The correlation observed between gender and perceptions of intangible conservation in our study suggests that male artisanal fishers are more likely to be encouraged to participate in intangible conservation programs than female fishers. Besides gender, religion tends to be associated with both tangible and intangible perceptions of conservation. This implies that religion could be a powerful tool in encouraging artisanal fishers to participate in various coastal conservation programs. However, education and fishing experience showed no correlation with value or conservation perception, and in contrast with Gayo [40], who noted that education is associated with the local community’s perception of mangrove conservation.

Our findings suggest that ethical value concerns around coastal resources among Andaman artisanal fishers are crucial in developing an effective coastal conservation program at both the regional and local levels. However, a different context within the community could be considered to provide a more detailed account of the varying values and conservation perceptions. Tangible conservation can be viewed as a short-term strategy to encourage artisanal fishers to participate in conservation programs earlier, while intangible conservation could be aimed at long-term conservation based on ethical values, as artisanal fishers emphasize coastal resources such as NLV or NEV, as observed in this study.

The use of PCA in this study entails certain limitations, particularly the relatively low proportion of explained variance. However, the KMO values of 0.639 and 0.689 reflect an adequate level of sampling suitability, lending credibility to the component grouping. This suggests that, while the dimensional reduction may not fully capture the complexity of the data, the resulting classification remains methodologically sound.

4.6. Policy Implications to Promote Ethical Valuation for Engagement in Conservation Among Artisanal Fishers

Achieving sustainable conservation of coastal resources requires understanding value perceptions that may act as subconscious barriers, particularly among artisanal fishers. These perceptions play a critical role in shaping conservation strategies. Artisanal fishers in this study associated NLV with inherent worth for future generations, reflecting inherited pro-environmental norms but showing a negative correlation with tangible conservation measures. To encourage engagement among such fishers, strategies should emphasize the cultural and spiritual significance of coastal commons. This approach aligns with Ostrom’s first two principles for managing common-pool resources [1] and should be complemented by efforts to strengthen community conformity with conservation practices [41].

While NLV reflects a long-term orientation toward conservation, NEV appears more closely associated with cooperation in intangible conservation measures, such as knowledge sharing and cultural practices. NEV perceptions are further influenced by religion and age, suggesting the relevance of Ostrom’s principles 3, 4, and 5—participatory decision-making, monitoring, and graduated sanctions—in shaping engagement strategies [1]. This aligns with behavioral change theory [3], which emphasizes that pro-environmental attitudes and social norms can bring about a shift in conservation behavior [3,41,42,43,44], particularly when linked to the subconscious value perceptions held by NEV-oriented artisanal fishers. Although short-term benefits from conservation may not always be reflected in monetary terms, visible outcomes, including increased fishery resources are essential to maintain motivation. Thus, incorporating participatory decision-making and applying graduated sanctions in a fair and context-sensitive manner is recommended to foster conservation engagement among artisanal fishers who prioritize non-economic values.

Finally, the EV-oriented artisanal fishers demonstrate strong potential for conservation engagement, as indicated by positive correlations with both tangible and intangible measures. Economic instruments, including market-based mechanisms, can incentivize long-term stewardship by highlighting monetary benefits. However, such approaches often introduce governance challenges, including conflicts over benefit-sharing and the need for local autonomy. Moreover, an exclusive focus on single-species conservation may risk reducing coastal biodiversity [45]. To address these challenges, Ostrom’s principles 6 and 7—ensuring accessible conflict resolution and granting legal recognition for local organizations—should be prioritized to balance human benefits with ecosystem integrity [1]. Additionally, systematic monitoring (Principle 4) remains critical to maintain transparency and trust. Integrating these governance safeguards with international sustainability targets, such as SDG 14, can enhance resilience and prevent biodiversity trade-offs, such as those associated with single-species incentives [45,46].

5. Conclusions

This study explored the implicit driver as value orientations of artisanal fishers: Natural Legacy Value (NLV), Non-Economic Value (NEV), and Economic Value (EV), and their influence on conservation engagement along the Andaman coast. By linking these values to Ostrom’s design principles and behavior change theory, the findings provide a deeper understanding of how social and psychological drivers shape participation in conservation programs. NLV reflects an intergenerational perspective but may resist tangible interventions, requiring strategies that emphasize cultural and spiritual heritage. NEV aligns with intangible conservation measures and is influenced by social norms, suggesting the need for participatory decision-making and community monitoring. EV emerges as a strong driver of engagement when supported by economic incentives, although biodiversity safeguards remain critical.

Policy implications are clear: conservation strategies must be value-sensitive and embedded within adaptive co-management frameworks. Aligning local actions with international sustainability commitments, such as SDG 14, will further enhance long-term resilience. Future research should examine how value-based approaches interact with governance structures across different contexts to inform scalable and inclusive conservation strategies.