Social Sciences in Marine Ecology Conservation

Dear Colleagues,

Due to the impacts of human development, marine ecosystems face significant challenges and urgently require conservation actions that promote a positive and sustainable relationship between human activities and nature. Scientific research is essential for identifying the most effective conservation strategies; however, translating findings from natural sciences into tangible societal benefits can be challenging. In this context, the social sciences play a vital role in bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and societal implementation, helping to communicate, advocate for, and apply ecological insights in ways that resonate with communities and policymakers alike.

This Special Issue aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of how social sciences can support and enhance marine ecology conservation efforts. We hope to showcase research that explores the role of social science in promoting marine conservation, fostering public engagement, and driving policy change. Accordingly, we invite submissions on all topics related to the intersection of social sciences and marine ecology conservation. Relevant themes include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Marine ecology conservation;
• Biodiversity conservation;
• Marine policy;
• Marine education;
• Environmental education;
• Human behavior change;
• Marine protected area;
• OECM;
• Nature positive;
• Big data analysis;
• Wildlife trade.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Chia-Hsuan Hsu
Dr. Jiefeng Kang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Conservation is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.