Uniting oceanography, fisheries stakeholders and citizen science to find solutions for environmental management in face of climate change

The issue of climate change is a widely accepted concern, with its impact evident in global temperature rise, extreme weather events, sea level rise, and biodiversity loss. The Mar Menor lagoon in southeastern Spain is one such ecosystem suffering from human-induced damage, including mining, agriculture, and urbanization, leading to eutrophication, species mortality, and invasion by alien species. Given that halting climate change is not feasible, the focus is on mitigating and adapting to its effects through nature-based solutions. These solutions promote collaboration between people and nature to address societal challenges while benefiting both human well-being and biodiversity. Environmental management planning plays a critical role in adaptation, offering strategies to protect ecosystem services and address social aspects of socioecological systems. Such plans require scientific data and public participation, which enhances effectiveness, fosters collaboration, and bridges the gap between research and society. Stakeholders contribute with personal knowledge, improving monitoring efforts and boosting public trust in science. Citizen science, as a tool for gathering data, allows for greater community involvement, aiding scientific studies and promoting environmental education to shape public awareness and behavior. This thesis evaluates the social, economic, and environmental aspects of the Mar Menor lagoon, focusing on stakeholders like tourists and fishermen. It explores the impact of extreme weather on the lagoon's oceanographic properties, stakeholder perceptions of climate change, and how citizen science and environmental education can support effective management. The findings show that extreme weather events can have lasting impacts on ecosystems, highlighting the need for mitigation strategies. Stakeholder involvement in management plans increases the chances of success by improving monitoring and boosting support. Citizen science can be an effective tool for data collection, while environmental education can improve awareness. Overall, the thesis underscores the importance of integrating scientific research with public engagement to balance human activities and natural ecosystems.