Marine Sociology: Towards a Sustainable Future

The ocean is a critical part of the global ecosystem, providing billions of people with food, resources, and recreation. However, the ocean is also under increasing pressure from human activities, such as pollution, overfishing, and climate change. Marine sociology is the study of the social dimensions of the ocean, and it has a crucial role in ensuring a sustainable future for the marine environment. Marine sociologists study the relationship between people and the ocean, from the individual to the global level. They examine how people use and value the ocean, how social and cultural factors influence marine management, and how social change can be used to promote sustainability. Marine sociology is a rapidly growing field, increasingly recognised as vital in global maritime governance. Marine sociologists are working to develop new knowledge and tools to help decision-makers make more informed choices about the ocean. They are also working to build bridges between different disciplines and sectors to ensure that marine sustainability is considered in all aspects of decision-making. This review article overviews marine sociology and its contributions to sustainable ocean management. It discusses the key challenges facing the marine environment and the role marine sociologists can play in addressing them. The article concludes with a call for the further development of marine sociology and for greater collaboration between marine sociologists and other stakeholders to create a more sustainable future for the ocean