Xu, Z.; Zhao, J.; Li, S., and Shan, J., 2023. Investigating resident participation in pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) for marine protection in coastal China. Journal of Coastal Research, 39(3), 455–470. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Marine environments are currently faced with unprecedented challenges of marine pollution and ecological destruction in China. A good marine environment is inseparable from individual's pro-environmental behaviors. This study investigates residents' willingness to perform four types of pro-environmental behaviors in marine environmental protection in Qingdao, China. The results indicate that most respondents express a strong willingness to protect marine environment. However, a remarkable discrepancy in residents' preference for different pro-environmental behaviors is observed. Residents hold the strongest participation willingness and the most positive attitudes towards the recycling behaviors. Additionally, this study identifies the determinants of residents' pro-environmental behaviors from the perspective of cultural belief, and focuses on the influences of Chinese pastoral and bureaucratic culture. The findings confirm that cultural belief cannot exert influences on pro-environmental behaviors directly; however, can prompt an individual's pro-environmental behaviors through self-identity, perceived responsibility, and attitudes. This study has important implications for policymakers to take measures to boost the public participation in marine environmental protection.