Daylighting the Environmental Social Sciences for Coastal Management: Introduction to the Special Issue

The social sciences make important contributions to coastal and ocean management. For example, social sciences explain the social drivers of ecosystem degradation, identify factors influencing public support for and participation in restoration and stewardship, and theorize effective environmental governance. This special issue, a follow-up to the Coastal Management 2014 special issue on the role of social sciences in Puget Sound recovery, showcases the wide range of social science research now serving Puget Sound ecosystem recovery. In this introduction to the special issue, we offer a primer on the environmental social sciences (ESS) and describe the social conditions making Puget Sound a hotspot of ESS. Snapshots of four featured articles highlight their specific applications to Puget Sound management and unique social science strengths. We also describe misconceptions and systemic hurdles constraining the full potential of ESS to contribute alongside the biophysical sciences in addressing environmental challenges. To “daylight” a stream means to remove obstructions and restore its ecological function: with this issue we strive to daylight the value of the social sciences to coastal and ocean management. We conclude with lessons for growing a robust ESS community of practice here and elsewhere.