Racial and economic disparities in coastal access and engagement mediate the ocean’s contribution to human wellbeing

Understanding what shapes ocean access and its contribution to human wellbeing is critical for equitable and sustainable marine resource management. Using a community-engaged research approach, we examine responses from 1691 surveys administered across central California (USA), an iconic coastline renowned for its biodiversity and cultural significance, to explore the factors mediating ocean use and benefits. We find that a) the ocean’s subjective and relational contributions to human wellbeing outweighed material contributions; and b) these benefits are constrained for vulnerable communities and underserved populations by personal (e.g., lack of interest or affordability), physical-environmental (e.g., lack of infrastructure or exposure to pollution), and knowledge (e.g., how to safely and legally engage) barriers. Our results highlight how structural exclusion from ocean spaces limits wellbeing for marginalized groups, a critical feedback loop that may perpetuate inequality and degrade public health. Though California considers itself a world leader in ocean management, our findings indicate that there is more work to be done and offer actionable insight for advancing more inclusive and equity-centered approaches to coastal and ocean governance.