Understanding Marine Litter Awareness in the BVI: PROMAR KAP Survey 2025 

From April to July 2025, Green VI conducted a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) Survey as part of the PROMAR Project in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). The survey aimed to capture how residents and tourists understand marine litter, its impacts, and the solutions available to tackle this pressing issue. 

A total of 380 resident surveys were completed across the four main islands, ensuring strong representation of the population. Given that all BVI residents live within coastal zones, their knowledge and actions directly impact marine ecosystems. To encourage participation, respondents received wheat-straw cutlery sets branded with PROMAR and Green VI logos—an incentive that not only motivated engagement but also promoted sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics. In one case, a local restaurant owner was inspired by the survey and pledged to replace plastic cutlery with reusable options. 

The preliminary findings are encouraging. Most respondents recognize marine litter as a serious problem and understand its environmental consequences. However, awareness of the specific sources of litter, preventive measures, and relevant policies remains limited. This highlights the need for targeted education and advocacy campaigns. 

In addition to resident surveys, Green VI also launched a tourist KAP survey to assess visitors’ perspectives, given that tourism is a cornerstone of the BVI economy and pristine beaches are central to its appeal. With 77 responses so far, the tourist survey will continue during the upcoming cruise season in October to strengthen data collection. 

The results of these surveys will serve as a baseline to measure the effectiveness of PROMAR’s awareness and communication campaigns implemented later in the project. A follow-up survey will determine whether these efforts lead to measurable changes in public knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. 

The KAP survey reinforces the importance of involving both residents and visitors in protecting BVI’s marine environment and advancing circular economy solutions.