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Coastal saltmarshes provide globally important ecosystem services including ‘blue carbon’ sequestration, flood protection, pollutant remediation, habitat provision and cultural value. Large portions of marshes have been lost or fragmented as a result of land reclamation, embankment construction, and pollution. Sea level rise threatens marsh survival by blocking landward migration where coastlines have been developed. Research-informed saltmarsh conservation and restoration efforts are helping to prevent further loss, yet significant knowledge gaps remain. Using a mixed methods approach, this paper identifies ten research priorities through an online questionnaire and a residential workshop attended by an international, multi-disciplinary network of 35 saltmarsh experts spanning natural, physical and social sciences across research, policy, and practitioner sectors. Priorities have been grouped under four thematic areas of research: Saltmarsh Area Extent, Change and Restoration Potential (including past, present, global variation), Spatio-social contexts of Ecosystem Service delivery (e.g. influences of environmental context, climate change, and stakeholder groups on service provisioning), Patterns and Processes in saltmarsh functioning (global drivers of saltmarsh ecosystem structure/function) and Management and Policy Needs (how management varies contextually; challenges/opportunities for management). Although not intended to be exhaustive, the challenges, opportunities, and strategies for addressing each research priority examined here, providing a blueprint of the work that needs to be done to protect saltmarshes for future generations.

As the field of public perceptions research continues to grow alongside an increasing recognition of the importance of understanding the complex interactions between society and the natural environment, this needs to consider all types of ecosystem, habitat and species. Although interest in public perceptions towards the global seas and coasts is increasing, the field is dominated by research focused on charismatic environments and species (e.g. coral reefs or marine mammals), and specific activities or human interactions with the seas and/or coasts (e. g. beach use, marine renewable energy). Whilst there has been some research on beaches and sand dunes, this is the first discrete piece of research which evaluates public views on the less ‘attractive’ coastal fringe environments, such as saltmarshes or mudflats, particularly in temperate regions. This paper presents the findings of a national survey (n ¼ 1136) that aimed to understand public awareness and attitudes towards Welsh saltmarshes, and the ecosystem services and benefits derived from such systems. Through the questionnaire, we found limited public awareness, and a high amount of uncertainty, associated with saltmarshes and their societal benefits, indicating a need to foster and enhance current levels of public knowledge and understanding of saltmarshes, and their role within the wider coastal landscape. The influence of a range of respondent characteristics on perceptions. Given the position of salt marshes at the land-sea interface, the myriad of socio-ecological interactions they experience, and ongoing efforts to develop effective complementary marine and land-based planning and management, it is increasingly apparent that understanding public perceptions towards saltmarshes is crucial. This study contributes to the evidence base of public attitudes for the more commonly under-valued coastal fringe environments, such as saltmarshes.