Marine Policy最新文献

The introduction of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens (HAOP) via the ballast water of ships can endanger human health, the environment, economic resource-related systems, as well as impair biological diversity. Early warning systems (EWS) are highly effective instruments for mitigating risks and enhancing readiness in the face of potential disasters, including those resulting from HAOP. The establishment of a regional EWS for the identification and notification of harmful organisms is a complex marine policy process involving communication with stakeholders, technical development, engagement of regional knowledge, and, ultimately, harmonization between key authorities and Participating States. The purpose of EWS is to promptly communicate the findings of HAOP to the appropriate stakeholders, such as government agencies and commercial companies. The paper elucidates in detail the criteria and procedure for developing a regionally standardized EWS, including its mechanism, the technical information platform that is required, and the obligations of EWS data providers. It also discusses the decision-making process for issuing alerts and identifies the intended recipients of the warning signals. The system has been operational in the Baltic Sea region for over two years, and the knowledge and insights gathered during its development may prove beneficial in other areas as well.

Key stakeholders in aquaculture play a crucial role in shaping public awareness, policymaking, and decision-making. Therefore, the adoption of certain negative perceptions by this group can pose a challenge to the sustainable management of aquaculture. This study analyzed stakeholder perceptions towards the aquaculture sector, assessing their alignment with scientific evidence through an online survey (n = 400). The results revealed that many stakeholders have negative perceptions towards aquaculture. The location, occupation, and income significantly influenced key stakeholders' perceptions about the quality of farmed fish. These categories claim that farmed fish, especially tilapia, the major farmed species, are of poor quality because of the use of steroid hormones in tilapia sex reversal, which poses potential health risks to consumers. There is also a common belief among key stakeholders that farmed fish are raised in poor-quality water and may feed on animal waste. Additionally, they believe that capture fisheries can meet Egypt’s fish demand, thereby rendering aquaculture unnecessary. Also, fish marketers and traders foster negative perceptions of the quality of farmed fish. Given the potential threat of these perceptions to the future of the sector, appropriate preventive interventions are needed. These interventions include providing evidence-based and transparent information about aquaculture practices and product quality, ensuring effective communication among key stakeholders, adopting a regulatory approach that promotes key stakeholder engagement, supporting collaborative alliances, and establishing clear certification systems, standards, and regulations to ensure compliance measurement. These measures will help address the negative perceptions and ensure the sustainability of the aquaculture sector.

This paper aims to develop an assessment of the COVID-19 impact on key maritime sectors (small-scale and large fisheries) in Spain, one of the most important maritime regions in the world. We synthesize multiple data sources from across the seafood supply chain to show the relative seafood sector responses and variables of recovery during the pre-COVID-19 period (2015–2019) and during the pandemic (2020). Our results show that the reported landings made in 2020 by the different Spanish fleets (786,900 t) represented an 11 % reduction compared to the annual average landed between 2015 and 2019. On average, the fishing effort of the small-scale fishing fleets suffered a higher decline (16 %) related to the large-scale fleet (5 %), but the large-scale fleet experienced a higher reduction (25 %) in landing value between the pre-COVID-19 and pandemic. Although the decrease in catches affected almost all the Spanish-studied regions, the reductions were especially relevant in the Basque Country (-14 %) and Galicia (-11 %), since they are the main fishing regions responsible for 76 % of Spanish landings. The volume and value of imports and exports of fresh, frozen, and canned products in 2020 did not change (±5 %) compared to the previous period (2015-2019) but seafood trade was affected by country of origin and destination and by Autonomous Community. Overall, our study highlights that the fisheries sector in Spain was also able to implement a range of adaptive strategies, such as diversification of species portfolios or distribution of seafood door-to-door which appeared swiftly to compensate for the vanishing restaurant markets.

Theory on access suggests there is a beneficial relationship between access to resources and well-being outcomes. Yet, the intricacies of the relationship between access and well-being have received limited empirical attention - especially in the context of fisheries. To examine this topic, we use a quantitative survey of 444 small-scale fishers in 8 countries in the Mediterranean Sea. We created composite scores from indicators related to fishers' perceptions of availability of resources, access capacities (financial, social, political, physical, human and cultural assets), access rights (formal rights and competing uses) and well-being. We then use descriptive analysis to characterize access and well-being among fishers and modeling approaches to examine how demographic factors are related to access rights and capacities and which factors are predictive of well-being. The research provides several insights. First, SSF had more positive perceptions of their access capacities and access rights than of resource availability. Second, SSF perceptions of resource availability, access rights and capacities varied significantly among sites and countries, but less so for demographic variables. Third, SSFs had a fairly positive perception of their overall well-being, however perceptions were less positive in some countries and for some indicators of well-being. Fourth, while some access capacities (i.e., social, cultural, political and financial assets) were positive predictors of an overall measure of 'human well-being', formal access rights were not a predictor of human well-being. These results highlight that managing SSF for well-being requires a nuanced understanding of and targeted approach to addressing access rights and capacities.

Reef fish communities under fishing pressure often experience reduced biomass, abundance, and altered size structure. The establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) can help mitigate these declines. However, the success of MPAs, especially in developing countries with financial and socioeconomic challenges, largely hinges on effective enforcement. This study utilized underwater visual surveys (UVS) and baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS) to evaluate population density, size distribution, and biomass of both economically valuable (e.g., target and ornamental species) and ecologically important (e.g., small/large predators and herbivores) fish groups within and outside a no-take MPA on the northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica.The results indicated that protective measures did not significantly affect the biomass of economically valuable fish species. However, there were notable differences in fish abundance and size distribution between no-take zones (where fishing is prohibited) and open-fishing zones. This suggests that, despite potential illegal fishing activities within the MPA, certain fish community components benefit from the protective measures.Specifically, herbivores and ornamental fish, which are often targeted by artisanal compressor fishing and the aquarium trade, exhibited higher biomass and abundance levels within the MPA. Additionally, significant shark species such as Galeocerdo cuvier, Carcharhinus leucas, and Carcharhinus limbatus were exclusively found within the MPA.The study also highlighted the crucial role of habitat quality, particularly high coral cover, in enhancing the biomass of ornamental fish.This research contributes to the growing body of evidence that MPAs, even with limited enforcement, consistently offer ecological benefits for reef fish communities

This study assesses the economic impact of the People's Republic of China's Distant Water Fleet (DWF) on small-scale fisheries (SSFs) in the South China Sea (SCS), a vital area for marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal communities. Through analysis of vessel tracking and local fisheries statistics from 2012 to 2020, the research investigates the effects of DWF activities on marine fish capture rates and socio-economic indicators in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Results indicate that a 1 % increase in PRC DWF activity leads to a 0.1 % decrease in SSF marine capture in Indonesia's FMA 711, a 0.05 % reduction in Malaysia, a 0.01 % drop in the Philippines, and a 0.04 % decrease in Vietnam. These findings highlight the significant negative impact of PRC's DWF presence on local marine fish captures, suggesting adverse effects on SSF livelihoods. The study underscores the importance of implementing sustainable fishing practices and strengthening regional cooperation to mitigate the negative consequences of foreign DWF activities on local economies and ecosystems. This research contributes to the discourse on marine policy and sustainable fisheries management in the SCS, emphasizing the critical need for international collaboration to address the challenges of DWF operations.

Objective

Insurance for fisheries ensures the stability of fishing areas and stabilizes fishermen's lives. This research, derived from a numerical examination of 374 documents on China's fishery insurance policies, delves into the emphasis and limitations of current policies, offering guidance for developing and refining future fishery insurance strategies for both China and the globe.

Methods

The research develops a 3D analytical model encompassing policy instruments, directions, and stakeholders, examining how China's fishery insurance policies are distributed and utilized via classification of policy tools, coding of text content, statistical analysis, and complex interactions.

Results

Regarding policy instruments, those based on environmental considerations were the most commonly employed, while those based on demand were the least utilized. In terms of policy direction, it is biased towards supporting strategies such as organizing and implementing work and optimizing insurance operation mechanism. In terms of policy stakeholders, it is mostly reflected in the characteristics of policy implementation under the leadership of the government, while the initiative and participation of fishermen, fishery management organizations and insurance management institutions is not high enough.

Conclusion

Going forward, both China and the global community ought to focus on these three aspects when developing fishery insurance policies. First, it's essential to broaden the impact of policy instruments that are based on demand and supply. Second, refine the policy tool guidance measures based on policy direction. Third, it is necessary to stimulate the vitality of policy-driven multi-agent participation.

The rise in attention to equity as a goal in fisheries management has revealed a dearth of data related to how certain communities and groups participate in, rely on, and may be impacted by fishery management decisions. Lack of data on impacts to Tribal and Indigenous participants and other underserved communities have been identified as a primary barrier to assessing and improving equity considerations in fishery governance. Data on fishery participation trends, including who benefits from fisheries, is essential to determining if and how fishery management and decision-making are achieving desired management objectives such as providing for intergenerational access and preserving a way of life. Understanding changes in participation trends is also critical for developing effective conservation solutions. In Alaska salmon fisheries, shifts in permit holdings are generally categorized by the residency of permit holders. This means that little is known about how Alaska Native participation, as well as women’s participation, in Alaska commercial fisheries has changed over time. This paper presents a case study on local salmon permit holdings in the Bristol Bay region of southwest Alaska. We discuss the consequences of conflating rural with Alaska Native in data-driven decision-making, and highlight the ways in which official fishery statistics can mask past and ongoing harms to Indigenous communities and peoples. We situate this study in the broader science-policy arena of state and federal fishery governance and data collection efforts that often render invisible impacts to Indigenous communities and livelihoods.

The Blue Economy, according to the World Bank, is the "sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem”, refers to a set of economic activities that sustainably make use of marine ecosystems while protecting nature at the same time. Similar policy trends, such as the Green Economy, have shown that development in the name of sustainability is likely to guarantee socially just development. To avoid the past mistakes, it is necessary to examine the social challenges faced on this new economic frontier. How, then, the existing patterns of unjust social relations are potentially replicated in the new set of blue economic activities, and what can be done to prevent the replication from happening? This paper presents the analysis of the inclusion of social injustice into the BE, the relationship between the Blue Economy and social (in)justice with a focus on various forms of unjust labour exploitation that have been identified in the sector. From the literature review, this article concludes by presenting seven key principles that may be used to guide policymakers who are seeking to integrate emerging evidence and theoretical critiques relating to justice and labour into blue economy policy and practice: 1) foregrounding of the human impact of blue economic activity, 2) identifying the replication of the existing patterns of exploitation, 3) programming with and for the vulnerable, 4) centralizing labour education, 5) addressing regulations and legislation relating to labour exploitation, 6) conducting research that beyond the blue economy, 7) underpinning the blue economy strategies with a commitment to multidimensional justice.

Marine and coastal tourism is often cited as one of the dominant sectors within many ocean economies in terms of economic contribution and number of persons employed. Despite this, discussion still arises around the definition of marine and coastal tourism in relation to the forms of activity to be included and the differences between them. Methods of valuing their economic contributions are important, not only, for accurate national accounting purposes and for international comparison but, also, for tourism planning, management and investment at national and regional levels. This paper is designed to contribute to ocean economy accounting by drawing on evidence for the Republic of Ireland that permits three different methods of valuing marine and coastal tourism to be compared and the relative merits of each to be assessed. Based on a range of criteria no one method is deemed superior. It is argued, however, that an output based NACE code approach might offer the best route to robust valuation given the comparability to the other industries in ocean economy reporting but that harmonised coastal tourism expenditure surveys could be used to get a more reliable estimate of the maritime component of the tourism related NACE activities.