Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2026.108096
Shihao Liu , Yufeng Chen , Wei Feng
River deltas are crucial repositories of organic carbon, particularly in their coastal regions from the river mouth to the delta front. Although these regions are influenced by a range of physical and biogeochemical processes, the impact of such processes on shallow gas, a vital form of organic carbon storage, remains poorly understood. Here, we integrate ∼2700 km of high-resolution seismic profiles with sedimentological and geomorphological datasets to investigate how the morphological evolution of the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary, especially the progradation of mouth-bar shoals and their recent retreat, has shaped the accumulation, migration, and release potential of shallow gas. Our results delineate three distinct zones from the subaqueous river mouth to the delta front, each displaying contrasting gas accumulation patterns governed by morphodynamic processes. In the northern subaqueous delta, rapid sediment accretion and high organic-carbon burial enhance methane generation, causing pronounced gas-front surges over 5 m in height, accompanied by irregular or jagged front morphologies and dense gas chimneys. We attribute these features to combined deep-sourced methane migration and in-situ methanogenesis, modulated by variations in sediment thickness and sealing bed properties associated with shoal progradation and retreat. In contrast, the southern sector exhibits thinner cap beds and stronger hydrodynamic forcing, which promote gas release and near-equilibrium gas fronts. We document large gas-related pockmarks (up to 150–200 m wide) and active venting features, suggesting that methane migration contributes to localized seabed instability. These venting structures are located near major engineering corridors and ecologically sensitive areas, highlighting their relevance for infrastructure safety and environmental management. These findings have broader implications for understanding methane behavior in deltaic systems and emphasize the importance of incorporating shallow gas mapping into coastal geohazard assessments, marine spatial planning, and coastal infrastructure design in gas-bearing deltaic environment.
{"title":"Shallow gas accumulation shaped by morphological evolution in the Changjiang subaqueous delta: Implications for seabed instability and geohazard management","authors":"Shihao Liu , Yufeng Chen , Wei Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2026.108096","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2026.108096","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>River deltas are crucial repositories of organic carbon, particularly in their coastal regions from the river mouth to the delta front. Although these regions are influenced by a range of physical and biogeochemical processes, the impact of such processes on shallow gas, a vital form of organic carbon storage, remains poorly understood. Here, we integrate ∼2700 km of high-resolution seismic profiles with sedimentological and geomorphological datasets to investigate how the morphological evolution of the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary, especially the progradation of mouth-bar shoals and their recent retreat, has shaped the accumulation, migration, and release potential of shallow gas. Our results delineate three distinct zones from the subaqueous river mouth to the delta front, each displaying contrasting gas accumulation patterns governed by morphodynamic processes. In the northern subaqueous delta, rapid sediment accretion and high organic-carbon burial enhance methane generation, causing pronounced gas-front surges over 5 m in height, accompanied by irregular or jagged front morphologies and dense gas chimneys. We attribute these features to combined deep-sourced methane migration and in-situ methanogenesis, modulated by variations in sediment thickness and sealing bed properties associated with shoal progradation and retreat. In contrast, the southern sector exhibits thinner cap beds and stronger hydrodynamic forcing, which promote gas release and near-equilibrium gas fronts. We document large gas-related pockmarks (up to 150–200 m wide) and active venting features, suggesting that methane migration contributes to localized seabed instability. These venting structures are located near major engineering corridors and ecologically sensitive areas, highlighting their relevance for infrastructure safety and environmental management. These findings have broader implications for understanding methane behavior in deltaic systems and emphasize the importance of incorporating shallow gas mapping into coastal geohazard assessments, marine spatial planning, and coastal infrastructure design in gas-bearing deltaic environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54698,"journal":{"name":"Ocean & Coastal Management","volume":"274 ","pages":"Article 108096"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108079
Mengji Zhang , Kuai Li , Zenghui Li , Changyang Sun , Zhiwei Feng , Wenhui Liao , Shang Jiang , Jin Luo , Xiang Sun
Raft systems are widely used for cultivating large seaweeds (e.g., kelp) and shellfish (e.g., oysters). However, quantifying the impacts of high-density raft aquaculture on hydrodynamic conditions in semi-enclosed bays remains a significant challenge. Using Crassostrea hongkongensis as a representative species, this study introduces roughness height—estimated from friction velocity and roughness length—to characterize hydrodynamic alterations induced by raft aquaculture. Empirical linear relationships between roughness height and cultivation density were derived from field measurements using Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) across 29 floating and 12 submerged rafts. Furthermore, roughness height is introduced as a parameterized drag term, enabling a coupled advection–dispersion module to predict the spatio-temporal dynamics of hydrodynamic conditions under high-density raft aquaculture scenarios. Tidal prism, half-exchange period, and nutrient concentrations were proposed as key indicators for quantifying aquaculture impacts through comparative simulations. Results revealed a significant positive linear correlation between roughness height and cultivation density. Model application in a typical semi-enclosed bay (Qinzhou Bay, China) produced high-accuracy predictions and demonstrated that raft aquaculture facilities significantly reduced surface current velocities (by 30.8–65.2 % for submerged rafts), decreased the tidal prism by 9.6 %, and lengthened the half-exchange period from 36.8 days to 46.1 days (a 9.3-day increase). The established coupled advection-dispersion module parameterized by raft-aquaculture-altered roughness height could be applied to other related case studies.
{"title":"Construction and validation of a novel universal model for predicting hydrodynamic effects of intensive raft aquaculture in semi-enclosed bays","authors":"Mengji Zhang , Kuai Li , Zenghui Li , Changyang Sun , Zhiwei Feng , Wenhui Liao , Shang Jiang , Jin Luo , Xiang Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108079","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108079","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Raft systems are widely used for cultivating large seaweeds (e.g., kelp) and shellfish (e.g., oysters). However, quantifying the impacts of high-density raft aquaculture on hydrodynamic conditions in semi-enclosed bays remains a significant challenge. Using <em>Crassostrea hongkongensis</em> as a representative species, this study introduces roughness height—estimated from friction velocity and roughness length—to characterize hydrodynamic alterations induced by raft aquaculture. Empirical linear relationships between roughness height and cultivation density were derived from field measurements using Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) across 29 floating and 12 submerged rafts. Furthermore, roughness height is introduced as a parameterized drag term, enabling a coupled advection–dispersion module to predict the spatio-temporal dynamics of hydrodynamic conditions under high-density raft aquaculture scenarios. Tidal prism, half-exchange period, and nutrient concentrations were proposed as key indicators for quantifying aquaculture impacts through comparative simulations. Results revealed a significant positive linear correlation between roughness height and cultivation density. Model application in a typical semi-enclosed bay (Qinzhou Bay, China) produced high-accuracy predictions and demonstrated that raft aquaculture facilities significantly reduced surface current velocities (by 30.8–65.2 % for submerged rafts), decreased the tidal prism by 9.6 %, and lengthened the half-exchange period from 36.8 days to 46.1 days (a 9.3-day increase). The established coupled advection-dispersion module parameterized by raft-aquaculture-altered roughness height could be applied to other related case studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54698,"journal":{"name":"Ocean & Coastal Management","volume":"274 ","pages":"Article 108079"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928092","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and the Water Framework Directive (WFD) are key EU policies for safeguarding marine and freshwater ecosystems. They establish targets and evaluation frameworks to ensure good environmental and ecological status. This paper reviews the application of machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) in supporting these directives. A dual approach is used: a scientometric analysis to map the research landscape, followed by a systematic review of selected studies. The review focuses on three main areas: (i) use of spatio-temporal data, (ii) integration of climate-related scenario analysis, and (iii) application of ML and DL methods to enhance directive implementation. Results highlight the growing role of AI in water management, demonstrating its potential in handling large datasets, revealing patterns, and supporting predictive decision-making. Nonetheless, significant gaps remain. The underuse of spatio-temporal data hinders predictive accuracy, and scenario analysis methods often fail to capture the full complexity of climate impacts on aquatic systems. These limitations constrain the effectiveness of data-driven policy decisions. The paper calls for further research to better incorporate temporal dynamics in AI models and to refine scenario analysis tools. Such improvements are crucial for advancing adaptive, informed strategies in water resource management aligned with European directives.
{"title":"Harnessing AI for smarter water management under a changing climate: A review of machine learning and deep learning applications within EU water framework directive and marine strategy framework directive","authors":"Angelica Bianconi , Elisa Furlan , Sebastiano Vascon , Andrea Critto","doi":"10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2026.108093","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2026.108093","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and the Water Framework Directive (WFD) are key EU policies for safeguarding marine and freshwater ecosystems. They establish targets and evaluation frameworks to ensure good environmental and ecological status. This paper reviews the application of machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) in supporting these directives. A dual approach is used: a scientometric analysis to map the research landscape, followed by a systematic review of selected studies. The review focuses on three main areas: (i) use of spatio-temporal data, (ii) integration of climate-related scenario analysis, and (iii) application of ML and DL methods to enhance directive implementation. Results highlight the growing role of AI in water management, demonstrating its potential in handling large datasets, revealing patterns, and supporting predictive decision-making. Nonetheless, significant gaps remain. The underuse of spatio-temporal data hinders predictive accuracy, and scenario analysis methods often fail to capture the full complexity of climate impacts on aquatic systems. These limitations constrain the effectiveness of data-driven policy decisions. The paper calls for further research to better incorporate temporal dynamics in AI models and to refine scenario analysis tools. Such improvements are crucial for advancing adaptive, informed strategies in water resource management aligned with European directives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54698,"journal":{"name":"Ocean & Coastal Management","volume":"274 ","pages":"Article 108093"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108063
Rodrigo A. Collazo , James Henry , Andrea Insch , Geraldine Mcleod , Jordan van der Klei , Jim Q. Smith
Several documented weaknesses in current market segmentation techniques exist that may reduce the accuracy and optimization of marketing decision-making supporting cruise ship passenger onshore excursion choice. These weaknesses relate to the data analysis techniques used as part of the market segmentation of cruise ship passengers. This paper presents a new analytical method to overcome some of the weaknesses of the existing approaches, the Chain Event Graph (CEG). Adopting a Bayesian approach, the CEG model offers a market segmentation method to aid the identification of specific groups of passengers, based on their behavioral tendencies and demographic characteristics, and match them with targeted marketing communications promoting specific onshore excusion options. Ultimately, the CEG enables the design of marketing programs to improve the distribution of customers within a tourism operator's portfolio of offerings. This capability is important for those businesses and DMOs in cruise tourism and supporting transport sectors whose offerings are often perishable, inflexible and have uncertain customer demand. In this study, we use the CEG approach to segment cruise ship passengers' choice of train excursion for their onshore visit to Ōtepoti Dunedin, Aoetearoa New Zealand.
Considering the limitations of existing methods of market segmentation, in this paper CEG has been demonstrated to elicit parsimonious models that can illuminate the process dynamic of consumer behavior and optimize the use of available data. As we show using the example of cruise-ship passengers booking a train excursion, three viable segments were identified based on their choice of choice of train excursion related to two variables (age and propensity for cruise travel). Cruise passengers can also be segmented into four groups based on their information search and booking location behaviour and preference for public or cruise trains. Furthermore, the results of the study demonstrate that a comparison with another approach using a Bayesian Network model showed superiority of the CEG method. Overall, CEG provides destination and tourism operators’ marketing managers with a tree-based graphical model, which depicts the steps and behavior patterns in the process of booking a train excursion and the probability of each possible pathway.
{"title":"Using chain event graphs to understand cruise-ship passengers’ bookings of tourist excursion trains","authors":"Rodrigo A. Collazo , James Henry , Andrea Insch , Geraldine Mcleod , Jordan van der Klei , Jim Q. Smith","doi":"10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108063","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108063","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Several documented weaknesses in current market segmentation techniques exist that may reduce the accuracy and optimization of marketing decision-making supporting cruise ship passenger onshore excursion choice. These weaknesses relate to the data analysis techniques used as part of the market segmentation of cruise ship passengers. This paper presents a new analytical method to overcome some of the weaknesses of the existing approaches, the Chain Event Graph (CEG). Adopting a Bayesian approach, the CEG model offers a market segmentation method to aid the identification of specific groups of passengers, based on their behavioral tendencies and demographic characteristics, and match them with targeted marketing communications promoting specific onshore excusion options. Ultimately, the CEG enables the design of marketing programs to improve the distribution of customers within a tourism operator's portfolio of offerings. This capability is important for those businesses and DMOs in cruise tourism and supporting transport sectors whose offerings are often perishable, inflexible and have uncertain customer demand. In this study, we use the CEG approach to segment cruise ship passengers' choice of train excursion for their onshore visit to Ōtepoti Dunedin, Aoetearoa New Zealand.</div><div>Considering the limitations of existing methods of market segmentation, in this paper CEG has been demonstrated to elicit parsimonious models that can illuminate the process dynamic of consumer behavior and optimize the use of available data. As we show using the example of cruise-ship passengers booking a train excursion, three viable segments were identified based on their choice of choice of train excursion related to two variables (age and propensity for cruise travel). Cruise passengers can also be segmented into four groups based on their information search and booking location behaviour and preference for public or cruise trains. Furthermore, the results of the study demonstrate that a comparison with another approach using a Bayesian Network model showed superiority of the CEG method. Overall, CEG provides destination and tourism operators’ marketing managers with a tree-based graphical model, which depicts the steps and behavior patterns in the process of booking a train excursion and the probability of each possible pathway.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54698,"journal":{"name":"Ocean & Coastal Management","volume":"274 ","pages":"Article 108063"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-03DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108074
Saiya Xu , Yanping Li , Qi Yue , Dahai Liu , Heng Hu , Shuo Wang , Yuqing Chen , Yilin Liu
With the continuous growth of global demand for marine spatial resources, three-dimensional layered utilization of sea areas is important to understand in order to resolve conflicts in marine development and support the growth of the blue economy. However, current research on this topic has primarily focused on theoretical and policy discussions, and there is no systematic method for assessing the vertical compatibility of sea use activities. To address this issue, we adopt a research approach that combines theoretical construction and expert evaluation. First, the theoretical foundation of three-dimensional marine development is analyzed across three dimensions – spatial, elemental (functional elements such as ships and marine infrastructure), and temporal. This is done to clarify the spatial usage characteristics of sea use activities and their mechanisms of interaction across different dimensions. Then, we construct an analytical framework to assess the vertical compatibility of marine activities. Using expert scoring results, this framework follows a stepwise process that sequentially evaluates spatial dependency, the nature of functional components, and temporal conflicts. We also incorporate environmental factors for supplementary adjustments, which enable the derivation of a vertical compatibility matrix for marine activities. The results indicate: (1) Regarding the spatial dimension, based on the degree of spatial dependence of sea use activities on the water surface, water column, seabed, and subsoil, their occupied space can be divided into main space and ancillary space. Sea use activities sharing the same main space are vertically incompatible. (2) From the elemental dimension, the stronger the rigidity of an activity's functional components, the lower its compatibility potential. (3) In terms of the temporal dimension, even short-term occupation of marine space for construction or maintenance can cause spatial conflicts. (4) From an environmental perspective, some activities can affect vertical compatibility with other activities by damaging the environment and/or reducing safety. (5) The vertical compatibility between sea use activities can be categorized into three types: fully compatible, conditionally compatible, and incompatible. This study provides a logical micro-level description of the characteristics of sea use activities in marine space, presenting a vertical compatibility matrix that covers many current types of sea use activities. It also analyzes application objectives, application pathways, and potential implications for public policy. The findings may act as reference material for international marine spatial planning, use regulation, multi-use ocean management, and related policymaking, thereby contributing to modern marine spatial governance systems.
{"title":"A three-dimensional layered model for sea area usage across dimensions of space, functional elements, and time","authors":"Saiya Xu , Yanping Li , Qi Yue , Dahai Liu , Heng Hu , Shuo Wang , Yuqing Chen , Yilin Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108074","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108074","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the continuous growth of global demand for marine spatial resources, three-dimensional layered utilization of sea areas is important to understand in order to resolve conflicts in marine development and support the growth of the blue economy. However, current research on this topic has primarily focused on theoretical and policy discussions, and there is no systematic method for assessing the vertical compatibility of sea use activities. To address this issue, we adopt a research approach that combines theoretical construction and expert evaluation. First, the theoretical foundation of three-dimensional marine development is analyzed across three dimensions – spatial, elemental (functional elements such as ships and marine infrastructure), and temporal. This is done to clarify the spatial usage characteristics of sea use activities and their mechanisms of interaction across different dimensions. Then, we construct an analytical framework to assess the vertical compatibility of marine activities. Using expert scoring results, this framework follows a stepwise process that sequentially evaluates spatial dependency, the nature of functional components, and temporal conflicts. We also incorporate environmental factors for supplementary adjustments, which enable the derivation of a vertical compatibility matrix for marine activities. The results indicate: (1) Regarding the spatial dimension, based on the degree of spatial dependence of sea use activities on the water surface, water column, seabed, and subsoil, their occupied space can be divided into main space and ancillary space. Sea use activities sharing the same main space are vertically incompatible. (2) From the elemental dimension, the stronger the rigidity of an activity's functional components, the lower its compatibility potential. (3) In terms of the temporal dimension, even short-term occupation of marine space for construction or maintenance can cause spatial conflicts. (4) From an environmental perspective, some activities can affect vertical compatibility with other activities by damaging the environment and/or reducing safety. (5) The vertical compatibility between sea use activities can be categorized into three types: fully compatible, conditionally compatible, and incompatible. This study provides a logical micro-level description of the characteristics of sea use activities in marine space, presenting a vertical compatibility matrix that covers many current types of sea use activities. It also analyzes application objectives, application pathways, and potential implications for public policy. The findings may act as reference material for international marine spatial planning, use regulation, multi-use ocean management, and related policymaking, thereby contributing to modern marine spatial governance systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54698,"journal":{"name":"Ocean & Coastal Management","volume":"274 ","pages":"Article 108074"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145886401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-12-24DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108051
Vitória Bonfim Iurk , Gabriel Fraga da Fonseca , Matt K. Broadhurst , Mauricio Cantor , Camila Domit
Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) are an ecologically important marine species facing increasing anthropogenic pressures that threaten populations worldwide. In the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean, particularly off southern Brazil, interactions with fisheries are thought to cause high mortalities, yet the spatio-temporal dynamics of these impacts remain poorly understood. We analysed eight years (2016–2023) of data from systematic beach monitoring across ∼1400 km of coastline (from Rio de Janeiro to Santa Catarina) to assess patterns of green turtle strandings in relation to intrinsic (sex and life stage) and extrinsic factors (fisheries and other human activities). A total of 42,333 green turtles were recorded; the majority being juvenile females (mean curved carapace length 39.3 ± 7.3 cm) and all with a mortality rate of 90 %. Stranding rates peaked in the state of Paraná, particularly between June and December, and most carcasses (70 %) were in advanced decomposition. Evidence of anthropogenic interactions was widespread, and included fishing (37 % of assessable cases), marine-debris ingestion (36 %) and entanglement (41 %), boat collisions (10 %), and dredging (<1 %). Patterns varied seasonally and regionally, with greater log odds of fishing interactions during summer–autumn and marine-debris ingestion and entanglement during winter. The data indicate that green turtle stranding dynamics possibly reflect both migratory behaviour and seasonal fishing effort, highlighting a potential ecological trap in productive coastal areas. High and unsustainable juvenile mortality across multiple stocks underscores the need to include this developmental stage in subpopulation conservation assessments. Our results suggest an urgent need for improved fisheries management, systematic monitoring, and integrated conservation strategies to secure the long-term persistence of green turtles in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean.
{"title":"Spatio-temporal distributions of stranded green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and interactions with fisheries in southern Brazil","authors":"Vitória Bonfim Iurk , Gabriel Fraga da Fonseca , Matt K. Broadhurst , Mauricio Cantor , Camila Domit","doi":"10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108051","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108051","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Green turtles (<em>Chelonia mydas</em>) are an ecologically important marine species facing increasing anthropogenic pressures that threaten populations worldwide. In the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean, particularly off southern Brazil, interactions with fisheries are thought to cause high mortalities, yet the spatio-temporal dynamics of these impacts remain poorly understood. We analysed eight years (2016–2023) of data from systematic beach monitoring across ∼1400 km of coastline (from Rio de Janeiro to Santa Catarina) to assess patterns of green turtle strandings in relation to intrinsic (sex and life stage) and extrinsic factors (fisheries and other human activities). A total of 42,333 green turtles were recorded; the majority being juvenile females (mean curved carapace length 39.3 ± 7.3 cm) and all with a mortality rate of 90 %. Stranding rates peaked in the state of Paraná, particularly between June and December, and most carcasses (70 %) were in advanced decomposition. Evidence of anthropogenic interactions was widespread, and included fishing (37 % of assessable cases), marine-debris ingestion (36 %) and entanglement (41 %), boat collisions (10 %), and dredging (<1 %). Patterns varied seasonally and regionally, with greater log odds of fishing interactions during summer–autumn and marine-debris ingestion and entanglement during winter. The data indicate that green turtle stranding dynamics possibly reflect both migratory behaviour and seasonal fishing effort, highlighting a potential ecological trap in productive coastal areas. High and unsustainable juvenile mortality across multiple stocks underscores the need to include this developmental stage in subpopulation conservation assessments. Our results suggest an urgent need for improved fisheries management, systematic monitoring, and integrated conservation strategies to secure the long-term persistence of green turtles in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54698,"journal":{"name":"Ocean & Coastal Management","volume":"273 ","pages":"Article 108051"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-12-26DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108065
Sean T. Fennessy , Christi Linardich , Kevin Rhodes , Joao P. Barreiros , David Pollard , Eloy Sosa-Cordero , Felicia Coleman , Alfonso Aguilar-Perera , Christopher R. Malinowski , Thierry Brulé , Pedro Afonso , Kayan Ma , Min Liu , Muktha Menon , Colin Wen , Stanley K.H. Shea , Sean N. Porter , Matthew Craig , Yvonne Sadovy de Mitcheson
Worldwide, groupers (Epinephelidae) are commercially valued fishes, which also play key ecological roles on tropical and subtropical reefs. In 2007 and 2016, the IUCN's Groupers and Wrasses Specialist Group assessed all 160+ grouper species, with 17 of these being identified as threatened in 2016 and the major threat factor being overexploitation. Our present study aimed to identify whether management measures (MMs) for previously assessed groupers were established, whether these measures aligned with IUCN's Red List categories, and whether they effectively protect grouper populations. Experts in grouper biology and management assigned scores per grouper species based on the extent to which MMs were in place and effective throughout these species' geographic ranges. Simple 4-level scores (0–3) were used to indicate the extent to which a MM was in place and how effective it was considered to be over the global distribution of each species. Of the 50 species scored, which included almost all threatened species, 97 % showed no/extremely limited/limited use of MMs, while only 3 % showed widespread/extensive use of MMs. Only 2 % of species showed highly/very effective scores for management, while 98 % showed limited/extremely limited/ineffective scores or no MMs in place. The MMs and their effectiveness were not commensurate with IUCN extinction risk levels. Overall, fishery management implemented for groupers by governments needs to be substantially improved, basic biological studies on many species are urgently required, fishing effort needs to be reduced, and regular biological and fishery monitoring conducted to evaluate the need for, and outcomes of, management. Although not all grouper species form spawning aggregations, recommendations are given to increase the protection of aggregating grouper species, in combination with well-placed Marine Protected Areas.
{"title":"Does fishery management for groupers (Teleostei: Epinephelidae) protect them effectively? Context from the IUCN's Red list of threatened species","authors":"Sean T. Fennessy , Christi Linardich , Kevin Rhodes , Joao P. Barreiros , David Pollard , Eloy Sosa-Cordero , Felicia Coleman , Alfonso Aguilar-Perera , Christopher R. Malinowski , Thierry Brulé , Pedro Afonso , Kayan Ma , Min Liu , Muktha Menon , Colin Wen , Stanley K.H. Shea , Sean N. Porter , Matthew Craig , Yvonne Sadovy de Mitcheson","doi":"10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108065","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108065","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Worldwide, groupers (Epinephelidae) are commercially valued fishes, which also play key ecological roles on tropical and subtropical reefs. In 2007 and 2016, the IUCN's Groupers and Wrasses Specialist Group assessed all 160+ grouper species, with 17 of these being identified as threatened in 2016 and the major threat factor being overexploitation. Our present study aimed to identify whether management measures (MMs) for previously assessed groupers were established, whether these measures aligned with IUCN's Red List categories, and whether they effectively protect grouper populations. Experts in grouper biology and management assigned scores per grouper species based on the extent to which MMs were in place and effective throughout these species' geographic ranges. Simple 4-level scores (0–3) were used to indicate the extent to which a MM was in place and how effective it was considered to be over the global distribution of each species. Of the 50 species scored, which included almost all threatened species, 97 % showed no/extremely limited/limited use of MMs, while only 3 % showed widespread/extensive use of MMs. Only 2 % of species showed highly/very effective scores for management, while 98 % showed limited/extremely limited/ineffective scores or no MMs in place. The MMs and their effectiveness were not commensurate with IUCN extinction risk levels. Overall, fishery management implemented for groupers by governments needs to be substantially improved, basic biological studies on many species are urgently required, fishing effort needs to be reduced, and regular biological and fishery monitoring conducted to evaluate the need for, and outcomes of, management. Although not all grouper species form spawning aggregations, recommendations are given to increase the protection of aggregating grouper species, in combination with well-placed Marine Protected Areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54698,"journal":{"name":"Ocean & Coastal Management","volume":"273 ","pages":"Article 108065"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145839882","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-12-16DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108053
Yu Peng , Lianqiang Shi , Junli Guo , Mingli Zhao , Juan Liang , Qinghua Ye , Huangzhe Qi , Tianshui Cao
<div><div>Under the continuous disturbance of human activities, coastal ecosystems, especially biological coastal ecosystems, have been severely damaged. In response to this trend, many countries have implemented ecological restoration projects to restore ecological functions. However, scientific evaluation of restoration effectivReferenceeness still lags behind, and there is a lack of standardization in indicator selection and methodology, making it difficult to accurately assess restoration effectiveness and hindering the optimization of restoration strategies. To address this, the present study systematically reviews existing evaluation methods, analyzing their strengths and limitations to ensure that the proposed indicator system is representative, comprehensive, and can integrate multiple perspectives. Methodologically, the framework is developed based on the “Restoration Wheel” theory, encompassing six dimensions: physical conditions, species composition, structural diversity, ecosystem functions, threat factors, and external connectivity. The “Restoration Wheel” theory, guided by the “International Standards for Ecological Restoration” established by the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER), provides a scientific framework for the evaluation of ecological restoration, integrating the characteristics of coastal ecosystem environments. Subjective weights derived from the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) are combined with objective weights calculated through an improved CRITIC method, and integrated using game theory to obtain composite weights. Restoration effectiveness is then quantitatively assessed through a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation approach. The traditional CRITIC method is prone to bias in weight calculation when dealing with data of different dimensions and magnitudes, as the standard deviation is easily influenced by the raw data. To address this issue, this study introduces the coefficient of variation as a replacement for the standard deviation, eliminating the differences in dimension and magnitude, and ensuring fairness and stability in the weight calculation. Taking the biogenic coastal restoration project in Xiaohai, Wanning, Hainan Province, China, as a case study, the applicability of the indicator system is tested. Results show that: (1) physical conditions, species composition, and structural diversity carry decisive weightings of 0.2622, 0.3066, and 0.2793, respectively, in the evaluation process; (2) from winter 2022 to winter 2024, overall restoration effectiveness substantially improved, with best performance from profiles H2 and H5, while H1 showed a slight decline but remained at a “moderate” or higher level; and (3) significant differences in restoration effectiveness were observed among profiles, likely linked to variability in seawater salinity and benthic biomass. This study provides technical support for the scientific evaluation of biogenic coastal restoration and offers a reference paradigm for selecti
{"title":"Construction and application of an evaluation indicator system for biological coastal ecological restoration","authors":"Yu Peng , Lianqiang Shi , Junli Guo , Mingli Zhao , Juan Liang , Qinghua Ye , Huangzhe Qi , Tianshui Cao","doi":"10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108053","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108053","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Under the continuous disturbance of human activities, coastal ecosystems, especially biological coastal ecosystems, have been severely damaged. In response to this trend, many countries have implemented ecological restoration projects to restore ecological functions. However, scientific evaluation of restoration effectivReferenceeness still lags behind, and there is a lack of standardization in indicator selection and methodology, making it difficult to accurately assess restoration effectiveness and hindering the optimization of restoration strategies. To address this, the present study systematically reviews existing evaluation methods, analyzing their strengths and limitations to ensure that the proposed indicator system is representative, comprehensive, and can integrate multiple perspectives. Methodologically, the framework is developed based on the “Restoration Wheel” theory, encompassing six dimensions: physical conditions, species composition, structural diversity, ecosystem functions, threat factors, and external connectivity. The “Restoration Wheel” theory, guided by the “International Standards for Ecological Restoration” established by the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER), provides a scientific framework for the evaluation of ecological restoration, integrating the characteristics of coastal ecosystem environments. Subjective weights derived from the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) are combined with objective weights calculated through an improved CRITIC method, and integrated using game theory to obtain composite weights. Restoration effectiveness is then quantitatively assessed through a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation approach. The traditional CRITIC method is prone to bias in weight calculation when dealing with data of different dimensions and magnitudes, as the standard deviation is easily influenced by the raw data. To address this issue, this study introduces the coefficient of variation as a replacement for the standard deviation, eliminating the differences in dimension and magnitude, and ensuring fairness and stability in the weight calculation. Taking the biogenic coastal restoration project in Xiaohai, Wanning, Hainan Province, China, as a case study, the applicability of the indicator system is tested. Results show that: (1) physical conditions, species composition, and structural diversity carry decisive weightings of 0.2622, 0.3066, and 0.2793, respectively, in the evaluation process; (2) from winter 2022 to winter 2024, overall restoration effectiveness substantially improved, with best performance from profiles H2 and H5, while H1 showed a slight decline but remained at a “moderate” or higher level; and (3) significant differences in restoration effectiveness were observed among profiles, likely linked to variability in seawater salinity and benthic biomass. This study provides technical support for the scientific evaluation of biogenic coastal restoration and offers a reference paradigm for selecti","PeriodicalId":54698,"journal":{"name":"Ocean & Coastal Management","volume":"273 ","pages":"Article 108053"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-12-16DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108045
Sarah Borsetti , Daphne M. Munroe , John M. Klinck , Andrew M. Scheld , Eileen E. Hofmann , Eric N. Powell , David B. Rudders
The Atlantic sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) fishery on the Northeast U.S. continental shelf generates approximately USD 500 million ex-vessel revenues annually, making it one of the most valuable single species fisheries in the United States. Wind energy development is planned for key areas on the U.S. Mid-Atlantic shelf where the Atlantic sea scallop fishery operates, creating novel challenges in managing trade-offs between traditional users like fisheries and new users like offshore wind energy. An agent-based modeling framework that integrates spatial dynamics in Atlantic sea scallop stock biology, fishing fleet behavior, and federal management decisions, was implemented to investigate how offshore wind energy infrastructure may directly affect the Atlantic sea scallop fishery. The effect of current and planned wind energy lease areas on Atlantic sea scallop was evaluated with simulations that restricted Atlantic sea scallop fishing in lease areas, transiting lease areas by the fishing fleet, or both. The relative effects of these restrictions were measured against a simulation without any restrictions.
Simulations indicated that wind energy lease areas have minor impacts on the present-day fishery, with changes in days fished, landings per unit effort, and total fishing trips under 5% with impacts varying across development scenarios and fishing ports. These results suggest offshore wind development may have limited impacts on fishing. However, these changes can be magnified by the value of the Atlantic sea scallop fishery, resulting in substantial economic impacts. Imposed restrictions on fishing location and transiting lease areas resulted in spatial shifts in fishing trips, with larger changes associated with the larger proposed wind lease area footprints, particularly in the southern part of the Atlantic sea scallop range. The largest negative effect of wind restrictions was the reduction in Atlantic sea scallop biomass outside of the lease areas (∼4–9%), likely due to effort displacement, even though the total stock biomass remained relatively unchanged. The simulation results highlight the need for a holistic approach to assessing the complex interactions between offshore wind energy lease areas, Atlantic sea scallop stock dynamics, and fishing vessel transit routes to accurately identify and address potential impacts. This information is critical for fishers and managers to assess mitigation approaches and serves as a valuable tool for future planning amid interactions between commercial fisheries, the offshore wind energy industry, and changing environmental conditions.
{"title":"Impacts of offshore wind energy development on the commercial sea scallop fishery","authors":"Sarah Borsetti , Daphne M. Munroe , John M. Klinck , Andrew M. Scheld , Eileen E. Hofmann , Eric N. Powell , David B. Rudders","doi":"10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108045","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108045","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Atlantic sea scallop (<em>Placopecten magellanicus</em>) fishery on the Northeast U.S. continental shelf generates approximately USD 500 million ex-vessel revenues annually, making it one of the most valuable single species fisheries in the United States. Wind energy development is planned for key areas on the U.S. Mid-Atlantic shelf where the Atlantic sea scallop fishery operates, creating novel challenges in managing trade-offs between traditional users like fisheries and new users like offshore wind energy. An agent-based modeling framework that integrates spatial dynamics in Atlantic sea scallop stock biology, fishing fleet behavior, and federal management decisions, was implemented to investigate how offshore wind energy infrastructure may directly affect the Atlantic sea scallop fishery. The effect of current and planned wind energy lease areas on Atlantic sea scallop was evaluated with simulations that restricted Atlantic sea scallop fishing in lease areas, transiting lease areas by the fishing fleet, or both. The relative effects of these restrictions were measured against a simulation without any restrictions.</div><div>Simulations indicated that wind energy lease areas have minor impacts on the present-day fishery, with changes in days fished, landings per unit effort, and total fishing trips under 5% with impacts varying across development scenarios and fishing ports. These results suggest offshore wind development may have limited impacts on fishing. However, these changes can be magnified by the value of the Atlantic sea scallop fishery, resulting in substantial economic impacts. Imposed restrictions on fishing location and transiting lease areas resulted in spatial shifts in fishing trips, with larger changes associated with the larger proposed wind lease area footprints, particularly in the southern part of the Atlantic sea scallop range. The largest negative effect of wind restrictions was the reduction in Atlantic sea scallop biomass outside of the lease areas (∼4–9%), likely due to effort displacement, even though the total stock biomass remained relatively unchanged. The simulation results highlight the need for a holistic approach to assessing the complex interactions between offshore wind energy lease areas, Atlantic sea scallop stock dynamics, and fishing vessel transit routes to accurately identify and address potential impacts. This information is critical for fishers and managers to assess mitigation approaches and serves as a valuable tool for future planning amid interactions between commercial fisheries, the offshore wind energy industry, and changing environmental conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54698,"journal":{"name":"Ocean & Coastal Management","volume":"273 ","pages":"Article 108045"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790270","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-12-17DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108061
Ibrahim Boubekri , Johanna Schumacher , Miriam von Thenen , Astrid Sánchez-Jiménez , Anna A. Lloveras , Rafael Sardá , Rachid Amara , Gerald Schernewski
The Ecosystem Service framework is essential for understanding the role of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in delivering conservation benefits and societal goods such as fisheries. A perception analysis was conducted to capture the views of 33 experts on MPA-associated ecosystem services. Moreover, using The MPA Guide, we applied a scenario-based approach to assess the potential impact of different degrees of protection (i.e., fully, highly, lightly, and minimally protected levels) on fisheries-related ecosystem services. An expert-based evaluation explored the influence of these protection levels on fisheries-related ecosystem services across two prospective timeframes, set at 3- and 7-years post-implementation. Findings indicate a broad consensus on the perceived importance of cultural services attributed to MPAs. Provisioning MPA-associated ecosystem services are moderate, and their relevance varies by experiential and disciplinary backgrounds of experts. Fully and highly protected levels were perceived as the most effective in enhancing fisheries-related ecosystem services, particularly through increased fish abundance, individual size, and biomass. While provisioning fisheries-related ecosystem services were clearly perceived as increasing over time, especially under higher protection levels, the trends for regulation/maintenance and cultural fisheries-related ecosystem services were more subtle. This study highlights the need for adaptive protection strategies that account for temporal scales, reinforcing the role of long-term monitoring frameworks that capture both socioeconomic and social-ecological outcomes. Moreover, by introducing a qualitative cost-effective expert judgment, this methodology can be implemented in data-poor contexts such as the Mediterranean region. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and MPA planners striving to implement the EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy in the Mediterranean Sea in terms of design, zoning, and governance of strictly protected MPAs that are both ecologically effective and socially acceptable.
{"title":"Contribution of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) towards ecosystem services and fisheries: An experts’ perspective from Mediterranean MPAs","authors":"Ibrahim Boubekri , Johanna Schumacher , Miriam von Thenen , Astrid Sánchez-Jiménez , Anna A. Lloveras , Rafael Sardá , Rachid Amara , Gerald Schernewski","doi":"10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108061","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108061","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Ecosystem Service framework is essential for understanding the role of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in delivering conservation benefits and societal goods such as fisheries. A perception analysis was conducted to capture the views of 33 experts on MPA-associated ecosystem services. Moreover, using <em>The MPA Guide</em>, we applied a scenario-based approach to assess the potential impact of different degrees of protection (i.e., fully, highly, lightly, and minimally protected levels) on fisheries-related ecosystem services. An expert-based evaluation explored the influence of these protection levels on fisheries-related ecosystem services across two prospective timeframes, set at 3- and 7-years post-implementation. Findings indicate a broad consensus on the perceived importance of cultural services attributed to MPAs. Provisioning MPA-associated ecosystem services are moderate, and their relevance varies by experiential and disciplinary backgrounds of experts. Fully and highly protected levels were perceived as the most effective in enhancing fisheries-related ecosystem services, particularly through increased fish abundance, individual size, and biomass. While provisioning fisheries-related ecosystem services were clearly perceived as increasing over time, especially under higher protection levels, the trends for regulation/maintenance and cultural fisheries-related ecosystem services were more subtle. This study highlights the need for adaptive protection strategies that account for temporal scales, reinforcing the role of long-term monitoring frameworks that capture both socioeconomic and social-ecological outcomes. Moreover, by introducing a qualitative cost-effective expert judgment, this methodology can be implemented in data-poor contexts such as the Mediterranean region. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and MPA planners striving to implement the EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy in the Mediterranean Sea in terms of design, zoning, and governance of strictly protected MPAs that are both ecologically effective and socially acceptable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54698,"journal":{"name":"Ocean & Coastal Management","volume":"273 ","pages":"Article 108061"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号