Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems最新文献

Effective marine monitoring and conservation efforts are urgently needed because anthropogenic pressures such as overfishing, habitat damage, pollution and invasive species are increasing (Laffoley et al., 2022). Public engagement activities can enhance marine monitoring efforts, providing valuable observations and increasing ocean literacy in society (Boaventura et al., 2021). Sharing knowledge about marine wildlife in accessible ways, such as digital media and at interactive workshops, can greatly increase the involvement of people in protecting their local environment. Marine citizen science is growing globally (Garcia-Soto et al., 2021; Kelly et al., 2020) ranging from specific environmental issues (e.g. plastic pollution; Rambonnet et al., 2019), habitat protection (e.g. seagrass meadows; Smale et al., 2019) or a focus on certain taxa (such as seaweeds; Brodie et al., 2023).

Most UK marine citizen science initiatives have been driven by non-governmental organizations (Garcia-Soto et al., 2021). Examples include Project Seagrass, a Welsh University-led organization that combines research, public involvement and outreach activities to share seagrass knowledge and restore seagrass meadows (www.projectseagrass.org). More than 800,000 habitat and species observations have been reported to the UK National Biodiversity Network by Seasearch. This group of SCUBA divers and snorkelers are trained by the Marine Conservation Society and have been collecting data for marine conservation since 1988, greatly expanding the known distribution of maerl (www.seasearch.org.uk). Seasearch maerl data were used to inform the design of a network of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Seasearch continues to build a database with maerl distribution records to inform future conservation and management initiatives and is working with Natural England to help improving maerl habitat classification (Angus Jackson, pers. comm.).

Maerl is a seabed habitat made up of coralline algae thalli that grow unattached to substrata (Figure 1). Maerl habitats occur worldwide and have high ecological, socio-economic and cultural value but are far less well known or studied than habitats such as coral reefs, kelp forests or seagrass beds (Tuya et al., 2023). This habitat harbours high biodiversity and provides nursery areas for commercially valuable species such as cod and scallops and spawning areas for herring (Hall-Spencer, 2023).

Scottish Natural Heritage (now called NatureScot; www.nature.scot) funded a workshop which drew together researchers from Europe and North and South America (Donnan & Moore, 2003) who noted that maerl is particularly sensitive to physical disturbance such as towed demersal gear impacts, it is now known to also be sensitive to fish farm wastes (

Small-scale fisheries ensure food security and employment in Angolan coastal communities. These dynamic, widespread fisheries remain mostly unregulated, with limited data available despite their likely significant impact on marine megafauna. We used an interview-based survey to investigate local fisher interactions with elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) and gather information on utilization, trade and perceptions. All fishers (n = 83) landed elasmobranchs. Most fishers considered sharks as bycatch (74.7%, n = 62), while 100% targeted rays (Order Myliobatiformes), and 62.8% (n = 52) targeted guitarfishes (Order Rhinopristiformes). Over 80% of fishers reported declining catches and sizes of elasmobranchs over the last 30 years, raising concerns about the sustainability of these fisheries. Utilization and trade routes varied depending on elasmobranch products, with exports to China (fins) and local market sales (meat). Specifically, 8.4% (n = 5) of fishers confirmed meat and fin exports to China (4.8%, n = 3). The protection of sharks was considered by 32.5% (n = 30) of respondents, while 21.7% (n = 18) believed only certain shark species should be protected. Most respondents reported that rays (80.5%, n = 67) and guitarfishes (61%, n = 51) should not be protected. Regarding the ban on fishing, none considered it for ray species, with only 6.1% (n = 5) supporting this idea for guitarfishes. We highlight the lack of elasmobranch-specific conservation measures and the need for a multi-pronged approach to inform policy. Considering the scale of these fisheries, management actions need to be urgently developed and implemented to ensure the sustainability of elasmobranch fisheries while securing the livelihoods of coastal communities.