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The purpose of this tool is to create a method for understanding the community-level impacts of marine spatial planning through the lens of well-being. Well-being consists of three dimensions, material, relational, and subjective. Assigning measurable indicators to each produces a quantitative and holistic measurement of well-being. Here, household well-being is measured through an 11-question, subjective survey, complemented by an additional set of subjective resilience questions. The household well-being and resilience scores generated from the surveys are aggregated to produce community-level well-being and resilience scores. These scores are useful for guiding marine spatial planners, as they identify vulnerable communities, highlight differences in communities, and track changes in community well-being over time. The insights gained from these scores can inform adaptive management measures, help planners select optimal locations for marine spatial plans, and inform planners’ understanding of changes in community well-being associated with marine spatial planning. This tool addresses the need for holistic, practical, and transferrable approaches and promotes mutually beneficial marine spatial plans.

Global marine biodiversity declines require bold and ambitious plans to safeguard ecosystem services. Overfishing, habitat loss and projected climate impacts have yielded deleterious effects on marine predators, in particular, driving increasing threat of extinction for many shark species with implications for ecosystem health. Identifying and protecting critical habitat areas for sharks is fundamental to their protection, and may allow for species recovery. Here we use baited remote underwater video stations to investigate spatial and temporal patterns of habitat use by sharks in a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) that is centrally important to the regional blue economy in the UK, the Cardigan Bay SAC. Our results show heterogeneous spatial habitat use and temporal trends in habitat sharing between smallspotted catsharks Scyliorhinus canicula and nursehounds S. stellaris. Nearshore reef habitats are substantially more important than non-reef habitats for both species. The relative abundance of each species, however, is roughly inversely seasonally proportional, with S. canicula and S. stellaris relative abundance highest in March and September, respectively. Temporal niche partitioning may be an important mechanism in marine systems, but has not been widely investigated in sympatric shark communities. These findings are directly relevant for ongoing development of the Welsh Marine Evidence Strategy (2019-2025) and the Welsh National Marine Plan, particularly to inform spatial planning to strengthen the role of SAC management design in protecting important shark areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) are typically fragile and slow to recover, thereby making them susceptible to disturbance, including fishing. In the high seas, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) requested regional fishery management organisations (RFMOs) to implement measures to prevent significant adverse impacts on VMEs. Here, we predict spatial abundances of 15 taxa, 13 VME indicator taxa, in the South Pacific RFMO (SPRFMO) area. Models used seafloor imagery data, an important advance on previously developed presence‐only predictions, to provide information on spatial variation in taxa abundance that is crucial for better inferring likely location of VMEs, rather than just distribution of VME indicator taxa. Abundance models varied in predictive power (mean R2 ranged 0.02–0.40). Uncertainty estimates of model predictions were developed to inform future spatial planning processes for conservation and management of VMEs. Using the VME index concept, abundance model outputs and previously published presence‐only model predictions were weighted using vulnerability scores, to explore how modelled outputs could provide spatial estimates of likely VME distribution. Spatial predictions of abundance improved on previous modelling to provide an almost complete suite of abundance models for VME indicator taxa in the western portion of the SPRFMO Convention area. Nevertheless, to improve utility of modelled outputs, we recommend more high‐quality seafloor imagery data be gathered within the SPRFMO Convention area to (1) validate abundance models developed here with independent data from the model area, (2) update models, if necessary, (3) link abundance information to ecosystem function and (4) explore validity of the adapted VME index approach used here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is essential for optimizing marine resources allocation and resolving conflicts in sea use, but it is challenged by the complex and multifunctional nature of maritime resources. This study utilizes participatory methods, inductive reasoning, and overlay analysis to explore both theoretical and practical aspects of compatible marine utilization models. The paper begins by clarifying the logic of compatible sea use through marine functional zoning and identifying its core characteristics: quantity, spatial conflict, and impacts on natural attributes. Building on China's national territorial spatial planning reforms and practical experiences, the paper introduces three major categories of compatible marine use models: development sequencing compatibility, spatial coexistence compatibility, and functional synergy compatibility. A compatibility discrimination matrix is developed to assess these models across different marine functional areas. Combined with the compatibility discrimination results, taking the marine and coastal spatial planning of Yantai City in China as a case study, the paper analyzes the compatibility demands and planning strategies within various marine functional areas. Finally, it evaluates the risks associated with each compatibility model and proposes targeted control strategies tailored to the specific features of each model and characteristics of sea use activities. The research findings highlight the positive role of compatible sea use models in promoting marine economic development, enhancing spatial efficiency, and mitigating sea use conflicts. However, these models also present varying potential risks, necessitating differentiated control strategies aligned with legal frameworks and specific sea use activities. The study offers valuable insights for MSP and contributes to the efficient utilization of marine resources and the advancement of marine spatial governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intentional combination of two or more marine activities with the purpose of sharing space, infrastructure, resources and/or operations, referred to as multi-use, is gaining attention as a means to reduce the spatial footprint of human activities but possibly also its ecological footprint. In this study, the Spatial Cumulative Assessment of Impact Risk for Management (SCAIRM) method was adapted and applied to assess whether multi-use can reduce the ecological footprint in terms of the cumulative impacts on the marine ecosystem, by integrating multiple offshore activities in different configurations as compared to these activities separated in space, referred to as single-use. These configurations combine renewable energy, aquaculture, nature restoration and tourism activities, in different combinations. For the sake of this multi-use assessment these activities were subdivided into actions, their allocation in space and time represented in scenarios (e.g. single-use versus multi-use) which were then evaluated in terms of their ecological footprint (i.e. Impact Risk). The main finding is that the calculated Impact Risk in multi-use is often lower than that in single-use and in any case never higher. This study also shows that there is still much to be gained in terms of further reduction in Impact Risk through an optimization of the multi-use design by comparing the scenario based on actual pilots deemed more realistic (i.e. co-existence with limited synergies) with a hypothetical optimal scenario (i.e. multi-functional). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As marine spatial planning becomes established, attention is turning to the influence of plans on coastal and marine decisions. A study of marine licencing in the East Marine Plan Areas in England, UK, revealed that little reference is being made to plans. A technical approach to licencing has persisted despite the broader perspectives that spatial planning can offer. Also, plans may not be sufficiently specific and tested to guide licencing. Reforms to integrate planning and decision-making are needed, including plans designed to help with setting conditions and spatially allocating marine uses. Increased dialogue between planners and decision-makers is also needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity changes and habitat shifts are two phenomena substantially reshaping marine life on our present and future planet. Although those phenomena are well recognized on the macrobial level, they currently do not receive similar attention on the microbial level. Generally, microbiome diversity and function, associated with and governing the health and fitness of their host organisms, are neglected in conservation efforts. This is especially problematic as previous research has highlighted that host‐associated microbes (microbiomes) may display distribution patterns that are not only correlated with host animal biogeographies but also with other factors such as prevailing environmental conditions. Here, marine spatial planning for socio‐ecological management of animal‐associated microbiomes is discussed, using deep‐sea sponge and coral‐associated microbiomes as an example of how to incorporate microbial diversity into conservation planning. We advocate for a holistic and integrative approach to marine spatial planning that incorporates the larger habitat, the host, the microbiome, as well as the socio‐economic and cultural perspective, throughout the whole decision‐making process. A general workflow containing the needed steps to establish microbiome‐integrated marine protected areas is presented, as well as the analytical steps and results underlying the implementation of the world's first microbiome‐considered marine conservation network on the Scotian Shelf off eastern Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine aquaculture has grown enormously in recent decades, and with it the competition for space suitable for aquaculture. These developments have limited the areas available for aquaculture and, in some cases, have become a barrier to expansion. In response, aquaculture operations have moved further away from the coast. This development has created a need for clearer and more robust approaches to more comprehensively describe and secure sites for aquaculture. This article reviews the law governing the siting of aquaculture operations. In particular, it assesses the role of the widely used term "offshore" in the Law of the Sea to see if there are any legal aspects that need to be considered in moving towards the use of more specific concepts. It also aims to inform scientific discussions and political and administrative processes on the law governing the identification, description, and siting of aquaculture operations. This will hopefully contribute to more sustainable and less conflicted long-term aquaculture development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rapidly expanding area of marine space in the Pacific is being assessed under a process known as Marine Spatial Planning (MSP). Through the political process, MSP brings together an assemblage of national governments, private organizations and local communities to define how marine spaces should be governed. MSP results in numerous new marine spatial categories that delimit an area according to the respective principals and rules decided upon. The authors of this article argue that traditional powers to make and enforce decisions concerning the governance of marine spaces have been weakened through the political process of MSP in the Pacific. The responses that emerged from conducting qualitative semi‐structured interviews with participants in Fiji and the Cook Islands indicate that indigenous marine authority is being undermined through manipulation of the MSP process. The findings further revealed an underlying recognition that the MSP process has proven to be incapable of equitably weighing indigenous Pacific Islanders' interests in relation to the economic, environmental and security interests of external ocean stakeholders. The authors further argue that external ocean stakeholders can successfully pursue their own objectives through the MSP process in ways that bypass indigenous authority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective management and mitigation of multiple human impacts on marine ecosystems require accurate knowledge of the spatial patterns of human activities and their overlap with vulnerable habitats. Cumulative impact (CI) mapping combines spatial information and the intensity of human activities with the spatial extent of habitats and their vulnerabilities to those stressors into an intuitive relative CI score that can inform marine spatial planning processes and ecosystem‐based management. Here, we mapped potential CIs of 45 human activities from five sectors (climate change, land‐based, marine‐based, coastal, commercial fishing) on 21 habitats in Atlantic Canada's Scotian Shelf bioregion. We applied an uncertainty and sensitivity analysis to assess the robustness of results and identify hot and cold spots of CIs. Nearly the entire Scotian Shelf bioregion experiences the CIs of human activities, and high CIs were frequently associated with multiple stressors. CIs varied widely across habitats: CI scores in habitats >30 m deep were dominated by climate change and commercial fishing, while nearshore habitats were influenced by a much wider range of activities across all five sectors. When standardized by area, coastal habitats had among the highest CI scores, highlighting the intensity of multiple stressors in these habitats despite their relatively small spatial extent and emphasizing the importance of a multisector approach when managing coastal ecosystems. Robust hot spots of CIs (i.e., areas with high CI scores that were insensitive to alternative modeling assumptions and simulated data quality issues) occurred mostly in coastal areas where multiple high‐intensity activities overlapped with highly vulnerable biogenic habitats. In contrast, robust cold spots of CI mostly occurred offshore. Overall, our results emphasize the need to consider CIs in management and protection and demonstrates that, in many areas, targeting only one activity will be insufficient to reduce overall human impact. The CI map will be useful to highlight areas in need of protection from multiple human impacts, provide information for ecological indicator development, and establish a baseline of the current state of human use in the bioregion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates public perceptions of offshore hydrocarbon activities in the North Argentine Basin (NAB), focusing on awareness, environmental concerns, and socio-economic benefits. Conducted through semi-structured surveys, the research explores how demographic factors such as education and residency influence public opinion. Key findings reveal that knowledge of the NAB’s location is significantly shaped by educational attainment and regional residency. However, perceptions of environmental impacts and socio-economic benefits are more closely tied to educational levels rather than age or residency. The study underscores the importance of targeted educational campaigns to enhance public understanding and engagement. Furthermore, the research highlights the critical role of public participation in marine spatial planning (MSP) and environmental decision-making processes. Effective stakeholder and public participation engagement is essential for mitigating conflicts, promoting inclusive policy-making, and ensuring diverse viewpoints are considered. These insights contribute to global discussions on environmental governance, advocating for integrated approaches that balance economic development with environmental sustainability. For Argentine policymakers, the study recommends incorporating public input through tailored educational initiatives and participatory methodologies to achieve more equitable and effective management of offshore hydrocarbon activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is blue colonialism? As a concept, it is an avatar of the privatization of the seas, emblematic of the post-new Law of the Sea; it’s a phenomenon justified in the name of the blue economy, insofar as the context of the Anthropocene implies the economicization of the sea, and facilitated by the functional spatialization of maritime areas, through the development of marine spatial planning and marine protected areas. But, in practice, blue colonialism appears a geopolitically differentiated strategy, initially developed in the Indo-Pacific, in the maritime areas under national jurisdiction of Small Island Developing States, as a model to be replicated, according to a logic of compensation and in order to secure access to the mineral resources needed for the ecological transition; implemented, via the private environmental governance of NGOs and trusts, and the associated financialization of conservation, in the form of a renunciation of sovereignty in favor of a transnational dynamic, blue colonialism is a new legal paradigm at the service of the dominant economic model, but also a blue injustice intending to transfer the burden of the sacrifices onto those who are not responsible for the triple planetary crisis, to continue the growth process. ¿QUÉ ES EL COLONIALISMO AZUL? ¿Qué es el colonialismo azul? Como concepto, es un avatar de la privatización de los mares, emblemático del derecho del mar post-nuevo; se trata de un fenómeno justificado en nombre de la economía azul, en la medida en que el contexto del Antropoceno implica la economicización del mar, y facilitado por la espacialización funcional de las áreas marítimas, a través del desarrollo de la planificación espacial marina y de las áreas marinas protegidas. Pero, en la práctica, el colonialismo azul parece una estrategia geopolíticamente diferenciada, desarrollada inicialmente en el Indo-Pacífico, en las zonas marítimas bajo jurisdicción nacional de pequeños Estados insulares en desarrollo, como un modelo a replicar, según una lógica de compensación y con el fin de garantizar el acceso a los recursos minerales necesarios para la transición ecológica; implementado, a través de la gobernanza medioambiental privada de las ONG y los trusts, y la financiarización asociada de la conservación, en forma de una renuncia de soberanía en favor de una dinámica transnacional, el colonialismo azul es un nuevo paradigma jurídico al servicio del modelo económico dominante, pero también una injusticia azul que pretende transferir la carga de los sacrificios a quienes no son responsables de la triple crisis planetaria, para continuar el proceso de crecimiento. QU’EST-CE QUE LE COLONIALISME BLEU? Qu’est-ce que le colonialisme bleu? En tant que concept, c’est un avatar de la privatisation des mers, emblématique du droit de la mer post-nouveau; il s’agit d’un phénomène justifié au nom de l’économie bleue, dans la mesure où le contexte de l’Anthropocène implique l’économicisation de la mer, et facilité par la spatialisation fonctionnelle des espaces maritimes, à travers le développement de la planification spatiale marine et des aires marines protégées. Mais, en pratique, le colonialisme bleu apparaît une stratégie géopolitiquement différenciée, initialement développée dans l’Indo-Pacifique, dans les espaces maritimes sous juridiction nationale de petits États insulaires en développement, comme un modèle à répliquer, selon une logique de compensation et afin de sécuriser l’accès aux ressources minérales nécessaires à la transition écologique ; mis en œuvre, via la gouvernance environnementale privée des ONG et des trusts, et la financiarisation associée de la conservation, sous la forme d’un renoncement de souveraineté au profit d’une dynamique transnationale, le colonialisme bleu est un nouveau paradigme juridique au service du modèle économique dominant, mais aussi une injustice bleue visant à transférer la charge des sacrifices sur ceux qui ne sont pas responsables de la triple crise planétaire, afin de poursuivre le processus de croissance.

Abstract Indian coastal waters are critical for dugong populations in the western Indian Ocean. Systematic spatial planning of dugong habitats can help to achieve biodiversity conservation and area-based protection targets in the region. In this study, we employed environmental niche modelling to predict suitable dugong habitats and identify influencing factors along its entire distribution range in Indian waters. We examined data on fishing pressures collected through systematic interview surveys, citizen-science data, and field surveys to demarcate dugong habitats with varying risks. Seagrass presence was the primary factor in determining dugong habitat suitability across the study sites. Other variables such as depth, bathymetric slope, and Euclidean distance from the shore were significant factors, particularly in predicting seasonal suitability. Predicted suitable habitats showed a remarkable shift from pre-monsoon in Palk Bay to post-monsoon in the Gulf of Mannar, indicating the potential of seasonal dugong movement. The entire coastline along the Palk Bay-Gulf of Mannar region was observed to be at high to moderate risk, including the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, a high-risk area. The Andaman Islands exhibited high suitability during pre- and post-monsoon season, whereas the Nicobar Islands were highly suitable for monsoon season. Risk assessment of modelled suitable areas revealed that

Marine co-location, i.e., multiple fixed ocean activities operating in the same place and at the same time, can maximize the space- and resource-use efficiency in crowded seascapes. While interest grows, commercial use is nascent and the collective benefits or limitations of co-locating aquatic food and clean energy remains scattered throughout the literature. In this study, we synthesize multinational findings of co-location scientific publications (N = 102) to better understand the patterns and knowledge gaps at the co-located ocean food-energy nexus. We track and compare food (aquaculture) and energy (tidal, offshore wind, and wave) co-located ocean activities, noting the focus (e.g., ecological), motivation (e.g., impact/risk), and assessment type (e.g., modeling), as well as nine key metrics of interest (depth, distance from shore, aquaculture yield, etc.), mainly for aquaculture co-location. We found the number of annual co-location publications increased over time and space but are largely concentrated in the North Sea (n = 39). We also found about half of publications include aquaculture, one-third of publications report at least one metric - reporting aquaculture yield was particularly rare (n = 1) - and few studies focused on impact/risk (n = 7). However, conducting a targeted post-hoc evaluation of North Sea gray literature (N = 61), due to this region's importance in the field, showed more coverage of impacts/risk (e.g., liability) and similar attention to aquaculture. Of the scientific papers that did report metrics, the ranges of depth and distance exceeded those reported for standalone sectors, indicating co-location could be facilitating a "push" of ocean activities into farther offshore and/or deeper exposed waters. Ultimately, while aquaculture is commonly cited in the co-location literature, the shortage of metrics, like aquaculture yield, and possible impact/risk evaluations - though gray literature can provide critical insights - emphasizes the need for knowledge sharing and modeling to address and explore the uncertainty, especially for co-located aquaculture production. This study provides a needed snapshot of marine colocation, particularly in emerging regions, highlighting gaps in understanding aquaculture-energy potential in the oceans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While blue justice has gained traction, recognition and capability, which are necessary conditions for procedural and distributive justice, remain under-developed. We develop a four-dimensional blue justice framework that builds on recognition and capabilities to critically examine and advance justice in Poland's marine spatial planning (MSP). We find that misrecognition of differential identities and capacities scripted powerless stakeholders out of participation and reduced possibilities for fair distribution. Conversely, MSP regulation augmented the rights of powerful actors through granting de jure "objecting" rights to some, inviting only strategic sectors to agenda-setting fora and, limiting MSP communication to meeting legal requirements. Several stakeholders also see defence and wind energy as key winners of MSP. While society will benefit from national security and energy sufficiency, especially given Russia's increased weaponization of energy, many believe that financial profits from wind energy will accrue to developers. We offer governmental and planning measures to enhance capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper critically examines the intersections of Science, colonialism, and cartography in shaping perceptions of the ocean and its human-nature relationships. Drawing on Postcolonial Science and Technology Studies (PCSTS) and Decolonial Theory, it scrutinizes historical mapping practices, revealing how they perpetuated ontological hierarchies and controlled narratives of the ocean. Through archival research spanning from the Revolution to colonial exploration, the paper exposes how maps framed the ocean as a controllable entity, obscuring socio-cultural dimensions of biodiversity. Focusing on a case study in Northern Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, the authors explore an Empatheatre mapping process, that challenges Western ontologies and promotes counter-hegemonic cartographic practices. Situating this within critical cartography and PCSTS literature, the paper reveals how colonial projects molded perceptions of oceanic space and influenced environmental governance. In the South African context, the ocean is haunted by a violent history of racial exclusion and ecological exploitation. Initiatives like Operation Phakisa's Blue Economy plan underscore the tension between economic growth and ecological sustainability, leading to rapid coastal developments. Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) emerges as a tool to reconcile these interests, yet its implementation raises questions about inclusivity and community participation. Introducing the Empatheatre method, characterized by a 'Call and Response' approach, the paper invites local communities to co-create maps reflecting their concerns and relationships with the ocean. Through attentive listening and collaborative storytelling, Empatheatre challenges traditional consultation methods, prioritizing meaningful engagement and collective meaning-making. Mapping in this context is not merely a static representation but a dynamic process of collective thinking and relationality. By foregrounding the social, cultural, and ecological context, Empatheatre's approach redefines the mapmaker-map relationship and empowers communities as active agents in shaping their narratives. The transformative potential of Empatheatre lies in its ability to shift power dynamics and foster empathy between diverse stakeholders. Through performative storytelling and visual representations, Empatheatre creates space for marginalized voices and alternative modes of knowledge transmission. In conclusion, this paper advocates for a decolonial approach to oceanic cartographies that acknowledges diverse ontologies and fosters inclusive governance structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural capacity of marine sediments to capture, sequester, and store organic carbon has been recognized by researchers and policy makers for its potential to mitigate against climate change. As a result, Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and Marine Protected Area (MPA) designation processes increasingly aim to protect "blue carbon" stored in marine sediments by reducing anthropogenic activities that disturb the seabed (e.g., bottom trawling). In this research, we engaged with coastal residents around Dundalk Bay, Ireland to explore public perceptions of the presence and management of carbon-storing marine sediments in the context of the multifaceted relationship between communities and the environment. This has not been previously studied in an empirical setting. Given the largely "unknown" character of this source of blue carbon, we theorized that speculation played a key role in sustaining emerging perceptions of the sediments, by creating a link with existing place meanings. We used interviews (n = 12) and a focus group (n = 7). Reflexive thematic analysis of the data showed that local residents associated multiple, overlapping meanings with Dundalk Bay. We found evidence that speculative mechanisms such as analogy and experiential knowledge were used to bridge between existing place meanings and emerging perceptions of carbon-storing marine sediments, which also helped indicate the valence of people's feelings about the sediments. We found different views about the presence of the sediments, and residents varied in their prioritization of measures to protect either nature or economic activity in the bay. Because of scientific knowledge gaps related to the distribution and character of marine sediments and the impacts of anthropogenic activity, participants stressed the need for further research and a careful approach to the management of the bay and its sediments. Our work reiterates the importance of recognizing existing people-place connections to understand potential responses to changes in the use and/or management of marine environments. This can help achieve a more engaged and socially acceptable MSP process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific advances in environmental data coverage and machine learning algorithms have improved the ability to make large‐scale predictions where data are missing. These advances allowed us to develop a spatially resolved proxy for predicting numbers of tropical nearshore marine taxa. A diverse marine environmental spatial database was used to model numbers of taxa from ∼1000 field sites, and the predictions were applied to all 7039 6.25‐km2 reef cells in 9 ecoregions and 11 nations of the western Indian Ocean. Our proxy for total numbers of taxa was based on the positive correlation (r2 = 0.24) of numbers of taxa of hard corals and 5 highly diverse reef fish families. Environmental relationships indicated that the number of fish species was largely influenced by biomass, nearness to people, governance, connectivity, and productivity and that coral taxa were influenced mostly by physicochemical environmental variability. At spatial delineations of province, ecoregion, nation, and strength of spatial clustering, we compared areas of conservation priority based on our total species proxy with those identified in 3 previous priority‐setting reports and with the protected area database. Our method identified 119 locations that fit 3 numbers of taxa (hard coral, fish, and their combination) and 4 spatial delineations (nation, ecoregion, province, and reef clustering) criteria. Previous publications on priority setting identified 91 priority locations of which 6 were identified by all reports. We identified 12 locations that fit our 12 criteria and corresponded with 3 previously identified locations, 65 that aligned with at least 1 past report, and 28 that were new locations. Only 34% of the 208 marine protected areas in this province overlapped with identified locations with high numbers of predicted taxa. Differences occurred because past priorities were frequently based on unquantified perceptions of remoteness and preselected priority taxa. Our environment–species proxy and modeling approach can be considered among other important criteria for making conservation decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the high seas, regional fishery management organisations are required to implement measures to prevent significant adverse impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs). Our objectives were to develop habitat suitability models for use in the spatial management of bottom fisheries in the South Pacific and to evaluate these and existing models using independent data from high‐quality seafloor imagery. Presence‐only models for seven VME indictor taxa were developed to complement previous modelling. Evaluation of habitat suitability models using withheld data indicated high mean True Skill Statistic scores of 0.44–0.64. Most habitat suitability models performed adequately when assessed with independent data on taxon presence and absence but were poor surrogates for abundance. We therefore advocate caution when using presence‐only models for spatial management and call for more systematically collected data to develop abundance models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on regulatory challenges facing U.S. mariculture, highlighting the impact of permitting processes on industry growth and environmental protection. Topics include the evolution of shellfish aquaculture permitting since the O'Connell Report, the need for streamlined regulations to foster industry expansion; and the ongoing challenges in balancing regulatory efficiency with environmental concerns.

The increasing global demand for marine resources raises concerns about sustainable resource management and biodiversity conservation. Spatial closures, such as marine protected areas, can be valuable tools for maintaining and restoring exploited populations. When these spatial closures adopt a dynamic nature being adapted to the changing environment, they can effectively account for factors such as shifting species distributions, which enhances their potential to achieve ecological and socio‐economic objectives. Here, we adapted a decision‐support tool (the software Marxan), typically used for selecting static and permanent areas, to produce management recommendations that integrate permanent and temporal closures to fisheries. Our aim was to compare the outputs of a static network of permanent no‐take reserves with four other dynamic scenarios, including permanent and temporal closures that account for seasonal variations in the populations of species. All scenarios prioritized sites for the conservation of one of the most valuable European fishing stocks, the Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus). Additionally, we considered 12 other commercially exploited species captured by the Norway lobster fishery. The assessed outputs included retained biomass, area extent, closure type (permanent and seasonal) and opportunity costs within each scenario. We observed that all dynamic scenarios required fewer management areas permanently closed than the static scenario. This resulted in a lower opportunity cost for fisheries but also a higher capacity for biodiversity conservation. Therefore, complementing permanent with temporal closures could enhance biodiversity conservation and fisheries management. The novel dynamic planning method presented here could be applicable to other species, ecosystems and socio‐economic contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian coastal waters are critical for dugong populations in the western Indian Ocean. Systematic spatial planning of dugong habitats can help to achieve biodiversity conservation and area-based protection targets in the region. In this study, we employed environmental niche modelling to predict suitable dugong habitats and identify influencing factors along its entire distribution range in Indian waters. We examined data on fishing pressures collected through systematic interview surveys, citizen-science data, and field surveys to demarcate dugong habitats with varying risks. Seagrass presence was the primary factor in determining dugong habitat suitability across the study sites. Other variables such as depth, bathymetric slope, and Euclidean distance from the shore were significant factors, particularly in predicting seasonal suitability. Predicted suitable habitats showed a remarkable shift from pre-monsoon in Palk Bay to post-monsoon in the Gulf of Mannar, indicating the potential of seasonal dugong movement. The entire coastline along the Palk Bay-Gulf of Mannar region was observed to be at high to moderate risk, including the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, a high-risk area. The Andaman Islands exhibited high suitability during pre- and post-monsoon season, whereas the Nicobar Islands were highly suitable for monsoon season. Risk assessment of modelled suitable areas revealed that < 15% of high-risk areas across Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu, fall within the existing protected areas. A few offshore reef islands are identified under high-risk zones in the Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat. We highlight the utility of citizen science and secondary data in performing large-scale spatial ecological analysis. Overall, identifying synoptic scale 'Critical Dugong Habitats' has positive implications for the country's progress towards achieving the global 30 × 30 target through systematic conservation planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine spatial planning in Greece has only recently been put on the public policy agenda, although it was formally adopted in 2018. The paper overviews critical aspects of marine spatial planning in Greece focusing on the drafting of the first Marine Spatial Framework (MSF) for the North Aegean Marine Spatial Unit (MSU1). We elaborate on the methodology followed for drafting the MSF for MSU1 and present key elements of its fields of action, spatial guidelines and regulations. The potential and limitations of the MSF as a tool that expands spatial planning from land to sea are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective marine management requires balancing conservation and sustainable use of resources. Food web models are useful for simulating direct and indirect effects of management scenarios on ecosystem functioning by using multiple indicators. However, a key challenge is consolidating these indicators into a single, comprehensive, measure, which is often required to guide management decisions, such as in Strategic Environmental Assessment. This study applies spatial multi-criteria analysis to food web model outputs to develop a single index for different marine management applications. We applied this framework to the case of the “Tegnùe di Chioggia”, a Special Area of Conservation (SAC; IT3250047) under the Natura 2000 European network, located in the northern Adriatic Sea (Italy). This area, characterised by the presence of biogenic rocky outcrops, currently lacks a formal management plan. Using the Ecospace module of the Ecopath with Ecosim software, we simulated three management scenarios: 1) SAC expansion; 2) winter artisanal fishing in the SAC; 3) a combination of both. In line with ecosystem-based management, we focused on economically important trophic groups in the region, such as the Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, and striped venus clam, Chamelea gallina, which are present near the SAC. We also considered the efforts of the local fishing fleets. Ecosystem structure and functioning indicators, generated by the spatial food-web model, were linked to three criteria aligned with the management priorities of the area: nature conservation, aquaculture productivity, and fishing productivity. These criteria were aggregated into a final score to compare the management scenarios. The results showed that none of the scenarios would significantly alter community composition or ecosystem functioning compared to the current situation. However, they did show contrasting responses in the food web model. The SAC expansion scenario notably increased total biomass and commercial fish biomass, especially pectinids and cephalopods. The fishing scenario had a minimal impact on trophic groups. Ecosystem resilience and structure indicators were less sensitive to management scenarios than biomass indicators. However, the multi-criteria analysis revealed that the fishing scenario limited the benefits of expanding the SAC, due to reduced catches. The final score effectively ranked proposed scenarios, highlighting key indicators that influenced these variations. The proposed approach shows potential for supporting participatory modelling and engaging stakeholders in developing management scenarios.

Global marine biodiversity declines require bold and ambitious plans to safeguard ecosystem services. Overfishing, habitat loss and projected climate impacts have yielded deleterious effects on marine predators, in particular, driving increasing threat of extinction for many shark species with implications for ecosystem health. Identifying and protecting critical habitat areas for sharks is fundamental to their protection, and may allow for species recovery. Here we use baited remote underwater video stations to investigate spatial and temporal patterns of habitat use by sharks in a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) that is centrally important to the regional blue economy in the UK, the Cardigan Bay SAC. Our results show heterogeneous spatial habitat use and temporal trends in habitat sharing between smallspotted catsharks Scyliorhinus canicula and nursehounds S. stellaris. Nearshore reef habitats are substantially more important than non-reef habitats for both species. The relative abundance of each species, however, is roughly inversely seasonally proportional, with S. canicula and S. stellaris relative abundance highest in March and September, respectively. Temporal niche partitioning may be an important mechanism in marine systems, but has not been widely investigated in sympatric shark communities. These findings are directly relevant for ongoing development of the Welsh Marine Evidence Strategy (2019-2025) and the Welsh National Marine Plan, particularly to inform spatial planning to strengthen the role of SAC management design in protecting important shark areas.

Abstract Biodiversity changes and habitat shifts are two phenomena substantially reshaping marine life on our present and future planet. Although those phenomena are well recognized on the macrobial level, they currently do not receive similar attention on the microbial level. Generally, microbiome diversity and function, associated with and governing the health and fitness of their host organisms, are neglected in conservation efforts. This is especially problematic as previous research has highlighted that host‐associated microbes (microbiomes) may display distribution patterns that are not only correlated with host animal biogeographies but also with other factors such as prevailing environmental conditions. Here, marine spatial planning for socio‐ecological management of animal‐associated microbiomes is discussed, using deep‐sea sponge and coral‐associated microbiomes as an example of how to incorporate microbial diversity into conservation planning. We advocate for a holistic and integrative approach to marine spatial planning that incorporates the larger habitat, the host, the microbiome, as well as the socio‐economic and cultural perspective, throughout the whole decision‐making process. A general workflow containing the needed steps to establish microbiome‐integrated marine protected areas is presented, as well as the analytical steps and results underlying the implementation of the world's first microbiome‐considered marine conservation network on the Scotian Shelf off eastern Canada.

Abstract Effective management and mitigation of multiple human impacts on marine ecosystems require accurate knowledge of the spatial patterns of human activities and their overlap with vulnerable habitats. Cumulative impact (CI) mapping combines spatial information and the intensity of human activities with the spatial extent of habitats and their vulnerabilities to those stressors into an intuitive relative CI score that can inform marine spatial planning processes and ecosystem‐based management. Here, we mapped potential CIs of 45 human activities from five sectors (climate change, land‐based, marine‐based, coastal, commercial fishing) on 21 habitats in Atlantic Canada's Scotian Shelf bioregion. We applied an uncertainty and sensitivity analysis to assess the robustness of results and identify hot and cold spots of CIs. Nearly the entire Scotian Shelf bioregion experiences the CIs of human activities, and high CIs were frequently associated with multiple stressors. CIs varied widely across habitats: CI scores in habitats >30 m deep were dominated by climate change and commercial fishing, while nearshore habitats were influenced by a much wider range of activities across all five sectors. When standardized by area, coastal habitats had among the highest CI scores, highlighting the intensity of multiple stressors in these habitats despite their relatively small spatial extent and emphasizing the importance of a multisector approach when managing coastal ecosystems. Robust hot spots of CIs (i.e., areas with high CI scores that were insensitive to alternative modeling assumptions and simulated data quality issues) occurred mostly in coastal areas where multiple high‐intensity activities overlapped with highly vulnerable biogenic habitats. In contrast, robust cold spots of CI mostly occurred offshore. Overall, our results emphasize the need to consider CIs in management and protection and demonstrates that, in many areas, targeting only one activity will be insufficient to reduce overall human impact. The CI map will be useful to highlight areas in need of protection from multiple human impacts, provide information for ecological indicator development, and establish a baseline of the current state of human use in the bioregion.

Ecosystem-based marine spatial planning focuses on a specific ecosystem and the scope of its influencing activities in order to manage and plan for the sustainable development of all sea-use activities in the whole space. At present, China′s planning system is still in the immature stage, and the advanced planning experience of foreign developed countries can bring enlightenment suggestions for China′s marine spatial planning based on the ecosystem approach. This paper selects the Britain, Belgium, Australia and the United States, using the literature material law to its marine spatial planning based on ecosystem method after a summary on the patterns and practices, using comparative analysis method from the planning objectives and the classification of the system model, use control strategy from three aspects of comparison and the analysis of the differences between countries. The paper also summarizes the existing problems in China′s marine spatial planning and puts forward some suggestive suggestions based on the above research. The results show that the planning data and information sources should be improved comprehensively in the planning process in order to realize the sustainable development of multi-objective based on ecosystem management. Accelerate the coordinated development of land and sea, with emphasis on the planning of coastal zones; Increase the attention to the monitoring and evaluation system and establish the elasticity index; In order to meet the needs of the development and management of China's sea areas under the new situation and ensure the safety of China's ecosystem, we should pay attention to the overall planning and comprehensive management across the border.

Marine cultural heritage (MCH) is an essential carrier of marine civilization and a critical component of marine resources. However, it is often neglected in the current marine spatial planning (MSP) of many countries, leading to an imbalance between culture, ecology, and economy. The difficulty in defining specific spatial boundaries for areas with sociocultural value is one reason for this dilemma. This study covers 11 provinces and cities along the coast of China, and it aims to determine the spatial zoning scheme of MCH resources from macroscopic and quantitative perspectives and to provide a reference for the integrated management of marine resources. We analyzed the spatial-temporal pattern of MCH with the help of ArcGIS spatial statistics and analysis tools. We built an indicator system of influencing factors and quantified the weight of each indicator factor by GeoDetector. We drew the following conclusions: (1) The spatial distribution of MCH has significant clustering characteristics. The clustering areas are mainly concentrated in the Shandong Peninsula, the Yangtze River Delta, and the west coast of the Taiwan Straits; MCH in the Yangtze River Delta has the most vital continuity. (2) In different historical periods, the distribution of MCH has had apparent spatial heterogeneity. MCH was most densely distributed around the Shandong Peninsula and Yangtze River Delta during the Pre-Qin Period. During the Qin-Han Period, Guangdong and Guangxi became new hotspots; these moved northward to Fujian during the Sui-Tang Period. During the Song-Yuan to the Ming-Qing Period, the density of heritage in Fujian further increased. After the Modern Times, Liaodong Peninsula, Shandong Peninsula, and Tianjin formed the pattern of arching around the Bohai Sea. (3) The results of geographic correlation analysis show that, overall, watersheds have the greatest explanatory power on the MCH pattern. In contrast, dialects have the greatest explanatory power in the northern and southern coastal areas, respectively. The results of the detection of influencing factor indicators show that, from the overall scope, natural elements are the main factors affecting the spatial and temporal distribution of MCH, with a weight of 37.4%. Economic elements are first in the northern coastal area, weighing 30.2%. In the southern coastal area, natural elements are in the first place, with a contribution value of 32.0%, and the contribution value of cultural and economic elements is similar. (4) Based on the spatial and temporal distribution, relevant influencing factors, and composition characteristics of MCH, the 11 coastal provinces and cities can be divided into four heritage regions, namely, the Bohai Rim, Yangtze River Delta, west coast of the Taiwan Straits, and Lingnan MCH area, in addition to 12 secondary regions. The zoning scheme is consistent with the geographical differentiation of Chinese marine culture, which indicates that spatial statistical analysis and GeoDetector can provide technical support for the spatial zoning of MCH resources. This methodology applies equally to zoning studies of marine intangible cultural heritage and other thematic cultural heritage. The results can provide a reference for managing marine resources under national spatial planning as well as a basis for creating cultural brands in coastal cities.

Hitherto, over 50% of countries with marine waters have established MSPs or launched related legal actions. However, there are still conceptual and practical challenges to be overcome in the development of MSP. In this study, we investigate two main approaches in MSP (hard vs. soft sustainability) through reports, published manuscripts and meeting proceedings in seven pioneering countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Germany, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada). We highlight the gaps, challenges, and solutions in each of these approaches. From our findings, there are four common challenges in both soft and hard sustainability approaches as follows: (i) the political framework and inconsistent support of MSP efforts, (ii) insufficient knowledge on social dimensions, (iii) insufficient stakeholder engagement in the diversity of stakeholder's groups or in their contribution to the planning process from the initial steps, and (iv) finding a balance between environmental conservation and economic growth. We recommend that future studies should investigate how MSP can become more adaptive to long-term environmental and economic targets, how effective involving socioeconomic strata is in MSP, and how decision-making tools could help to cover the gaps in MSP. Furthermore, public forums are suggested to be developed to facilitate the systematic sharing of MSP experiences worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has the potential to revolutionize conservation planning by providing spatially and taxonomically comprehensive data on biodiversity and ecosystem conditions, but its utility to inform the design of protected areas remains untested. Here, we quantify whether and how identifying conservation priority areas within coral reef ecosystems differs when biodiversity information is collected via eDNA analyses or traditional visual census records. We focus on 147 coral reefs in Indonesia's hyper-diverse Wallacea region and show large discrepancies in the allocation and spatial design of conservation priority areas when coral reef species were surveyed with underwater visual techniques (fishes, corals, and algae) or eDNA metabarcoding (eukaryotes and metazoans). Specifically, incidental protection occurred for 55% of eDNA species when targets were set for species detected by visual surveys and 71% vice versa. This finding is supported by generally low overlap in detection between visual census and eDNA methods at species level, with more overlap at higher taxonomic ranks. Incomplete taxonomic reference databases for the highly diverse Wallacea reefs, and the complementary detection of species by the two methods, underscore the current need to combine different biodiversity data sources to maximize species representation in conservation planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acoustic telemetry (AT) has emerged as a valuable tool for monitoring aquatic animals in both European inland and marine waters over the past two decades. The European Tracking Network (ETN) initiative has played a pivotal role in promoting collaboration among AT researchers in Europe and has led to a significant increase in the number of tagged and observed aquatic animals in transboundary European waters. While AT benefits decision‐making and delivers essential data to management bodies, its potential for management decision‐making mechanisms has yet to be fully harnessed. We reviewed existing research, studies, and organisational initiatives related to aquatic animal tracking and their utility in fisheries management in European waters. We found that AT has already contributed to many aspects of fisheries management, such as improved understanding of stock dynamics, identification of critical habitats, assessment of migration routes, and evaluation of the effectiveness of conservation measures. However, broader utilisation of tracking technologies is needed. By leveraging the full potential of AT, managers can make more informed decisions to protect, restore, and sustainably manage European waters and creatures that live therein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective and sustainable management of small-scale fisheries (SSF) is challenging. We describe a novel approach to identify important fishing grounds for SSF, by implementing a habitat modelling approach, using environmental predictors and Automatic Identification System (AIS)-B data coupled with logbook and First Sales Notes data, within the SE Bay of Biscay. Fishing activity patterns and catches of longliners and netters are used to determine the main environmental characteristics of the fishing grounds, and a habitat modelling approach is implemented to predict the zones that fulfil similar environmental characteristics across a larger geographical extent. Generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs) were built for 24 fish species, and to identify other zones that fulfil similar characteristics and, thus, could be considered relevant for the species targeted by each gear type. Most of the models showed a good prediction capacity. The models included between one and four predictor variables. 'Depth of mixing layer' and 'benthic rocky habitat' were the variables included more frequently for fish species captured by netter's fleet. For longliners, the 'seafloor slope' and 'benthic rocky habitat' were the two most important variables. The predictive maps provide relevant information to assist in management and marine spatial planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Offshore wind energy development (OWED) has been identified as a major contributor to the aspired growth in Norwegian renewable energy production. Spatially explicit vulnerability assessments are necessary to select sites that minimize the harm to biodiversity, including seabird populations. Distributional data of seabirds in remote areas are scarce, and to identify vulnerable areas, species, and seasons it is necessary to combine data sets and knowledge from different sources. Methods: In this study, we combined seabird tracking data, data from dedicated coastal and seabird at-sea surveys, and presence-only data from citizen science databases to develop habitat suitability maps for 55 seabird species in four seasons throughout the Norwegian exclusive economic zone; in total 1 million km2 in the Northeast Atlantic. The habitat suitability maps were combined with species-specific vulnerability indicators to yield maps of seabird vulnerability to offshore wind farms (OWFs). The resulting map product can be used to identify the relative vulnerability of areas prospected for OWED with respect to seabird collision and habitat displacement. More detailed assessments can be done by splitting the spatial indicators into seasonal and species-specific components. Results and discussion: Associated with higher diversity of seabirds near the coast, the cumulative vulnerability indicator showed a strong declining gradient from the coast to offshore waters while the differences in vulnerability between ocean areas and seasons were negligible. Although the present map product represents the best currently available knowledge, the indicators are associated with complex uncertainties related to known and unknown sampling biases. The indicators should therefore be used cautiously, they should be updated regularly as more data become available, and we recommend that more detailed environmental impact assessments based on dedicated seabird surveys, tracking of birds from potentially affected populations and population viability analyses are conducted in areas ultimately selected for OWED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the land-sea interface, the coastal zone has become an increasingly key lifesupport system. However, it is also highly threatened by exposure to both oceanand land-based human activities. The interdependencies of the land and sea systems require the integration of land and sea spatial planning to achieve sustainable development of coastal zones. There are different forms of land-sea spatial management integration globally. Whether a form can positively impact and how different institutional settings affect outcomes need further explanation. Therefore, this study explores the reasons for China's planning integration through institutional reform by using the Graph Model for Conflicts Resolution and establishes a quantitative contradiction assessment method to examine whether this top-down institutional approach has played a role at the urban level. The results show that the planning of Xiamen city after reform has a lower total contradiction value, grid cell average and cell maximum value. This progress is made possible by unifying the land-sea spatial planning departments. The equilibrium solution of the Graph Model for Conflicts Resolution indicates that due to the different preferences of the land-sea management departments and the central-local governments, it is challenging to implement the Land-sea Coordination policy under separate land-sea management. By integrating land-sea management departments, deep-seated sectoral interests between horizontal departments do not remain. The impacts on integrated management of divergences in preferences of different vertical governments can be reduced. The research results provide a universal method for the contradiction evaluation and a management reference for other regions that want to integrate land-sea coordination into urban spatial planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge on the spatial and temporal distribution of the activities carried out in the marine environment is key to manage available space optimally. However, frequently, little or no information is available on the distribution of the largest users of the marine space, namely fishers. Tracking devices are being increasingly used to obtain highly resolved geospatial data of fishing activities, at intervals from seconds to minutes. However, to date no standardized method is used to process and analyse these data, making it difficult to replicate analysis. We develop a workflow to identify individual vessel trips and infer fishing activities from highly resolved geospatial data, which can be applied for large-scale fisheries, but also considers nuances encountered when working with small-scale fisheries. Recognizing the highly variable nature of activities conducted by different fleets, this workflow allows the user to choose a path that best aligns with the particularities in the fishery being analysed. A new method to identify anchoring sites for small-scale fisheries is also presented. The paper provides detailed code used in each step of the workflow both in R and Python language to widen the application of the workflow in the scientific and stakeholder communities and to encourage its improvement and refinement in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing effective spatial management strategies is challenging because marine ecosystems are highly dynamic and opaque, and extractive entities such as fishing fleets respond endogenously to ecosystem changes in ways that depend on ecological and policy context. We present a modelling framework, marlin, that can be used to efficiently simulate the bio‐economic dynamics of marine systems in support of both management and research. We demonstrate marlin's capabilities by focusing on two case studies on the conservation and food production impacts of marine protected areas (MPAs): a coastal coral reef and a pelagic tuna fishery. In the coastal coral reef example, we explore how heterogeneity in species distributions and fleet preferences can affect distributional outcomes of MPAs. In the pelagic case study, we show how our model can be used to assess the climate resilience of different MPA design strategies, as well as the climate sensitivity of different fishing fleets. This paper demonstrates how intermediate complexity simulation of coupled bio‐economic dynamics can help communities predict and potentially manage trade‐offs among conservation, fisheries yields and distributional outcomes of management policies affected by spatial bio‐economic dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine cultural heritage (MCH) is an essential carrier of marine civilization and a critical component of marine resources. However, it is often neglected in the current marine spatial planning (MSP) of many countries, leading to an imbalance between culture, ecology, and economy. The difficulty in defining specific spatial boundaries for areas with sociocultural value is one reason for this dilemma. This study covers 11 provinces and cities along the coast of China, and it aims to determine the spatial zoning scheme of MCH resources from macroscopic and quantitative perspectives and to provide a reference for the integrated management of marine resources. We analyzed the spatial-temporal pattern of MCH with the help of ArcGIS spatial statistics and analysis tools. We built an indicator system of influencing factors and quantified the weight of each indicator factor by GeoDetector. We drew the following conclusions: (1) The spatial distribution of MCH has significant clustering characteristics. The clustering areas are mainly concentrated in the Shandong Peninsula, the Yangtze River Delta, and the west coast of the Taiwan Straits; MCH in the Yangtze River Delta has the most vital continuity. (2) In different historical periods, the distribution of MCH has had apparent spatial heterogeneity. MCH was most densely distributed around the Shandong Peninsula and Yangtze River Delta during the Pre-Qin Period. During the Qin-Han Period, Guangdong and Guangxi became new hotspots; these moved northward to Fujian during the Sui-Tang Period. During the Song-Yuan to the Ming-Qing Period, the density of heritage in Fujian further increased. After the Modern Times, Liaodong Peninsula, Shandong Peninsula, and Tianjin formed the pattern of arching around the Bohai Sea. (3) The results of geographic correlation analysis show that, overall, watersheds have the greatest explanatory power on the MCH pattern. In contrast, dialects have the greatest explanatory power in the northern and southern coastal areas, respectively. The results of the detection of influencing factor indicators show that, from the overall scope, natural elements are the main factors affecting the spatial and temporal distribution of MCH, with a weight of 37.4%. Economic elements are first in the northern coastal area, weighing 30.2%. In the southern coastal area, natural elements are in the first place, with a contribution value of 32.0%, and the contribution value of cultural and economic elements is similar. (4) Based on the spatial and temporal distribution, relevant influencing factors, and composition characteristics of MCH, the 11 coastal provinces and cities can be divided into four heritage regions, namely, the Bohai Rim, Yangtze River Delta, west coast of the Taiwan Straits, and Lingnan MCH area, in addition to 12 secondary regions. The zoning scheme is consistent with the geographical differentiation of Chinese marine culture, which indicates that spatial statistical analysis and GeoDetector can provide technical support for the spatial zoning of MCH resources. This methodology applies equally to zoning studies of marine intangible cultural heritage and other thematic cultural heritage. The results can provide a reference for managing marine resources under national spatial planning as well as a basis for creating cultural brands in coastal cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crowded seas are becoming a pressing management problem with the increased development of offshore renewable energy (ORE) to combat climate change. Marine ecosystems are complex and varied; therefore, we need new tools to help rapidly increase our understanding of how they are likely to change with both climate and anthropogenic changes. This study uses a pragmatic data‐driven Bayesian network approach to capture the patterns of ecosystem complexity and reveal trends of ecosystem drivers (i.e. indicators) important to ecosystem functioning across space and over time. The ecosystem approach assessed physical and biological indicators and their influence on population (abundance/productivity) trends in four regions with contrasting habitats of the North Sea within the last 30 years (1990–2019). What‐if scenarios were conducted to examine species/functional group responses to physical (temperature and stratification) representing climate and large‐scale ORE development effects, as well as anthropogenic (fishing) changes. Clear patterns were revealed, including temporal trends of the dynamic nature of bottom‐up effects driven by physical change versus top‐down effects driven by fishing across trophic levels and habitat types. All four regions are influenced by both effects; however, the dominance of effects was dependent on region: Shetland and Orkney (bottom‐up driven), southern North Sea (top‐down driven). In general, regions with stronger bottom‐up effects showed increasing population trends whereas those with stronger top‐down effects, decreasing trends. Our findings also suggest that some species are much better indicators of either bottom‐up (e.g. zooplankton), top‐down effects (e.g. fish) or both (e.g. grey seal), but the strength of indicator is dependent on habitat type. The habitat‐specific results provide better understanding of what type of ecosystem change they are indicating (physical or biophysical) and therefore indicators that assess both ecosystem status and resilience, ensuring a more strategic and integrated evaluation of trade‐offs for future sustainable management of our shallow seas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the intensification of global climate change and the increase of polar human activities, the Antarctic and its ecosystem are facing unprecedented changes. The continuing concern of the international community to mitigate and adapt to these changes has prompted an ongoing call for an ecosystem-based approach to manage human activities in the Antarctic. In many sea areas around the world, Marine Spatial Planning has become an effective way to transform this concept into management practice, which could be a new tool for the comprehensive management of polar oceans. The Fildes Peninsula is the largest ice-free area in the Antarctic, which is characterised by high density of scientific research stations, abundant human activities and rich biodiversity. It is an ideal research area for the study of Antarctic ecological conservation, human activities and spatial management. Combining with the 36th Chinese Antarctic scientific expedition, the environmental characteristics of Fildes Peninsula, such as natural environment, biological distribution and regional protection, were systematically summarised; the main human activities and their environmental impacts, such as Antarctic station-based activities, Ant‐ arctic tourism, sea and air traffic, and commercial fishing were briefly analysed. On this basis, a practical study of Marine Spatial Planning on the Fildes Peninsula was carried out, and a zoning system consisting of 3 "first-level functional zones" and 10 "second-level functional zones" was proposed to realize effective protection of fragile ecological environment and scientific management of human activities in the Antarctic. It provides reference for the application of marine spatial planning in larger scale and wider scope in the Antarctic region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governments are under increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and large-scale wind farms are being developed in marine environments worldwide. However, top predators are strongly affected by environmental change and anthropogenic activities. Common guillemots (Uria aalge, hereafter guillemots), as one of the world's most numerous seabird species, are prone to interference with offshore wind farms (OWFs). This study assessed the cumulative impacts of all operating OWFs on guillemots in the German North Sea. These estimates were applied to quantify the possible conflicts between guillemot occurrence and current German government plans to implement large-scale OWFs. If OWFs were implemented according to the current maritime spatial plan for the German Exclusive Economic zone, they would cover 13% of the German North Sea. Guillemot numbers peak during autumn, with German North Sea offshore waters hosting approximately 90,000 individuals. Guillemot density in autumn was significantly reduced within a radius of 19.5 km around operating OWFs. Applying this disturbance distance to current installation plans, about 70% of the German North Sea would be affected, and an estimated 68% of guillemots in the German North Sea would experience habitat loss. This highlights the possible threat to guillemots in the southern North Sea if the current German government plans are implemented. The current estimates are highly relevant to decisions regarding marine spatial planning and management recommendations. Such evaluations are essential for developing sustainable scenarios including reducing the human CO2 footprint, whilst also conserving biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Korea is the second highest producer of cultured Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, in the world, but their potential economic values of ecosystem services have not yet been evaluated. As the first case study, we evaluated the potential values of C. gigas cultured in Hansan Bay, Korea. We utilized Gangnery’s growth model to assess the provisioning and regulating services, assuming that the nitrogen removal amount equals the difference between input and harvested oysters in terms of accumulated nitrogen. To convert these measured services into monetary values, we used the market price of C. gigas for provisioning service, and the annual operational report regarding the current state of domestic sewage treatments for regulating service. We estimated that cultivating a ha of C. gigas farms has a monetary value ranging from ca. −16.6 to 67.6 thousand US dollars, which is considerably lower than other research findings. Results suggested that the growth model applied in this study is suitable and effective, particularly in cases where other models may not be applicable. Additionally, we compared the values of coastal areas when shifting from C. gigas cultivation to another species or maintaining the status quo to assist policymakers in making decisions. Despite some limitations, our model is expected to contribute to appraising the monetary values of coastal areas and mitigating conflicts in marine spatial planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine spatial planning (MSP) was developed as a process for managing the marine environment under the scenario of increased demand for space with different uses and economic activities. In the last decades, the research interest in MSP has been reflected by the growing number of published scientific articles on this subject. Nonetheless, a systematic scientific literature review on MSP is still lacking. In this context, the present study is aimed at performing a global review highlighting the main trends and patterns of scientific article contents focusing on the concepts, approaches, and tools that have been used to inform and shape MSP. After text screening and application of the eligibility criteria, a total of 476 articles published between 2004 and 2020 were included in the analysis. The results showed that most studies published so far (74%) focused on conceptual aspects of governance issues (n = 98), investigated the role of economic activities in MSP (n = 98), evidenced the solutions that have been adopted to implement national plans (n = 71), or explored the strategies used to involve stakeholders in MSP (n = 83). A trend towards MSP applicability was expressed by the increasing number of studies related to stakeholders’ engagement methodologies, together with the development of decision support tools for MSP implementation in recent years. Overall, including progressive methodologies in the evaluation and assessment of all stages of MSP are needed to foster its applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elasmobranchs, encompassing an array of sharks and rays, confront a threat of extinction on a global scale. The Sea of Marmara (SoM) stands out as a critical refuge for these endangered species.This study harnesses data derived from comprehensive trawl surveys, representing the first area‐based evaluation of the elasmobranchs inhabiting the SoM. Sampling protocols were carried out at 10 separate stations along the 980‐km coastline of the SoM, each bounded by different ecological characteristics and anthropogenic influences.A total of eight shark species and six ray species were caught in the towed area of the entire the SoM. Notably, Scyliorhinus canicula and near‐threatened Raja clavata constitute more than 50% of the total abundance. Additionally, rare, and critically endangered species, including the Oxynotus centrina, Squatina squatina, Dipturus batis, and Myliobatis aquila, were documented, expanding our knowledge of their presence in the region.Spatial distribution heterogeneity was pronounced within species.Size distributions were species‐specific, and the presence of both juvenile and adult individuals suggested successful reproduction and growth.Records expand the known size range in the SoM for six shark and three ray species. It also provides first‐size information based on the total length of the S. stellaris and D. batis.Additionally, the urgent need for field‐based conservation efforts is highlighted, citing a previously unidentified important sensitive areas located in the southern part of the SoM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biogenic habitats are foundational habitats for species assemblages and drive a range of ecosystem functions. The Hauraki Gulf/Tiikapa Moana is the most intensively used coastal area in Aotearoa/New Zealand, and decades of commercial fishing, sedimentation and industrialization have degraded biogenic habitats in the Gulf. In response, the marine spatial plan 'Sea Change' includes proposals to create new and extend existing marine protected areas (MPAs) and restrict the area open to mobile bottom‐impact fishing methods to conserve and help the recovery of biogenic habitats.To assess the benefits of different spatial planning scenarios for biogenic habitats, information on their spatial distribution is needed, but data limitations are a significant challenge. Here, an approach is detailed that maximized the information extracted from limited species occurrence data, by incorporating expert knowledge to develop and evaluate models of biogenic habitat‐forming taxa.Ensemble habitat suitability models (using boosted regression tree and random forest models) were created for 20 biogenic habitat groups. Using withheld data for validation, area under curve (AUC) scores ranged from 0.58 to 0.95 and true skill statistics (TSS) ranged from 0.37 to 0.84, though three models were further evaluated as insufficient representations of known ecological habitats by expert assessors.Models produced here provide substantially increased information to inform progress on implementation of the Sea Change plan. Two stakeholder processes have been held, resulting in the development of spatial plans for bottom trawl mitigation that are currently under public consultation. Systematic surveys that gather abundance and high‐resolution environmental data should be a priority to improve the utility of predictive models and inform future management processes in the Hauraki Gulf, and funding has been allocated to support additional data collection to determine the effectiveness of spatial management measures in the Hauraki Gulf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine aquaculture has grown enormously in recent decades, and with it the competition for space suitable for aquaculture. These developments have limited the areas available for aquaculture and, in some cases, have become a barrier to expansion. In response, aquaculture operations have moved further away from the coast. This development has created a need for clearer and more robust approaches to more comprehensively describe and secure sites for aquaculture. This article reviews the law governing the siting of aquaculture operations. In particular, it assesses the role of the widely used term “offshore” in the Law of the Sea to see if there are any legal aspects that need to be considered in moving towards the use of more specific concepts. It also aims to inform scientific discussions and political and administrative processes on the law governing the identification, description, and siting of aquaculture operations. This will hopefully contribute to more sustainable and less conflicted long-term aquaculture development.

Marine co-location, i.e., multiple fixed ocean activities operating in the same place and at the same time, can maximize the space- and resource-use efficiency in crowded seascapes. While interest grows, commercial use is nascent and the collective benefits or limitations of co-locating aquatic food and clean energy remains scattered throughout the literature. In this study, we synthesize multinational findings of co-location scientific publications (N = 102) to better understand the patterns and knowledge gaps at the co-located ocean food-energy nexus. We track and compare food (aquaculture) and energy (tidal, offshore wind, and wave) co-located ocean activities, noting the focus (e.g., ecological), motivation (e.g., impact/risk), and assessment type (e.g., modeling), as well as nine key metrics of interest (depth, distance from shore, aquaculture yield, etc.), mainly for aquaculture co-location. We found the number of annual co-location publications increased over time and space but are largely concentrated in the North Sea (n = 39). We also found about half of publications include aquaculture, one-third of publications report at least one metric – reporting aquaculture yield was particularly rare (n = 1) – and few studies focused on impact/risk (n = 7). However, conducting a targeted post-hoc evaluation of North Sea gray literature (N = 61), due to this region’s importance in the field, showed more coverage of impacts/risk (e.g., liability) and similar attention to aquaculture. Of the scientific papers that did report metrics, the ranges of depth and distance exceeded those reported for standalone sectors, indicating co-location could be facilitating a “push” of ocean activities into farther offshore and/or deeper exposed waters. Ultimately, while aquaculture is commonly cited in the co-location literature, the shortage of metrics, like aquaculture yield, and possible impact/risk evaluations – though gray literature can provide critical insights – emphasizes the need for knowledge sharing and modeling to address and explore the uncertainty, especially for co-located aquaculture production. This study provides a needed snapshot of marine co-location, particularly in emerging regions, highlighting gaps in understanding aquaculture-energy potential in the oceans.

The natural capacity of marine sediments to capture, sequester, and store organic carbon has been recognized by researchers and policy makers for its potential to mitigate against climate change. As a result, Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and Marine Protected Area (MPA) designation processes increasingly aim to protect “blue carbon” stored in marine sediments by reducing anthropogenic activities that disturb the seabed (e.g., bottom trawling). In this research, we engaged with coastal residents around Dundalk Bay, Ireland to explore public perceptions of the presence and management of carbon-storing marine sediments in the context of the multifaceted relationship between communities and the environment. This has not been previously studied in an empirical setting. Given the largely “unknown” character of this source of blue carbon, we theorized that speculation played a key role in sustaining emerging perceptions of the sediments, by creating a link with existing place meanings. We used interviews (n = 12) and a focus group (n = 7). Reflexive thematic analysis of the data showed that local residents associated multiple, overlapping meanings with Dundalk Bay. We found evidence that speculative mechanisms such as analogy and experiential knowledge were used to bridge between existing place meanings and emerging perceptions of carbon-storing marine sediments, which also helped indicate the valence of people’s feelings about the sediments. We found different views about the presence of the sediments, and residents varied in their prioritization of measures to protect either nature or economic activity in the bay. Because of scientific knowledge gaps related to the distribution and character of marine sediments and the impacts of anthropogenic activity, participants stressed the need for further research and a careful approach to the management of the bay and its sediments. Our work reiterates the importance of recognizing existing people–place connections to understand potential responses to changes in the use and/or management of marine environments. This can help achieve a more engaged and socially acceptable MSP process.

Identifying locations of refugia from the thermal stresses of climate change for coral reefs and better managing them is one of the key recommendations for climate change adaptation. We review and summarize approximately 30 years of applied research focused on identifying climate refugia to prioritize the conservation actions for coral reefs under rapid climate change. We found that currently proposed climate refugia and the locations predicted to avoid future coral losses are highly reliant on excess heat metrics, such as degree heating weeks. However, many existing alternative environmental, ecological, and life‐history variables could be used to identify other types of refugia that lead to the desired diversified portfolio for coral reef conservation. To improve conservation priorities for coral reefs, there is a need to evaluate and validate the predictions of climate refugia with long‐term field data on coral abundance, diversity, and functioning. There is also the need to identify and safeguard locations displaying resistance toprolonged exposure to heat waves and the ability to recover quickly after thermal exposure. We recommend using more metrics to identify a portfolio of potential refugia sites for coral reefs that can avoid, resist, and recover from exposure to high ocean temperatures and the consequences of climate change, thereby shifting past efforts focused on avoidance to a diversified risk‐spreading portfolio that can be used to improve strategic coral reef conservation in a rapidly warming climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]