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A commentary published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences challenges the belief that Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) displace fisheries. The study found that fishing effort actually decreases in and around MPAs, suggesting a recovery of fish stocks. The article also addresses misconceptions about MPAs, such as the idea that recreational fishing is less harmful to biodiversity and that only commercial fishing should be excluded from MPAs. The study concludes that more fully protected MPAs will benefit fisheries. The article also discusses the benefits and challenges of establishing fully protected MPAs, arguing that the costs are relatively low and that a global network of fully protected MPAs is needed. [Extracted from the article]

This document is an editorial titled "Elasmobranch - fisheries interactions in the Mediterranean" that discusses the decline of elasmobranch populations, such as sharks and rays, in the Mediterranean due to fishing activities. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the relationship between elasmobranchs and fishing and provides insights from recent scientific studies on the genetic structure of blackmouth catsharks and small-spotted catsharks in the Mediterranean. The editorial calls for effective conservation measures and highlights the significance of studying the ecology and genetics of elasmobranchs. The document also summarizes four scientific studies that provide insights into the genetic structures, distribution patterns, and vulnerability of elasmobranch species in the Mediterranean, as well as the impact of fishing activities on these populations. The studies stress the need for sustainable management practices and urgent conservation efforts to protect these marine species in the face of environmental changes and fishing pressures. [Extracted from the article]

Simple Summary: Illegal fishing, including that of sharks for meat and fins, is one of the larger threats to marine biodiversity conservation. Getting data on these illegal activities is challenging as there are few reliable official records. I use data from the media, tourists, and artisan fishermen to gain insight into the trade in the world's largest fish, the whale shark, in Indonesia. Whale sharks are typically caught in fishing nets, dragged alongside boats to the shallows, where they are butchered. The meat and oil are sold. In a popular tourist area, Pangandaran, whale sharks are landed and butchered on the beach in view of hundreds of people and local media; I report on 30 landings (2002–2022). Along the south coast of Java, part of which includes Pangandaran, I document 38 landings (2019–2022). Artisanal fishermen see the landings of whale sharks as fortuitous events, and the monetary gains are frequently shared with the community. However, artisanal fisheries pose a significant threat to whale sharks, and the legal protection that whale sharks receive in Indonesia is not sufficiently enforced. Furthermore, Indonesia is a signatory to various international agreements that preclude the fishing and trade in whale sharks, and greater adherence to these rules and regulations is needed. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, including that of sharks, poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems and individual species. I use data from the media, tourists, and artisan fishermen to gain insight into the trade in the world's largest fish, the whale shark (Rhincodon typus). I focus on the Indonesian island of Java where, along its south coast, whale sharks are landed and butchered on the beach in view of hundreds of people and local media. Whale sharks are typically caught in fishing nets and dragged alongside boats to the shallows, where they are butchered. The meat and oil (valued at ~USD 2000 per shark) are sold and distributed within the community. I document 58 landings of mainly immature whale sharks (2002–2022). Artisanal fishermen see the landing of whale sharks as a fortuitous event, but the species is protected, and Indonesia is a signatory to various international agreements that preclude the fishing of whale sharks. It is imperative for the conservation of whale sharks that the various parties in Indonesia adhere better to their own rules and regulations protecting this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species richness is the most basic concept of diversity and is crucial to biodiversity conservation and sustainable fisheries. To understand the fish species richness of the Minjiang Estuary and its adjacent waters, eight documents and surveyed data were collected and compared from 1990–2021. To obtain suitable analysis data, the content of the data was compared and evaluated. Explore the suitability of data based on several criteria. Among them, the bottom trawling survey carried out in 2006–2007, and non-parametric estimation methods such as Chao 2, Jackknife 1, Jackknife 2 and Bootstrap were used to estimate the fish species richness. The results of this case show that a total of 153 species of fish were caught in the trawling survey in the fourth quarter, belonging to 14 orders, 57 families and 101 genera. The 2006–2007 cruise is more complete for studying species richness. The Estimable expectations of fish species richness are: 250 (Chao 2), 204 (Jackknief 1), 241 (Jackknief 2) and 174 (Bootstrap). The number of fish species was significantly higher in summer and autumn than winter and spring. To manage fishery resources and sustainability in the sea area of Fujian Province, biological information and stock assessment are required. This meaningful information, especially for endemic and economically important species such as can set a baseline. Once species change exceeds the baseline range, it provides decision-making basis for marine biodiversity conservation and fisheries management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of high-seas fisheries is the main threat to biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. The BBNJ Agreement, which focuses on biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, is under vigorous discussion. Subject to the "not undermine" requirement and considerations of practical interests, it is highly possible that the BBNJ Agreement may not address the issue of fisheries on the high seas. The objective of this paper is to analyze the relationship between the high-seas fisheries issue and the BBNJ Agreement for the purposes of the conservation of marine biodiversity, the unity of the marine ecosystem, and the consistency of regulations. It maintains that from the perspective of protecting the oceans, enacting legislation in areas beyond national jurisdiction, and transforming marine management mode, the issue of high-seas fisheries should be included in the BBNJ Agreement. In the future, the BBNJ agreement needs to clarify its scope of application, resolve overlapping issues through general regulations and conflict rules, clarify the methods and contents of international cooperation, and establish international law obligations for integrated ocean management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper empirically examines how digital transformation in both the public and private sectors impacts the performance of marine living resources to demonstrate its importance for promoting a sustainable blue economy. Our approach captures the sustainable performance of countries within the European blue economy using three different measures: value added at the factor cost of capture fisheries, shellfish aquaculture, and marine aquaculture. In the context of digitalization, four different aspects are measured, namely online selling, e-commerce sales, e-commerce turnover, e-commerce, and customer relationship management, while digital public services are measured based on digital literacies, business mobility, and key enablers. By using various empirical techniques, namely a panel-corrected standard error (PCSE) model, FGLS models, and a pooled mean group estimation (PMG) in an autoregressive distributed lag estimation method (ARDL), we provide many remarkable findings. During the 2011–2019 period, we estimate that digitalization will have a significant impact on improving the sustainability of the blue economy in Europe. Nevertheless, long-term effects are more likely to be noticeable. Further, in the shape of a U curve, we also find that digitalization has nonlinear effects on marine living resources in the private and public sectors. In this study, results indicate that digitalization affects marine living resources only to a certain extent once they have reached a certain maturity level. Our findings suggest that European countries should accelerate the digital economy, strengthen the establishment of digital infrastructure, and promote digital implementation on the path toward sustainable marine living resources. • We examine impacts of digital transformation on the performance of marine living resources. • Different measures are used to capture marine living resources. • Digitalization has a significant impact on improving the sustainability of the blue economy. • The effects of digitalization on resource productivity follow a nonlinear U-shaped curve. • Long-term effects are more likely to be noticeable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: commercial fish species; catch assemblage; temporal patterns; community structure; environmental parameters; Caspian Sea EN commercial fish species catch assemblage temporal patterns community structure environmental parameters Caspian Sea 90 99 10 04/28/22 20220301 NES 220301 1 Introduction The Caspian Sea (CS), the largest lake in the world, is a unique ecosystem known for its rich and diverse aquatic fauna (Karpinsky et al. 2005). Despite the commercial importance of bony fish, no study has been carried out on the species composition of these fish assemblages in relation to environmental parameters in the CS. 2.2 Environmental data Global variables with large-scale influence - the global temperature anomaly (GTA), the East Atlantic-West Russian pattern (EAWR), the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and two regional environmental variables - sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface level (SSL) were investigated to assess the potential effects on fish species assemblages between 1996 and 2017 (Table 1). Table 4 Relationship between environmental variables and diversity index, most abundant fish species (species with a percentage value higher than 1%) in the Caspian Sea. [Extracted from the article]

While well-being can be studied from multiple perspectives,[20] it is best understood from the experience of small-scale fishing people themselves.[21] Given that many people in small-scale fisheries, especially those living in remote places, are impoverished and undernourished, the understanding of the poverty and well-being nexus is imperative in small-scale fisheries governance.[22] The SSF Open House sessions under this theme emphasized the importance of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in job creation, economic growth, food security and nutrition. Well-being and Food Security Small-scale fisheries contribute about 25-30 percent of the world's catches, according to some estimates,[17] and the majority of small-scale fisheries catches, either fresh or dried, are for direct human consumption.[18] Further, small-scale fisheries employ more than 90 percent of the total fisheries workforce, making them a major source of employment and income in many coastal communities around the world.[19] Thus, they have an important role to play in achieving SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (No Hunger). The relative contribution of small-scale and industrial fisheries to food security in Southeast Asia", I Frontiers in Marine Science i 5 (2018): 44; D. Zeller and D., Pauly, "Viewpoint: Back to the future for fisheries, where will we choose to go? In the context of small-scale fisheries, the SSF Guidelines recognize capacity development as a key enabling factor in improving governance, urging countries to enhance capacity and opportunities for small-scale fisheries to participate in management and decision-making processes. [Extracted from the article]

Marine reserves are a key tool for the conservation of marine biodiversity, yet only ~2.5% of the world's oceans are protected. The integration of marine reserves into connected networks representing all habitats has been encouraged by international agreements, yet the benefits of this design has not been tested empirically. Australia has one of the largest systems of marine reserves, providing a rare opportunity to assess how connectivity influences conservation success. An Australia‐wide dataset was collected using baited remote underwater video systems deployed across a depth range from 0 to 100 m to assess the effectiveness of marine reserves for protecting teleosts subject to commercial and recreational fishing. A meta‐analytical comparison of 73 fished species within 91 marine reserves found that, on average, marine reserves had 28% greater abundance and 53% greater biomass of fished species compared to adjacent areas open to fishing. However, benefits of protection were not observed across all reserves (heterogeneity), so full subsets generalized additive modelling was used to consider factors that influence marine reserve effectiveness, including distance‐based and ecological metrics of connectivity among reserves. Our results suggest that increased connectivity and depth improve the aforementioned marine reserve benefits and that these factors should be considered to optimize such benefits over time. We provide important guidance on factors to consider when implementing marine reserves for the purpose of increasing the abundance and size of fished species, given the expected increase in coverage globally. We show that marine reserves that are highly protected (no‐take) and designed to optimize connectivity, size and depth range can provide an effective conservation strategy for fished species in temperate and tropical waters within an overarching marine biodiversity conservation framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article recounts my career path, from academic ornithologist to applied quantitative ecologist, to research and science advisor within the Canadian federal Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans. It highlights factors that prompted abrupt changes in career direction and, at each stage in progression of my career, how the diversity of experiences prior to each step were integrated in the approach to the tasks of my new position. Particular attention placed on the latter part of my career, which focused in the quality assurance, and then application, of aggregated knowledge to policy questions, particularly at the interface of the sustainable use of marine resources and conservation of biodiversity, at national and international levels. The importance of bright, supportive colleagues, and the willingness to protect science integrity from the partisan pressures of either policy makers or ardent advocates, was crucial to success in that role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fisheries interactions with non-target marine vertebrates are a worldwide problem. The impact of coastal bottom trawl fisheries on marine mammals has never been evaluated before in the Río de la Plata Estuary and the adjacent Atlantic Ocean. Our aim was estimating the bycatch per unit effort (BcPUE) and incidental mortality rates of marine mammals caused by the industrial coastal bottom trawl fisheries fleet. We evaluated the mortality of three species (i.e., franciscana dolphin Pontoporia blainvillei, South American sea lion Otaria flavescens, and the South American fur seal Arctocephalus australis); these species are facing conservation problems either at the regional or local scale. We conducted an onboard data collection program of marine mammals' bycatch involving crew members of 10 vessels (30%) of the Uruguayan coastal bottom trawl fleet between January 2009 and April 2012. A total of 102 marine mammal individuals were bycaught during 490 fishing trips involving 2,398 fishing days. Mortalities estimated for franciscana dolphin were the highest among the species affected, with values adding up to ~100 individuals for year (with scenarios of population decline in the area), followed by South American sea lion with ~77 individuals by year (0.8% of local population) and the South American fur seal with an annual mortality estimate of ~25 individuals (~0.02% of local population). BcPUE showed significant temporal variation, with franciscana dolphin BcPUE varying seasonally and those of otariids according to their breeding season. Our estimates of marine mammal bycatch by bottom trawl fisheries should constitute an important input for the sustainable management of fisheries and the conservation of marine biodiversity in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No-take marine reserves can be powerful management tools, but only if they are well designed and effectively managed. We review how ecological guidelines for improving marine reserve design can be adapted based on an area’s unique evolutionary, oceanic, and ecological characteristics in the Gulf of California, Mexico. We provide ecological guidelines to maximize benefits for fisheries management, biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation. These guidelines include: representing 30% of each major habitat (and multiple examples of each) in marine reserves within each of three biogeographic subregions; protecting critical areas in the life cycle of focal species (spawning and nursery areas) and sites with unique biodiversity; and establishing reserves in areas where local threats can be managed effectively. Given that strong, asymmetric oceanic currents reverse direction twice a year, to maximize connectivity on an ecological time scale, reserves should be spaced less than 50-200 km apart depending on the planktonic larval duration of target species; and reserves should be located upstream of fishing sites, taking the reproductive timing of focal species in consideration. Reserves should be established for the long term, preferably permanently, since full recovery of all fisheries species is likely to take > 25 years. Reserve size should be based on movement patterns of focal species, although marine reserves > 10 km long are likely to protect ~ 80% of fish species. Since climate change will affect species’ geographic range, larval duration, growth, reproduction, abundance, and distribution of key recruitment habitats, these guidelines may require further modifications to maintain ecosystem function in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elasmobranchs are among the most threatened long-lived marine species worldwide, and incidental capture is a major source of mortality. The northern central Adriatic Sea, though one of the most overfished basins of the Mediterranean Sea, supports a very valuable marine biodiversity, including elasmobranchs. This study assesses the impact of the northern central Adriatic pelagic trawl fishery on common smooth-hound (Mustelus mustelus), spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias), common eagle ray (Myliobatis aquila), and pelagic stingray (Pteroplatytrygon violacea) by examining incidental catches recorded between 2006 and 2015. The distribution of bycatch events was evaluated using geo-referenced data. Generalized Linear Models were computed to standardize the catch of the four species and to predict the relative abundance of bycatch events. Data analysis shows that most bycatch events involving all four species occurred in the northern Adriatic Sea. The models predicted significant, distinct temporal patterns of standardized catches in line with previous investigations. Water depth, season, and fishing region were the best predictors to explain bycatch events. The present data suggest that the northern Adriatic may be an important nursery area for several elasmobranchs. They also highlight the urgent need for a better understanding of the interactions between elasmobranchs and fisheries to develop and apply suitable, ad hoc management measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Notwithstanding the wide range of actions taken to strengthen the legal regime of international fisheries, overexploitation and the risk of depletion of stocks have been strong concerns for decades. Indeed, the regime of international fisheries law is currently not rooted in sustainability, and it does not adequately take into consideration the impact of fishing activities on the wider marine environment. One of the main causes lies in fragmentation of international fisheries law: a lack of coordination between instruments and institutions, and gaps in effective coherent structures for fisheries management. Areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), including the high seas, are particularly prone to this lack of coordination and integration. One alternative to reach a durable management of high seas fisheries might be found in a ‘global oceans governance approach’. This paper explores how this approach could impact the fragmented regime of fisheries. It suggests that governance-based perspectives underline concepts rooted in adaptability and interactions, concepts that suggest to approach international fisheries law not as a static set of rules but as an evolutive process. Reflecting on an overarching goal of coordination and possible management challenges in ABNJ provides an interesting starting point to develop a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of oceans governance on the fragmented legal regime of high seas fisheries. We now need to see how to give effect to governance, a task that remains, at this point, a work in progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postsettlement spillover from marine protected areas (MPAs) can support adjacent fished populations and has been subject of many scientific studies. The larval subsidy effect, on the contrary, is more challenging to study and less demonstrated, although it, arguably, provides key benefits for fisheries. We modeled and predicted the spatial distribution of fish spawning biomass and fecundity across a temperate insular MPA network (Azores archipelago, Northeast Atlantic) and identified potential single- and multispecies reproductive habitats (RHs) in shallow reefs. Reproductive strategies or skewed sex ratios influenced spatial patterns of potential spawning biomass and fecundity. Predicted multispecies RHs covered 5%-20% of the studied reef habitat. Given their potentially high reproductive output, we argue that such sites should be considered in marine conservation planning to increase chances of achieving fisheries and conservation benefits. Spatial patterns of the reproductive output may function as surrogates for larval subsidy when limited or no larval connectivity information is available and also may assist in identifying potential larval sources and priority sites for conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthy ocean ecosystems are needed to sustain people and livelihoods and to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Using the ocean sustainably requires overcoming many formidable challenges: overfishing, climate change, ocean acidification, and pollution. Despite gloomy forecasts, there is reason for hope. New tools, practices, and partnerships are beginning to transform local fisheries, biodiversity conservation, and marine spatial planning. The challenge is to bring them to a global scale. We dissect recent successes using a complex adaptive-systems (CAS) framework, which acknowledges the interconnectedness of social and ecological systems. Understanding how policies and practices change the feedbacks in CASs by altering the behavior of different system components is critical for building robust, sustainable states with favorable emergent properties. Our review reveals that altering incentives--either economic or social norms, or both--can achieve positive outcomes. For example, introduction of well-designed rights-based or secure-access fisheries and ecosystem service accounting shifts economic incentives to align conservation and economic benefits. Modifying social norms can create conditions that incentivize a company, country, or individual to fish sustainably, curb illegal fishing, or create large marine reserves as steps to enhance reputation or self-image. In each example, the feedbacks between individual actors and emergent system properties were altered, triggering a transition from a vicious to a virtuous cycle. We suggest that evaluating conservation tools by their ability to align incentives of actors with broader goals of sustainability is an underused approach that can provide a pathway toward scaling sustainability successes. In short, getting incentives right matters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• One shortcoming of marine protected areas (MPA) implementation is the potential for unintended consequences, such as fisheries effort displacement, that cause negative economic and social effects for fishermen and undermine social support for MPA implementation efforts. • The objective of this work is to analyse the effects of a proposed MPA system on fisheries in a biodiversity conservation priority site in northern Chile using a spatial dynamic modelling approach and incorporating ecological, social and economic criteria. • We developed an Ecospace model representing the ecological benthic subsystems dominated by kelp beds off the Mejillones Peninsula, Chile. We compared changes in fisheries indicators and the spatial distribution of effort among a no-MPA baseline scenario and four scenarios using proposed MPA core and buffer zones with high or low dispersal rates for the species in the model. • An overlay analysis was performed to identify which zones and users of the fishing grounds would be affected by the proposed MPA system and to what degree. • We found a high degree of overlap of the proposed MPA site with fishing grounds of high economic importance and with a fishing ground where women are allowed to work, this can cause significant displacement of women that have no alternative livelihood, with possible undesired social impacts on the fishing community. • Results from the kelp forest spatial food web model reveals that the biomass build-up of fished species is sensitive to dispersal rates, especially in scenarios with small reserves. A general pattern of fishing effort reallocation at the border of individual MPAs and open areas closer to the port was observed. Fisheries indicators show negative effects for both MPA scenarios, with undesirable changes in catch and profits for rockfish and kelp exploitation. • Our results suggest that implementation of the MPA proposal for the Mejillones Peninsula could generate negative consequences for the fishing community of Constitución cove. The inclusion of fisheries management objectives along with biodiversity conservation in the planning process of the Mejillones Peninsula MPA system may help to address putative negative effects on fisheries and may allow for the creation of support for future MPAs from the fishermen community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ocean provides food, economic activity, and cultural value for a large proportion of humanity. Our knowledge of marine ecosystems lags behind that of terrestrial ecosystems, limiting effective protection of marine resources. We describe the outcome of 2 workshops in 2011 and 2012 to establish a list of important questions, which, if answered, would substantially improve our ability to conserve and manage the world's marine resources. Participants included individuals from academia, government, and nongovernment organizations with broad experience across disciplines, marine ecosystems, and countries that vary in levels of development. Contributors from the fields of science, conservation, industry, and government submitted questions to our workshops, which we distilled into a list of priority research questions. Through this process, we identified 71 key questions. We grouped these into 8 subject categories, each pertaining to a broad component of marine conservation: fisheries, climate change, other anthropogenic threats, ecosystems, marine citizenship, policy, societal and cultural considerations, and scientific enterprise. Our questions address many issues that are specific to marine conservation, and will serve as a road map to funders and researchers to develop programs that can greatly benefit marine conservation. Setenta y Un Preguntas Importantes para la Conservación de la Biodiversidad Marina [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine ecotourism is a pivotal sector in the blue economy strategies of many nations and is a vital economic activity for peripheral coastal regions and islands; yet a comprehensive understanding of its socioeconomic importance remains poorly quantified due to a lack of systematic evidence collation. This is even more pronounced when compared with other traditional marine activities (i.e. commercial fisheries), which are the target of monitoring programs that span several decades. The paucity of information on marine ecotourism and the disproportionate influence of traditional activities in decision-making arenas represent a practical impediment to promoting the broader agenda of blue growth and ecosystem-based management for Europe's regional seas. This study presents an assessment of the socioeconomic impact of non-extractive recreational activities closely associated with marine biodiversity (i.e. whale watching, diving and big game fishing) in one of Europe's outermost regions: the Azores archipelago (northeast Atlantic). Data were collected through a series of questionnaire surveys of the clients (n = 1740) and managers of marine-tourism businesses (n = 49). Our results suggest that in 2014 approximately 17% of total visitors to the Azores engaged in marine ecotourism activities generating approximately 80€ million in total expenditures to the regional economy (2.2% of regional Gross Domestic Product). Results also indicate that on average a typical marine ecotourist has longer stay and higher expenditure pattern compared to other visitors. These values add a new dimension to arguments in support of marine conservation and call attention to the comprehensive integration of marine ecotourism activities in management plans. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As conservation theory and practice moves away from excluding resource users to creating partnerships with them, it is becoming increasingly clear that marine conservation is as much about understanding people as it is about understanding ecological processes. Social, economic, and cultural factors can influence whether and how individuals and communities overexploit resources or cooperate to conserve them. Many marine conservation projects may fail because they do not adequately understand, address, and incorporate the socioeconomic needs and concerns of stakeholders. These issues are especially pertinent in the Western Indian Ocean; a region where poverty and the geopolitics of biodiversity conservation acutely intersect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Completely banning fishing from coral reefs is now accepted to have significant benefits for marine biodiversity and in many cases, fisheries. However, the benefits of regulating fishing on coral reefs, by restricting the methods used, or the total amount of fishing, are less well understood, even though such regulations are much more likely to be supported by fishermen. 2. This study assesses whether banning illegal, destructive fishing methods and reducing the numbers of fishermen visiting from outside an area benefits a coral reef fishery, despite unregulated fishing by local fishermen using non-destructive methods. 3. The abundance, biomass, mean length, and species richness of nine commercially important fish families are compared across ten independent patch reefs inside and outside the 470km2 Menai Bay Conservation Area in Zanzibar, Tanzania. 4. Even after taking into account the effect of differences in habitat and the distance between reefs, 61% (719.7%) more fish species were found in regulated than unregulated reefs. Fish abundance, biomass, and length were not affected, suggesting that banning destructive fishing may improve biodiversity, but that further regulations may be required to improve fish stocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper presents case studies of the policy, governance and institutional issues of marine protected areas in Brazil, India, Palau and Senegal. It is the first of four in a global series of case studies on marine protected areas (MPAs). An initial volume provides an analysis and synthesis of all the studies. The set of global MPA case studies was designed to close a deficit in information on the governance of MPAs and spatial management tools, within both fisheries management and biodiversity conservation contexts. The studies examine governance opportunities in and constraints on the use of spatial management measures at the national level. They were also designed to inform implementation of the FAO Technical Guidelines on marine protected areas (MPAs) and fisheries, which were developed to provide information and guidance on the use of MPAs in the context of fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Data are presented on sea turtles caught in the Chilean longline fishery targeting swordfish, Xiphias gladius, in international waters off Chile. A total of 10,604,059 hooks from 7976 sets were observed, representing 94% of the total number of hooks fished between 2001 and 2005. Leatherbacks, Dermochelys coriacea, (n =284) and loggerheads, Caretta caretta, (n =59) were the most common species captured. Leatherbacks were caught in less than 4% of the sets, with an overall mean of 0.0268 turtles per 1000 hooks. Loggerheads were caught in less than 1% of the sets with a mean catch rate of 0.0056 turtles per 1000 hooks. Most leatherbacks (97.5% of total) were caught between 24°S and 38°S, while loggerheads were caught primarily in the northern portion of the area fished, between 24°19′S and 25°31′S. All loggerheads were dehooked where appropriate and released alive. A total of two leatherbacks were found dead. Despite the low catch rate of leatherbacks, the potential impact of this fishery on the severely depleted nesting populations in the eastern Pacific could be significant when combined with other fisheries and threats in the region. The very low mortality of bycaught sea turtles observed in our study is encouraging and suggests that there are opportunities for further reducing harmful effects of swordfish longline fishing on sea turtles. Results of spatial analysis of loggerhead bycatch relative to fishing effort show that closure of the northernmost fishing area would eliminate the majority of the loggerhead bycatch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the assessment pertaining to the impact of adult and larval movement to the population of marine organisms in marine reserves at the coast in California. The study intends to analyze the movement of marine organisms to be able to create an efficient marine reserve network design. The marine reserve has been viewed as a tool for biodiversity conservation which aims to protect marine species from fishing mortality.

Marine ecosystems are complex, and many marine species are ecologically interdependent. As a result, losing a species could produce a cascading effect on other species. Fishery scientists advocate an ecosystem-based approach to fishery management to meet long-term sustainable goals. This paper models the complex interrelationships among species and the relationship between biomass growth and phenotypic diversity. We found that the equilibrium stock and catch/yield levels are overestimated when the diversity is not accounted for. Consequently, if species are diverse, fishery policy based on a single fishery management could overestimate catch potentials and potentially results in biological overfishing and stock collapse. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

1. Bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus are amongst the best-known cetaceans. In the Mediterranean Sea, however, modern field studies of cetaceans did not start until the late 1980s. Bottlenose dolphins have been studied only in relatively small portions of the basin, and wide areas remain largely unexplored. 2. This paper reviews the ecology, behaviour, interactions with fisheries and conservation status of Mediterranean bottlenose dolphins, and identifies threats likely to have affected them in historical and recent times. 3. Whilst intentional killing was probably the most important cause of mortality until the 1960s, important ongoing threats include incidental mortality in fishing gear and the reduced availability of key prey caused by overfishing and environmental degradation throughout the region. Additional potential or likely threats include the toxic effects of xenobiotic chemicals, epizootic outbreaks, direct disturbance from boating and shipping, noise, and the consequences of climate change. 4. The flexible social organization and opportunistic diet and behaviour of bottlenose dolphins may allow them to withstand at least some of the effects of overfishing and habitat degradation. However, dolphin abundance is thought to have declined considerably in the region and management measures are needed to prevent further decline. 5. Management strategies that could benefit bottlenose dolphins, such as sustainable fishing, curbing marine pollution and protecting biodiversity, are already embedded in legislation and treaties. Compliance with those existing commitments and obligations should be given high priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing number of countries investigating the potential for releasing cultured juveniles to augment coastal fisheries resulted in the First International Symposium on Stock Enhancement and Sea Ranching (ISSESR) in Norway in 1997. The 1st and 2nd ISSESR, in Japan in 2002, were instrumental in developing methods for mass production of environmentally fit juveniles and for releasing them in responsible ways. The 3rd ISSESR, held in the U.S.A. in 2006 (www.SeaRanching.org), ushered the discipline into a new era. The major advances included: (1) definitions of the various objectives for releasing cultured juveniles (restocking, stock enhancement, and sea ranching); (2) a framework for integrating releases within their fisheries management context, including tools for quantitative assessment; (3) a systematic, transparent, and stakeholder-participatory planning process to determine whether releases have a cost-effective role to play in managing a fishery; (4) a comprehensive case study (blue crabs in Chesapeake Bay) describing the multi-disciplinary approach needed to evaluate the potential benefits of releases; and (5) a suite of other lessons to guide stakeholders in evaluating the potential for and implementation of releases. The papers in this Special Issue of Reviews in Fisheries Science elaborate how restocking, stock enhancement and sea ranching programs can create synergies between aquaculture and some coastal fisheries to help meet the future demand for seafood and aid in restoring depleted stocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the development of sustainable fisheries in the coral reef ecosystem of Dry Tortugas, Florida. The 267 fishes in the area are stable and the reef-fish biodiversity is high. No-take marine reserves can help develop sustainable fisheries and at the same time, it can protect the coral-reef ecosystem of Florida Keys.

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are becoming a favoured management strategy for the conservation of marine biodiversity. We present an analysis of how fishery data from a trawl fishery in northern Australia can contribute to the process of developing a system of candidate MPAs. We investigate ways of using fishing grounds, bioregion and depth information as a means of classifying ecosystems, and then show how fishery data could be used in the process of selecting between candidate areas. The way that the fishing grounds are defined as surrogate ecosystems will determine the extent of the impact on fishery. Our analyses highlight some of the benefits of using fishery data in the process of developing MPAs. Early and continued involvement of the fisheries community will ensure that MPAs have a real chance of achieving their main objective of biodiversity conservation whilst possibly reducing the overexploitation of marine fishery resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are foundational to global marine biodiversity conservation efforts. Recently, countries have rapidly scaled up their MPA networks to meet targets established by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). While MPA networks are intended to permanently safeguard marine ecosystems, evidence points to widespread legal changes that temper, reduce, or eliminate protected areas, known as protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD). Research on PADDD to-date has focused on terrestrial PAs, leaving fundamental questions about PADDD in MPAs unanswered. To address this knowledge gap and provide a foundation for understanding the conservation implications of PADDD in marine ecosystems, we documented patterns, trends, and proximate causes of PADDD in MPAs globally. At least six countries have enacted 43 PADDD events in MPAs, most of which were in Australian MPAs. Globally, PADDD events in MPAs have affected an area of at least 1,198,774 square kilometers, approximately the size of South Africa. Most PADDD events in MPAs (79%) are associated with industrial-scale resource use, extraction, and development, suggesting that PADDD may undermine the conservation objectives of MPAs. Additional research, transparency, and proactive policy responses are needed to address PADDD to better safeguard marine ecosystems. • Protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD) affects MPAs. • We documented patterns, trends, and causes of enacted and proposed PADDD in MPAs. • Widespread downgrading in Australia allowed commercial and recreation fishing. • Downgrades to the Coral Sea Marine Park constitute the largest PA downgrade to date. • Science and policy responses are required to safeguard MPAs in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edgar, Ward, and Stuart-Smith ([2]) argue that Australian fishery stocks are suffering rapid declines and that to meet sustainability targets an expanded network of "no-fishing" reserves is required. We contend that an assessment based on 11 commercially exploited species, mainly confined to shallow waters within Queensland, is not a sound basis for extrapolating to an Australia-wide assessment of the status of fisheries that cover offshore waters with a wide array of species and habitats. An assessment of the status of Australian fisheries resources is a major exercise and requires evaluating all available information as undertaken in the peer-reviewed SAFS rather than the approach adopted by Edgar et al. ([2]). [Extracted from the article]

Researchers, environmentalists, as well as fisheries and retailers, have been focusing their attention on the design, use and effects that fish ecolabels have on sustainability. The fish processing industry and large retailers have rapidly adopted several market-based standards, with consequences for two major stakeholders: fishermen and consumers. Although the standards have shown rather positive results, from the perspectives of marine biodiversity conservation, the fish industry and trade, it is not clear how they are able to support a change in people's awareness about sustainability. For this reason, the present work reviews and analyses the literature, produced in the last ten years, regarding two international, private and voluntary ecolabels in the fish industry: FOS and MSC. The results confirm the relevant role these ecolabels are playing in promoting awareness about sustainable fish, describing the terms of this ongoing change and also proposing new insights from the literature to further reinforce this process. In particular, a multi-stakeholder approach is suggested for the production side so as to better exploit the sustainable potential of the system inaugurated by the ecolabel, while, for the consumption side to further spread knowledge about marine stock status and ecolabels' meaning and scope, which would accelerate the ongoing process. • Ecolabels in the fishing industry are achieving the goal to spread awareness of sustainability. • Ecolabels promote more collaborative business models among producers. • Market access and lobbying power are the main competitive advantages for producers. • Ecolabels increase consumers' awareness of the impact of their buying decisions. • We recommend that consumers' knowledge about the status of marine stock needs to be reinforced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]