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Delineating priority areas for highly mobile marine megafauna represents a major challenge for conservation biology. To manage such areas, one must understand both their spatial properties (i.e., location, number, extent), and the level of exposure to a number of given pressures. Here, we used a combination of ensemble distribution models, field-based validation methods and a cumulative effect assessment to illustrate key foraging sites and risk hotspots for adult loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta, in the Mediterranean Sea. We found that foraging sites covered about 10% of the neritic zone of the Mediterranean basin. We identified sites which are well recognized by scientists, but also other areas for which our knowledge on the potential importance is limited. The patterns of the habitat use generated by field data validated the accuracy of the distribution model. About one fifth of the foraging areas hosted in the Mediterranean could be considered as hotspots of risk, characterized by high or very high exposure to cumulative pressures. Our results suggest that management and conservation efforts should continue to be held at key, well-known foraging grounds of adult sea turtles (e.g., Northern Adriatic Sea, Tunisian Plateau) but there are several more potential sites (e.g., parts of the Aegean Sea and the Western Mediterranean) which deserve our attention in order to ensure viable populations. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.

One of the great challenges faced due to current human demands is to reconcile the conservation of the innumerable natural resources present in the marine realm with the intense development processes occurring in the coastal zones. The latter aspect includes Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), an important management tool created to establish a more rational organization of the use of marine and coastal areas, equalizing the demands of development with the need to protect these ecosystems. Some of the most important international organizations — the European Union, OSPAR, HELCOM/VASAB, and the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) — are encouraging MSP at a national level. Another efficient tool is Ecosystem-based Management (EBM), which allows a full arrangement of interactions within the marine realm and effectively integrates science and governance for the management of natural resources. This work aims to propose an integrated analysis methodology using an EBM approach that encompasses environmental variables and current and potential uses, contributing to the implementation of marine spatial planning for the inner continental shelf surrounding the Patos lagoon estuary. Datasets were used to produce the thematic maps, such as surface sedimentology, location of the ecologically important submerged features, occurrence of mineral resources and zoobenthic fauna, with trophic importance and/or endangered. A sedimentological map was initially drawn; it was possible to observe the predominance of fine sand sediments between the coastal zone and the 50 meter isobaths, together with some coarse and medium quartzose sand and shell gravel deposits. The identification of these sedimentological patterns is fundamental in the understanding of the benthic communities, in addition to creating subsidies for the conservation of species. The present study proposes the creation of zones for exclusive use and multiple-use based on the surveys and mapping of the environmental and socioeconomic features of the region.

Understanding how fish associate with habitats across marine landscapes is crucial to developing effective marine spatial planning (MSP) in an expanding and diversifying ocean economy. Globally, anthropogenic pressures impact the barely understood temperate mesophotic ecosystems and South Africa’s remote Amathole shelf is no exception. The Kei and East London region encompass three coastal marine protected areas (MPAs), two of which were recently extended to the shelf-edge. The strong Agulhas current (exceeding 3 m/s), which runs along the narrow shelf exacerbates sampling challenges. For the first time, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) surveyed fish and their associated habitats across the shelf. Results indicated fish assemblages differed between the two principle sampling areas, and across the shelf. The number of distinct fish assemblages was higher inshore and on the shelf-edge, relative to the mid-shelf. However, the mid-shelf had the highest species richness. Unique visuals of rare Rhinobatos ocellatus (Speckled guitarfish) and shoaling Polyprion americanus (wreckfish) were collected. Visual evidence of rhodolith beds, deep-water lace corals and critically endangered endemic seabreams were ecologically important observations. The ROV enabled in situ sampling without damaging sensitive habitats or extracting fish. This study provided information that supported the Amathole MPA expansions, which extended protection from the coast to beyond the shelf-edge and will guide their management. The data gathered provides baseline information for future benthopelagic fish and habitat monitoring in these new MPAs.

Marine-protected areas are designated to reduce anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity and enhance fish production, but other ecological processes are inadequately accommodated in plans for coastal and marine ecosystems. We conducted a quantitative systematic literature review and meta-analysis on how researchers and decision-makers include ecological processes in coastal and marine conservation planning. Marine spatial planning ideally delivers representative protected areas systems that deliver persistence for ecosystems and species. Although several reviews have reported on incorporating connectivity as a process in marine spatial planning, to our knowledge, no one has yet published an inclusive review on how ecological processes are incorporated to help ensure persistence in coastal and marine planning. A total of 162 peer-reviewed journal research papers and 27 non-peer-reviewed papers (n = 189) were identified that included ecological processes in coastal and marine conservation planning between 2000 and 2019, the number of papers integrating ecological processes peaked in 2013 followed by a declining trend to 2019. We attribute the trend to the complexity of the problem of integrating dispersal and demographic objectives alongside other management goals. The results of our statistical analysis uncovered that incorporating ecological processes in conservation planning is important for coastal and marine ecosystems across the literature (p-value

Marine and coastal areas are under significant pressures due to the intense concentration of population and activities that often drive in conflicts. Marine spatial plans need to be enacted and imp...

This paper maps the visual impact of mining activities on terrestrial and marine landscapes of the Cyclades islands, Greece, an island complex in the Aegean Sea of particular natural and cultural h...

Many wetlands have experienced rapid degradation that is due to unstainable development practices globally. Oftentimes, uncoordinated economic development plans in wetlands and surrounding areas have affected the ecological functions of these sensitive ecosystems. This study examined Setiu Wetland, a wetland with diverse ecosystems on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The main objective of this study was to analyse the potential of marine spatial planning (MSP) to be adopted there. MSP is an integrated coastal zone management tool to govern conflicting uses of an area considering environmental sustainably. Like other coastal zone managements adopted in Southeast Asia, MSP requires participation and awareness of the local community to ensure sustainable development targets are achieved. This paper addresses the local community’s awareness of the ecosystem importance of Setiu Wetland and the socio-economic activities in the area. The study employed a quantitative approach using a survey method to examine, in particular, the local community’s awareness of the oyster habitat that has a direct impact on the Setiu Wetland ecosystems. The research findings indicate that awareness of the importance of oyster habitats to the wetland ecosystems is high among the local community. The community strongly supports the idea of protecting and preserving the wetland to ensure the healthy functioning of ecosystems.

Legal-administrative borders in the marine environment rarely coincide with the boundaries of marine ecosystems and their ecological processes. Thus, cooperation in the processes of marine spatial planning (MSP) across borders is essential to apply an ecosystem-based approach. This research analyzes the usefulness of the work flow undertaken to promote cross-border cooperation in MSP for the European Macaronesia. Given the vast extension of the sea basin, it is especially important to define the cooperation scope. The planning of cross-border cooperation initiatives must consider the capacity of the different competent authorities to progress in the MSP process as well as the specific stage that each of the parties involved is. The importance of ensuring the engagement of all competent authorities across all work phases has been confirmed, but it is highlighted the relevance of including those authorities competent in foreign affairs. It is recommended that cross-border cooperation efforts go beyond the process strictly related to spatial planning of the maritime sectors and are used as tools to overcome structural limitations and enhance the natural advantages derived from the island’s condition of insularity and outermost regions. Thus, the proposed work process has proven to be useful as a roadmap to promote cross-border cooperation adapted to the legal-administrative singularities and to respond to the physical-natural and socio-economic realities of the case study.

This article reviews some of the relevant international and national marks to coastal management and marine spatial planning (MSP), observing the aspect of participation. The (re)reading of these documents showed that: i) the search for the sustainability of the ocean and coasts, initially with a focus on the longevity of stocks of living and non-living resources, is an ideal since the formulation of the first chartes of principles and laws; ii) the participation gained more space in the theoretical frameworks of coastal management and MSP over time; iii) in general, there are still few studies and researches regarding the applicability and limits involved in participation in coastal and marine management processes. Case studies are presented to highlight aspects of participation in the PEM process, pointing out its advantages and limitations. With the publication of the article, it is expected to contribute to the development of a conceptual framework on participation in the management processes of coastal and marine zones. The information presented provides an initial theoretical basis, which can be adopted in the development of new studies, researches; and management, monitoring or evaluation actions.

Numerous human activities take place in the marine area of ​​the Gulf of Cádiz, making it necessary to organize space through their spatial and temporal distribution. With the aim of combining the long-term conservation of marine biodiversity and the development of an economic activity that makes it possible to maintain over time the capacity of the marine environment to provide ecosystem services. Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is being an effective process regarding the spatial and temporal distribution of human activities in the marine space to the achievement of ecological, economical and social objectives. MSP is usually schematized in 10 phases, in which among others it is found 5th phase: Defining and analyzing existing conditions. The aim of this document is the development of this phase in the Gulf of Cadiz, pretending to provide some of the needed basis to cope effectively with this process. Furthemore, in order to transfer the analyzes to the territory, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been used, showing how useful these are to address PEM processes. It is worth highlighting, among the results, the need to develop the MSP within a framework of cooperation and coordination between the Administrations that undertake the planning and Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), that is, MSP and ICZM. In the Gulf of Cadiz, the main conflictive areas have been detected near to the coast and in semi-closed environments, such as bays and estuaries.

Marine spatial planning in Mexico is materialized by the ecological ordinance, a cross-sectoral environmental policy instrument. Throughout this instrument, government seeks to strengthen coordination between authorities and society to counter and correct negative consequences of sectoral planning in different government agencies moving forward towards integrated coastal management and the blue economy. The purpose of this article is to describe the experience of marine spatial planning in Mexico, with an emphasis on collaborative governance. The intention is that this perspective may prove its usefulness for other countries with similar socioeconomic, environmental characteristics and/or governance.

This work focuses on the marine territory of Uruguay and, its objective is to synthesize the information on the set of sectors involved, to facilitate the analysis and integrated management, according to the principles of Marine Spatial Planning (MSP). It is organized in two main axes. First, presents the results of a consultation to the institutions involved on the possibilities of development in Uruguay of different institutional designs of MSP present in the international experience. In addition, resumes the information available on the Uruguayan marine space, including its jurisdictional limits, the areas of interest for ecological and heritage conservation, and the situation of each of the uses of the marine space, with the norms that regulate them. For each use, its deployment in the marine space was mapped in order to analyze its interaction patterns and its relationship with the different marine environments. The final section presents conclusions on the challenges that result from these patterns of dispersion and interaction, and from the institutional context.

The Colombian North Pacific has been a pilot scenario for Marine Spatial Planning (PEM). Over 30 years, it consolidated an inclusive governance model that has allowed the institutional mission to include an ethnic vision of territorial development. In this regard, the declaration of protected areas and complementary conservation strategies have been the pillars that seek to correct conflicts of competition for fishery resources in the industrial and artisanal sectors, the deterioration and over-exploitation of sensitive coastal marine ecosystems, and activities incompatible with a local vocation such as ecotourism. In this complexity, the intersectoral agreements were a de facto result and represented the trust of the actors in a legitimate ordering process and the commitment to guarantee the responsible management of natural resources and the sustainable development of the region.

The Marine and Coastal Spatial Planning (OEMC) has taken on special relevance in recent years due to the recognition of the environmental, social and economic impact of the maritime sectors in the world economy. The current situation of marine spatial planning in Ecuador is analyzed, through the analysis of six experiences, the state in which they are and the challenges they face for its full application with respect to the legal and institutional framework. Institutional advances are recognized, at the same time the instability of the authorities, the lack of a national vision for its implementation and political support are distinguished as the main limitations for its implementation. There is a real interest of local communities to achieve fair access to marine resources by promoting economic development of the country based on the conservation of marine and coastal biodiversity. Recommendations are offered to institutionalize this process in Ecuador and reduce the conflicts between actors.

Marine spatial planning (MSP) is a management tool that could help mitigate the conflict that exists between the American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery and the net-pen salmon aquaculture industry in the Canadian Maritime provinces. We developed adult American lobster species distribution models (SDMs) for use in MSP in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, through remote sensing data collection methods. A single-beam echo sounder was used to collect bathymetry and seafloor substrate data, and an aerial drone collected lobster presence data through the georeferenced photography of lobster trap buoys. The SDMs display trends in lobster presence likelihood that correspond with established patterns of habitat selection in adult lobsters. The areas where lobsters are predicted to have the highest likelihood of presence are sections of hard and rocky substrate, though that association is confounded by depth. The uncertainty of the SDMs was quantitatively assessed and the importance of explicitly analysing the effects of scale and resolution of spatial data are highlighted.

Small islands of Vietnam witness increasing natural resource use conflicts among stakeholders resulting from their isolation from the mainland, combined with more recent pressures of urbanization, tourism, and socio-economic development. A challenge facing both residents and governments is identifying more appropriate inter-sector cooperation to minimize conflicts taking into account short-term economic feasibility and long-term sustainability. This study deals with conflicts and priorities in natural resource use as perceived by residents and local officials in the Ly Son Island of the Vietnamese Southern-Central Coast Region. A decision tree on conflict and priority analysis is structured at four hierarchical levels: sector, sub-sector, socio-economic activity, and objective. While a Likert 5 scale’s weighted mean (wMean) was applied to the survey data and to rank conflicts, the Analytic Hierarchy Process was used to estimate the weight values by priority. The results show that, although conflicts are limited, conflict hotspots exist in mountainous forested areas, farms, residential locations, and along coasts. Both residents and local officials shared the opinion that priorities help dealing with conflicts on the island. Over-all, perception analysis contributes to integrated spatial planning, marine spatial planning, and integrated coastal zone management for Ly Son Island with a consideration of improving inter-sector cooperation between agriculture, fishery, forestry and conservation, industry and service, tourism, and army.

Continental shelves around the world are subject to intensive bottom trawling. Demersal fish assemblages inhabiting these shelves account for one-fourth of landed wild marine species. Increasing spatial claims for nature protection and wind farm energy suppresses, however, the area available to fisheries. In this marine spatial planning discussion, it is essential to understand what defines suitable fishing grounds for bottom trawlers. We developed a statistical methodology to study the habitat preference of a fishery, accounting for spatial correlation naturally present in fisheries data using high-resolution location data of fishing vessels and environmental variables. We focused on two types of beam trawls to target sole using mechanical or electrical stimulation. Although results indicated only subtle differences in habitat preference between the two gear types, a clear difference in spatial distribution of the two gears was predicted. We argue that this change is driven by both changes in habitat preference as well as a change in target species distribution. We discuss modelling of fisheries’ habitat preference in light of marine spatial planning and as support in benthic impact assessments.

The emergence of marine spatial planning (MSP) has been ascribed to the inability of the ocean spaces to meet all demands simultaneously. With increasing uses and users of the ocean comes a rise in conflicts. Studies that sought to reduce those conflicts have shown the benefits of zoning the ocean in space and time. In South Africa, the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, which functions through a national working group (NWG) on MSP, is responsible for the implementation of MSP, which includes ocean zoning in South Africa’s ocean spaces. In the implementation of MSP, the NWG will make decisions which, this article argues, constitute administrative action triggering the constitutional right to written reasons. This article examines the small-scale fishers’ right to written reasons following a decision by the NWG. It concludes that the NWG does have an obligation to fulfil this right and that the MSP instruments are drafted in a manner that supports this duty.

SummarySeabirds face a diverse array of threats and are considered to comprise one of the most threatened avian groups globally. Development of appropriate conservation action requires a knowledge of the marine distribution of seabirds, furnished either by tracking the movements of individuals, or from at-sea surveys. Obtaining information on the distribution of the smallest seabird species, the storm-petrels Hydrobatidae, is challenging, but the recent development of Hydrobates pelagicus from their largest UK breeding colony. A total of 42 successful tag deployments were made over four breeding seasons during incubation, brooding and post-brood phases, and there was no evidence of adverse impacts on adult body mass or nest survival rates. Foraging trips lasted between one and three days and ranged up to 397 km from the colony (median = 159 km). Foraging range and total distance covered were positively correlated with trip duration but did not differ across breeding stages. Storm-petrels did not feed to the west of the colony at the edge of the continental shelf where high concentrations have been reported in previous decades from boat surveys, but rather, foraging was restricted to shallow waters south of the colony, consistent across individuals, breeding stages and years. Two areas were identified that exceed the threshold criteria for marine Important Bird Area status and should be considered for statutory protection. The home range estimated across all three breeding stages overlapped with 206 active hydrocarbon wells and 14 operating platforms which represent potential threats as sources of surface pollution or through attraction of birds to gas flares. Improved understanding of the foraging distribution of storm-petrels from this protected colony greatly assists the identification of potential threats and informs appropriate marine spatial planning.

Aim The Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) is an endangered cetacean found throughout Southeast Asia. The main threat to this species is human encroachment, led by entanglement in fishing gear. Information on this data‐poor species’ ecology and habitat use is needed to effectively inform spatial management. Location We investigated the habitat of a previously unstudied group of Irrawaddy dolphins in the eastern Gulf of Thailand, between the villages of Laem Klat and Khlong Yai, in Trat Province. This location is important as government groups plan to establish a marine protected area. Methods We carried out boat‐based visual line transect surveys with concurrent oceanographic measurements and used hurdle models to evaluate this species’ patterns of habitat use in this area. Results Depth most strongly predicted dolphin presence, while temperature was a strong predictor of group size. The highest probability of dolphin presence occurred at around 10.0 m with an optimal depth range of 7.50 to 13.05 m. The greatest number of dolphins was predicted at 24.93°C with an optimal range between 24.93 and 25.31°C. Dolphins are most likely to occur in two primary locations, one large region in the center of the study area (11o54′18′′N to 11o59′23′′N) and a smaller region in the south (11o47′28′′N to 11o49′59′′N). Protections for this population will likely have the greatest chance of success in these two areas. Main Conclusions The results of this work can inform management strategies within the immediate study area by highlighting areas of high habitat use that should be considered for marine spatial planning measures, such as the creation of marine protected areas. Species distribution models for this species in Thailand can also assist conservation planning in other parts of the species’ range by expanding our understanding of habitat preferences., We investigated the habitat of a previously unstudied group of endangered Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) in the eastern Gulf of Thailand. Depth and temperature emerged as the most important predictors of dolphin presence and group size. Using our results, we generated a map of dolphin high‐use areas that can be used to inform conservation.

Ringnet fishing began in the early 20th century and is practised worldwide, mainly to target nearshore pelagic species. The method was introduced to Kenya’s coastal waters by migrant fishers from T...

The preference for housing in coastal environments has become a human strategy due to several factors; as biodiversity wealth, geographic strategy, or abundance of fishing resources. The coastal and estuarine environment is a place of multiple uses for industrial, commercial, housing, port, and ecologically essential purposes. An effective Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is essential to establish a rational organization of the use of the marine space and the interactions between its uses, in order to balance the demands of development with the need to protect marine ecosystems, as well as to achieve social and economic objectives in a transparent and planned way (UNESCO-IOC, 2011). The present study identifies, maps, and separates the main human activities developed in the territorial space of the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex - Paraná, Brazil (CEP) and nearby shallow platform. Through Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing techniques, it established the conflict zones and their impact on the marine environment and quantified areas of environmental protection affected by human activities. The results shows the regions between Pontal do Sul and Ponta do Poço, the southern portion of Baía das Laranjeiras and the Rasa Platform classified with High Conflict levels. Approximately 19% of the administrative limits of the Conservation Units (CU) in the region and 33% of the Damping Zones (DZ) are affected by anthropic activities and uses. In this way, the spatialization of existing conflicts in a place with broad uses for different purposes, would support to define economic strategies; direct actions for public policies, and decision making. Still, it can be a tool for the mitigation and compensation of environmental and social impacts, due to human activities in the study area. Keywords: Coastal management, geoprocessing, protected coastal areas, conservation units, coastal zone.

The MEDITS programme started in 1994 in the Mediterranean with the cooperation among research institutes from four countries: France, Greece, Italy and Spain. Over the years, until the advent of the European framework for the collection and management of fisheries data (the Data Collection Framework, DCF), new partners from Slovenia, Croatia, Albania, Montenegro, Malta and Cyprus joined MEDITS. The FAO regional projects facilitated the cooperation with non-European countries. MEDITS applies a common sampling protocol and methodology for sample collection, data storage and data quality checks (RoME routines). For many years, MEDITS represented the most important data source supporting the evaluation of demersal resources by means of population and community indicators, assessment and simulation models based on fishery-independent data. With the consolidation of the DCF, MEDITS routinely provides abundance indices of target species for tuning stock assessment models of intermediate complexity. Over the years, the survey scope has broadened from the population of demersal species to their fish community and ecosystems, and it has faced new challenges, such as the identification of essential fish habitats, providing new scientific insights linked to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (e.g. biodiversity, trophic webs, allochthonous species and marine macro-litter evaluations) and to the ecosystem approach to fishery and marine spatial planning. El programa MEDITS comenzó en 1994 en el Mediterráneo, con la cooperación entre institutos de investigación de cuatro países: Francia, Grecia, Italia, España. A lo largo del tiempo, y con la puesta en marcha del programa europeo para la recopilación y gestión de datos pesqueros (Data Collection Framework, DCF), se unieron nuevos socios como Eslovenia, Croacia, Albania, Montenegro, Malta y Chipre. Los proyectos regionales de FAO han facilitado la cooperación con países no europeos. MEDITS aplica un protocolo y una metodología de muestreo comunes, que abarca desde la recolección de muestras hasta el almacenamiento de datos y los controles de calidad de los mismos (programa RoME). Durante muchos años, MEDITS ha sido la fuente de datos más importante para la evaluación de los recursos demersales, mediante indicadores de población y comunidad y modelos de evaluación y simulación, basados en datos independientes de la pesca. Con la consolidación del DCF, MEDITS proporciona rutinariamente índices de abundancia de especies objetivo, que se usan para ajustar modelos de evaluación de stocks. A lo largo del tiempo, los objetivos de las campañas se han ampliado desde las poblaciones demersales a sus comunidades y ecosistemas, afrontando nuevos desafíos, como la identificación de hábitats esenciales para los peces, y proporcionando nuevos planteamientos científicos vinculados a la Directiva Marco sobre la Estrategia Marina (p.ej. biodiversidad, redes tróficas, especies alóctonas y evaluaciones de basura marina), así como la aproximación ecosistémica a las pesquerías y la Planificación Espacial Marina.

Reduction in marine fish production in the last two decades has adversely affected the fishermen population along the coasts who solely depend on fishing for their livelihood. One option to tide over this situation is regional level planning to increase fish production from available water resources. Therefore, it is essential to have an integrated spatial planning of the available water resources as it has multiple uses. Marine spatial planning (MSP) and aquaculture zoning, the two major concepts implemented by international bodies, are still in its infancy in India due to, lack of information on its systematic implementation. Present paper describes the pioneering attempt of “Spatial planning” and “aquaculture zoning” in India, conducted in a progressive fishermen village, Tharapathi in Byndoor along Southeastern Arabian sea coast, following scientific methodologies. Through GIS mapping, potential aquaculture areas were identified for cage farming, bivalve farming, crab fattening/crab culture in pens in mangrove area, bottom culture of clams in sandy area, prawn farming areas, areas for seed production and nursery facility for finishes and shellfishes etc. Various advanced GIS based decision making tools available for future integrated aquaculture development plans, spatial mapping and Digital Elevation Models were included in this study. This is the first attempt to develop integrated aquaculture development through social consensus and scientific evaluation. Results of the study will be a precursor for spatial planning and aquaculture zoning in Indian coastal waters for sustainable aquaculture.

The current arrangements for the management of the marine resources of Bangladesh are not adequate for sustainable management. Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) may be a tool to achieve sustainable management of marine resources. The Government of Bangladesh is planning for the development of MSP for sustainable management of the marine resources in the Bay of Bengal. However, a clear understanding of the current and required legal and institutional arrangements for the development of MSP in Bangladesh is essential for sustainable management of the marine resources. This article analyzes the current legal and institutional arrangements concerning the management of marine resources and explores potential inadequacies for the development of MSP for sustainable management. The article refers to the legal and institutional arrangements of other coastal states which have already developed MSP to find out the required arrangements for the development of MSP in Bangladesh.

Marine spatial planning aims to create a framework for the oceans and seas that minimise conflicts between economic activities within the marine environment while maintaining good environmental sta...

A diverse assemblage of adult reef fishes and invertebrates occurs at offshore oil production platforms in the Southern California Bight (SCB). Coincident with the initiation of the decommissioning of six platforms in the SCB, the goal of this study was to examine how a platform's geographical location plays a role in its potential contribution of larval recruits to natural areas. Using a three-dimensional biophysical model, we quantified the potential connectivity of larvae, particularly relevant to reef fishes, from three offshore platforms to four coastal shelf regions where the majority of rocky settlement habitat occurs in the SCB. The regions cover the shelves of the mainland coast and islands and offshore banks in the southern SCB. The main findings indicate that (1) the potential for larval subsidies from platforms in the southern SCB to populations in the northern SCB are greater than the potential for larval subsidies from platforms in the northern SCB to the southern SCB; (2) there is greater seasonal variability of potential connectivity from platforms to the mainland shelf region of the northern SCB than to the mainland shelf region of the southern SCB or shelves around islands and banks; and (3) there is consistency across years in the relative magnitude of potential connectivity from the platforms to the four shelf regions. We conclude that a platform's function as a larval source should be considered an ecological criterion when evaluating whether a platform is to be converted to an artificial reef and implementing marine spatial planning.

Long-term changes of wind-generated ocean waves have important consequences for marine engineering, coastal management, ship routing, and marine spatial planning. It is well-known that the multi-annual variability of wave parameters in the North Atlantic is tightly linked to natural fluctuations of the atmospheric circulation, such as the North Atlantic Oscillation. However, anthropogenic climate change is also expected to influence sea states over the long-term through the modification of atmospheric and ocean circulation and melting of sea ice. Due to the relatively short duration of historical sea state observations and the significant multi-decadal variability in the sea state signal, disentangling the anthropogenic signal from the natural variability is a challenging task. In this article, the literature on inter-annual to multi-decadal variability of sea states in the North Atlantic is reviewed using data from both observations and model reanalysis.

The ongoing decline of large marine vertebrates must be urgently mitigated, particularly under increasing levels of climate change and other anthropogenic pressures. However, characterizing the connectivity among populations remains one of the greatest challenges for the effective conservation of an increasing number of endangered species. Achieving conservation targets requires an understanding of which seascape features influence dispersal and subsequent genetic structure. This is particularly challenging for adult-disperser species, and when distribution-wide sampling is difficult. Here, we developed a two-step modelling framework to investigate how seascape features drive the genetic connectivity of marine species without larval dispersal, to better guide the design of marine protected area networks and corridors. We applied this framework to the endangered grey reef shark, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos, a reef-associated shark distributed across the tropical Indo-Pacific. In the first step, we developed a seascape genomic approach based on isolation-by-resistance models involving circuit theory applied to 515 shark samples, genotyped for 4,491 nuclear single-nucleotide polymorphisms, to explore which parameters drive their population genetic differentiation. We show that deep oceanic areas act as strong barriers to dispersal, while proximity to habitat facilitates dispersal. In the second step, we predicted the resulting genetic differentiation across the entire distribution range of the species, providing both local and global-scale conservation units for future management guidance. We found that grey reef shark populations are more fragmented than expected for such a mobile species, raising concerns about the resilience of isolated populations under high anthropogenic pressures. We recommend the use of this framework to identify barriers to gene flow and to help in the delineation of conservation units at different scales, together with its integration across multiple species when considering marine spatial planning.

High-resolution benthic habitat data fill an important knowledge gap for many areas of the world and are essential for strategic marine conservation planning and implementing effective resource management. Many countries lack the resources and capacity to create these products, which has hindered the development of accurate ecological baselines for assessing protection needs for coastal and marine habitats and monitoring change to guide adaptive management actions. The PlanetScope (PS) Dove Classic SmallSat constellation delivers high-resolution imagery (4 m) and near-daily global coverage that facilitates the compilation of a cloud-free and optimal water column image composite of the Caribbean’s nearshore environment. These data were used to develop a first-of-its-kind regional thirteen-class benthic habitat map to 30 m water depth using an object-based image analysis (OBIA) approach. A total of 203,676 km2 of shallow benthic habitat across the Insular Caribbean was mapped, representing 5% coral reef, 43% seagrass, 15% hardbottom, and 37% other habitats. Results from a combined major class accuracy assessment yielded an overall accuracy of 80% with a standard error of less than 1% yielding a confidence interval of 78–82%. Of the total area mapped, 15% of these habitats (31,311.7 km2) are within a marine protected or managed area. This information provides a baseline of ecological data for developing and executing more strategic conservation actions, including implementing more effective marine spatial plans, prioritizing and improving marine protected area design, monitoring condition and change for post-storm damage assessments, and providing more accurate habitat data for ecosystem service models.

Increasing interests in marine areas has led to conflicts, and planning of present and future uses is required to achieve sustainable management. Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is dealt at a national level, but generally it includes ecological, physical processes and administrative jurisdictions of multiple countries. The transboundary cooperation on MSP is a complex challenge, that could be better addressed with a participatory process, to achieve coherent planning processes in shared marine socio-ecological systems. This paper focuses on the process followed to reach consensus on cross-border MSP in archipelagic remote regions with no visible and distant maritime borders. Among the results obtained is the design of a European Macaronesia (Canary Islands, Madeira & Azores) Ocean Pilot Program. This would allow to strengthen marine governance, create synergies between different MSP plans, and comply with EU regulations. A joint position of the European Macaronesia could also be an opportunity for maritime interests in national, European, and international forums. Both the participatory process and the results obtained can serve as a model for application in other transboundary marine areas of the world © 2021 The Authors

Despite advances in global ecosystem management, natural resource planning still often fails to incorporate cultural preferences and values. Spatial planning methods, particularly in coastal and marine contexts, tend to rely on data that relate biophysical processes and economic sector revenue. Consequently, a ‘missing layer’ of data that captures the people and communities involved prevents spatial planning from achieving its full potential (St. Martin and Hall-Arber, 2008). A critical question is therefore: how is decision-making within spatial planning affected by considering people’s ecosystem-related values and management preferences, in addition to layers of biophysical and economic sector data?To address this over-arching question, this study employed integrated qualitative and quantitative research methods to examine (1) how mixed field research methods can shed light on which management paths to pursue when faced with tradeoffs among the various benefits provided by nature, (2) how people in developing world contexts who depend more directly on nature’s tangible benefits (e.g., livelihood sources) value intangible cultural benefits provided by ecosystems, and (3) how information on the cultural benefits of nature can inform environmental decision-making. In so doing, this study presents a methodological framework to elicit people’s ecosystem-related values and management preferences, shows how to decipher the importance of nature’s intangible benefits to the wellbeing of natural-resource dependent communities, and shares lessons learned from integrating the cultural benefits of nature into decisions concerning rural, undeveloped coastline in the Chiloé Archipelago, Chile.

Coastal habitats have experienced significant degradation and fragmentation in recent decades under the strain of interacting ecosystem stressors. To maintain biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, coastal managers and restoration practitioners face the urgent tasks of identifying priority areas for protection and developing innovative, scalable approaches to habitat restoration. Facilitating these efforts are models of seascape connectivity, which represent ecological linkages across heterogeneous marine environments by predicting species-specific dispersal between suitable habitat patches. However, defining the suitable habitat patches and migratory pathways required to construct ecologically realistic connectivity models remains challenging. Focusing on two reef-associated fish species of the Florida Keys, United States of America (USA), we compared two methods for constructing species- and life stage-specific spatial models of habitat suitability—penalized logistic regression and maximum entropy (MaxEnt). The goal of the model comparison was to identify the modeling algorithm that produced the most realistic and detailed products for use in subsequent connectivity assessments. Regardless of species, MaxEnt’s ability to distinguish between suitable and unsuitable locations exceeded that of the penalized regressions. Furthermore, MaxEnt’s habitat suitability predictions more closely aligned with the known ecology of the study species, revealing the environmental conditions and spatial patterns that best support each species across the seascape, with implications for predicting connectivity pathways and the distribution of key ecological processes. Our research demonstrates MaxEnt’s promise as a scalable, species-specific, and spatially explicit tool for informing models of seascape connectivity and guiding coastal conservation efforts.

The sub-Antarctic South Sandwich Islands forms part of one of the largest marine protected areas (MPAs) in the world. Whilst the neighbouring island of South Georgia is known to be a biodiversity hotspot, very little was known about the benthic biodiversity or biogeography of the South Sandwich Islands. Here we present findings from the first biophysical assessment of this polar archipelago. Using open-access datasets, alongside results from a recent UK Government-funder Blue Belt expedition to the region, we assess how the island’s biodiversity is structured spatially and taxonomically and how this is driven by environmental factors. The South Sandwich Islands are shown to be both biologically rich, and biogeographically distinct from their neighbouring provinces. A gradient forest approach was used to map the archipelago’s benthic habitats which, based on the functional composition of benthic fauna and environmental characterisation of the benthic environment, demonstrated a distinct biogeographical north-south divide. This faunal and environmental discontinuity between the South Sandwich Islands and the rest of the MPA and between the different islands of the archipelago itself, highlights the importance of the zoned protection across the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area.

The dispersal of marine organisms is a critical process for the maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning across a seascape. Understanding the patterns of habitat connectivity that arise from the movement of multiple species can highlight the role of regional processes in maintaining local community structure. However, quantifying the probability and scale of dispersal for marine organisms remains a challenge. Here, we use a biophysical model to simulate dispersal, and we conduct a network analysis to predict connectivity patterns across scales for the community of invertebrates associated with seagrass habitat in British Columbia, Canada. We found many possible connections and few isolated habitat meadows, but the probability of most connections was low. Most habitat connections occurred within 3 days of dispersal time over short distances, indicating potential limits to long distance dispersal and little effect of species-specific dispersal abilities on the potential spatial extent of habitat connectivity. We then highlight the different roles that individual seagrass meadows can play in maintaining network connectivity. We also identify clusters of connected meadows and use these clusters to estimate the spatial scale of community dynamics. The connectivity patterns generated by our dispersal simulations highlight the importance of considering marine communities in their broad seascape context, with applications for the prioritization and conservation of habitat that maintains connectivity.

Natural disasters have altered the landscape of Montserrat’s marine environment significantly over the past 30 years, forcing rapid adaptation of marine species and the human population that relies upon them. Volcanic activity has led to an abundance of volcanic sediment, which has seen rise to the expansion of the island’s sand mining and aggregate industry. Similarly, a series of volcanic eruptions has resulted in smothered fishing grounds and maritime exclusion zones, increasing the pressure on the remaining accessible marine environment. Recent increases in shipping activity, due to the expanding aggregate sector, partnered with a lack of official marine spatial planning, has led to the west coast of the island becoming a stakeholder conflict hotspot. Regular interactions between fishing gear and shipping vessels were resulting in damaged and lost fish pots and causing physical damage and increased ghost-fishing on the coral reefs, with additional impacts on fisher livelihoods. This paper builds upon earlier work in Montserrat to engage fishers in fisheries data collection programmes. Here we use data from Montserrat’s fishing fleet to understand the distribution and intensity of fish pot activity within the conflict area. Maximum activity was distributed along the edge of the reef front, near the drop-off, with the greatest intensity toward the south. These data, and outcomes from stakeholder consultation, have allowed the relevant authorities and decision-makers to identify a suitable shipping route that avoids pot-based fishing grounds, while remaining as close inshore as feasible, to avoid unnecessary fuel costs for shipping vessels. As a result, the Montserrat Port Authority has implemented a restricted area around the identified fishing grounds, in which commercial vessels are not allowed to transit. This intervention represents a “win-win” solution, reducing the risk of commercial vessel-fishing gear conflict in the southwestern pot-based fishing grounds, without substantially increasing the burden of excess travel on commercial vessels. Here we show how engagement with the fishing community and voluntary participation in data collection has supported a conflict resolution deemed suitable to both parties; allowing the needs of the smaller traditional fishing sector to influence management of the rapidly expanding, high value aggregate sector.

For more than a decade, marine spatial planning has been used around the world to advance objectives for conservation, economic development, and ecosystem-based management. Ecosystem-based management (EBM) in British Columbia began with the development of land use plans in the 1990s to address coastal and land use issues related to terrestrial land management. Managing marine resources is challenging on Canada’s Pacific coast because of multiple, overlapping jurisdictions, unceded indigenous territories, and lack of coordination amongst governments in the region and their agencies. The Marine Plan Partnership for the North Pacific Coast (MaPP) was formed in 2011 and was a co-led partnership between 18 First Nations’ and the Province of British Columbia governments. The purpose of the MaPP Initiative was to develop and implement marine plans for 102,000 square kilometers of coastal and offshore water in northern British Columbia. A co-led governance framework included the member First Nations and the Provincial government structured into multiple levels of decisions making, conflict resolution, and technical support. Integral to the planning process was broad and continual stakeholder engagement through multiple advisory committees as well as public engagement. The planning process made use of multiple information sources including traditional, scientific, and local knowledge and was completed in 3.5 years. The result was the development and signing into policy of four sub-regional marine plans (one for each of the four MaPP sub-regions: Haida Gwaii, North Coast, Central Coast, and North Vancouver Island) and a Regional Action Framework. The sub-regional plans delineate protection, special, and general management zones for multiple objectives and will inform future policy decisions for marine protected areas, tenures, resource management and coastal development through an EBM approach. The plans will inform permits for marine tenures including aquaculture, offshore renewable energy siting, contribute to Canada’s marine protected areas network, and improve coastal infrastructure. The Regional Action Framework highlights activities to occur across the entire region through five main activity areas (Regional Governance, Ecological Integrity and Human Well-being, Compliance and Enforcement, Cumulative Effects Assessment, and Zoning Recommendations). Funding for planning was through a public-private model that also supported the development of the plans and decision support tools (e.g. planning and mapping portal). Discussions regarding implementation began during the planning phase to ensure long-term commitment from the Partners and continuity to improve decision making and management within the MaPP area. The process design and methodology created by MaPP can be a model for planning in areas that involve multiple authorities, complex geographies and jurisdictional arrangements that can be scaled up for regional, cross border, and transboundary marine spatial planning.

The South Sandwich Islands (SSI) are a chain of volcanic islands located to the east of the Scotia Sea, approximately 700 km south-east of South Georgia. To date, knowledge of the South Sandwich Islands benthic environment remains limited. In this context, the Blue Belt Programme conducted a scientific survey in the South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area (MPA) during February/March 2019 to examine the biodiversity and distribution of benthic communities and their potential vulnerability to licensed longline research fisheries. Here we report results from analysis of multibeam echosounder (MBES) data and drop camera imagery data collected in selected locations around the South Sandwich Islands. A total of eight VME indicator morphotaxa were mapped along the slopes of the South Sandwich Islands, showing a substantial variation in taxon composition and frequency of occurrence, both along bathymetric and latitudinal gradients. Our results suggest that VME indicator taxa are mostly restricted to waters shallower than 700 m. As such, based on our present understanding of the region’s benthic environment the MPA, as currently established, offers effective protection for the majority of the VME indicator taxa.

Fisheries bycatch, the incidental mortality of non-target species, is a major threat to seabirds worldwide. Mitigating bycatch is an important factor to reduce seabird population declines and consequent changes in ocean trophic dynamics and ecosystem functioning. However, it remains an open question how and where mitigating bycatch at a global scale may conserve seabird traits and the ecological strategies that traits represent. Here we combine a dataset of species traits and distribution ranges for 341 seabirds with spatially resolved fishing effort data for gillnet, longline, trawl, and purse seine gears to: (1) understand spatial variation in seabird community traits; and (2) test whether mitigating fisheries bycatch may prevent shifts in traits of seabird communities and loss of ecological strategies. We find distinct spatial variation in the community weighted mean of five seabird traits (clutch size, body mass, generation length, foraging guild, and diet guild). Furthermore, our analysis suggests that successful bycatch mitigation could prevent strong shifts in the traits of seabird communities across the globe particularly in the North Atlantic and Southern Oceans. Specifically, changes in dominant foraging and diet guilds, and shifts towards communities with faster reproductive speeds (larger clutch sizes and shorter generation lengths) and smaller body masses could be avoided. Therefore, bycatch mitigation may have important indirect benefits for sustaining ecosystem functioning, as mediated by species traits. Incorporating species traits into management actions will provide valuable tools for marine spatial planning and when evaluating the success of conservation initiatives.

The need for adequate planning and management of marine areas has been progressively realised due to the prevalent and ever-increasing ‘use-conflicts’ in time and space, amongst different maritime sectors. Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is an effective approach to ensure marine conservation and prevent over-exploitation of marine resources by sustainably utilizing its economic potential. Literature review in the Indian context indicates that studies have been undertaken in the sphere of blue economy and acknowledging the importance of MSP in specific sectors such as fisheries and marine resource management. However, studies on possible approach and guiding methodology for real application of MSP in the context of Indian coasts seem to be meagre. The current paper attempts to present the relevance of MSP in coastal zone management planning in India, through a unique MSP framework developed for the state of Odisha and also discusses possible strengthening of the institutional structure. The paper concludes by highlighting some key opportunities and challenges for Marine Spatial Planning in India. One of the major contributions of this study would be its possible use by relevant stakeholders, in the application of MSP for marine area management in varying spatial jurisdictions.

Marine spatial planning constitutes a performative practice whereby territoriality at sea is not only mapped and codified in policy statements but also reworked and re-imagined. The extension of spatial planning to the sea represents an opportunity to develop integrated spatial perspectives cognisant of the diversity of land–sea interactions and transcending existing divisions between maritime and terrestrial policy. Drawing on interpretative policy analysis and critical cartography perspectives, this study examines the spatial imaginaries underlying a particular case of innovative strategic planning at the Dutch North Sea and their capacity to reconfigure existing metageographical understandings of the land and the sea