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Integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into national legislation includes a need for their localization. The authors posit that this concept of localizing the SDGs is achieved if the goals are appended to an existing policy process with local implications, termed a "policy vehicle." For this study, Q-methodology was used to gather local perspectives on the legislative process for coastal planning in Norway (the "policy vehicle"), the "proxy" legislation through which the SDGs are localized for the case study municipality of Andøya, Norway. The overall aim of the study was to understand potential pathways for enabling approaches to societal transformations where focus is placed on fostering human agency and capacities. The authors demonstrate how Q-methodology can be applied for enhanced stakeholder engagement in local decision-making processes as a starting point to enable social transformations for sustainability in a social-ecological system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resilience of Moorea Island's coral reefs has been extensively discussed. In this debate, and despite their greater exposure to anthropogenic disturbances, shallow reef flats have often been overlooked compared to oceanic forereefs. This study assesses changes in the reef flat habitats over 67 years (1955–2022) in Tiahura in the northwest of Moorea, using a combination of modern satellite imagery, vintage aerial photographs and a habitat mapping survey conducted in 2023. Remotely sensed data provided time series of coral habitat surface area changes could be in some cases corroborated by historical literature reports and in situ observations from 1972 to the present, although historical data were scarce, heterogeneous, and informed at a different level of descriptions (e.g., coral cover) than the habitat scale. Contrary to expectations, the period from 1955 to 1977, perceived as pristine, exhibited a significantly lower extent of coral habitat compared to the subsequent period marked by coastal development and anthropogenic disturbances. To discuss resilience of coral habitats across the 67-year period, we relied on habitat surface changes. To understand the changes and evaluate the coral habitat resilience of the Tiahura reef flats, it was crucial to differentiate the barrier from the fringing reefs due to their distinct exposure to physical disturbances during the 1970s. The fringing reef, unlike the barrier reef, experienced substantial human-induced structural and hydrodynamical modifications. Concluding or not on coral habitat resilience depends on the period considered: 1955–2022 or 1977–2022. Beyond the Tiahura case study, we highlight the importance of defining the temporal reference for any resilience analysis, by taking into account the stability of hydrodynamic conditions that affect sedimentation and lagoon water levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The symposium "Inclusive Outreach and Education for Inspiring the Next Generation" explored efforts to promote diversity in fisheries science and enhance inclusivity in fisheries education. Presentations focused on tools for inclusive outreach, incorporating cultural perspectives, and adapting to the challenges posed by COVID-19. The session emphasized the importance of hands-on experiences, culturally relevant education, and inclusive pedagogy. Case studies from various regions highlighted the significance of integrating traditional ecological knowledge with modern scientific approaches for effective fisheries conservation and management. The symposium underscored the need for collaborative frameworks to support sustainable fisheries stewardship. [Extracted from the article]

Frequently visited surf breaks are nested within unique ecosystems that face many underappreciated threats. This manuscript first explores the contribution of surfing to local wellbeing and analyses how wellbeing is impacted by different threats to surf ecosystems. The second aim is to gather local knowledge of, and desires for surf break protection in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Through qualitative interviews (N = 17) and surveys (N = 46), findings suggest that place attachment is tied to frequently visited surf breaks and is strongly correlated to the wellbeing derived from surfing. Surfing was also found to be the main reason 68% of the respondents moved to the archipelago. Length of time residing in Bocas, however, was not a predictor of place attachment. This might suggest that people migrate for certain aspects of surf ecosystems and that place attachment can perhaps be selected for and grow through experiences. Positive surfing experiences were also found to be under threat from several converging challenges related to sea level rise, coastal development, declining reef health, and overcrowding. Local surfers recognize that these threats are tied to global forces but seem more reactive in their fight to alleviate imminent visible threats. This research emphasizes the urgent need for dedicated institutions to effectively preserve frequently visited surf ecosystems in areas that are neither covered by global non-governmental surf protection organization campaigns nor dedicated legal protection frameworks. We also call for more attention dedicated to understanding how the benefits of surfing are nuanced, context based and tied to vulnerable places. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To gain a scientific understanding of the cross-system impact of coastal zones and promote the sustainable development and protection of coastal areas, we constructed a spatial benefit evaluation system that encompassed both terrestrial and marine systems, focusing on the ecological, economic, and social dimensions. We employed the entropy method, moving average method, and Mann-Kendall trend test to quantitatively characterize the spatial benefits of the coastal zone in Fujian Province, China, and the evolution of the marine climate from 2005 to 2020. Building on this, the grey relational analysis method was applied to investigate the correlation between spatial benefits and marine climate and to explore the trends and magnitude of the impact of marine climate on spatial benefits. During the study period, the spatial benefits of the coastal zone in Fujian Province exhibited a fluctuating pattern of an initial increase followed by a decrease, with spatial benefits varying among cities. The role of the economic system in enhancing spatial benefits was not considerable. Changes in the marine climate aligned with the global warming trend, with the most considerable changes observed in sea level and tropical cyclone frequency and intensity, which are sensitive to human activities. There was a high degree of correlation between coastal zone spatial benefits and marine climate, with seawater salinity being most closely related to spatial benefits, while tropical cyclones showed the weakest correlation. The results of this study support sustainable development efforts in coastal zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of coastal structures on sandy coastlines raises concerns about their impacts on the shoreline's evolution and the sediment transport dynamics. This study utilized a numerical modeling approach to simulate the multi-year response of Haikou Bay's coastline to various nearshore structures, including piers and a large artificial island. The LITLINE module of the MIKE21 (v2020) software was employed to analyze the sediment transport patterns across three distinct coastal segments. The simulation results indicated that the sediment transport directions varied significantly: from west to east in the western segment, from east to west in the middle segment, and convergence toward the center in the eastern segment, divided by a construction trestle. The net sediment transport rates were quantified as 2000 m3/year for the western segment, 8000 m3/year for the middle segment, and 13,000 m3/year (west) and 10,000 m3/year (east) for the eastern segment. Due to the conflicting sediment transport directions on each side of the breakwater, noticeable deposition occurred on both sides. The presence of the artificial island created notable deposition in its wave shadow area, while the overall impact on the shoreline changes diminished over time. These findings underscore the significant influence of human activities, particularly coastal structures, on the natural evolution of shorelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Hundreds of Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) have emerged along the European Union coast trying to dynamize fisheries‐dependent areas through an approach based on community‐led local development (CLLD) strategies. In this research, we characterized and analyzed environmental projects funded by the FLAGs through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund in Spain from 2014 to 2020. The Spanish Network of Fisheries Groups database allowed us to locate projects defined as environmental, which were then classified into six areas and different project typologies. Most projects were categorized by FLAGs as environmental but were really linked to tourism development. Moreover, true environmental projects were substantially lower in total cost than statistics showed. These conclusions should lead to a reflection on the role that FLAGs and European fisheries funds should play in environmental care of European coasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study demonstrates how an analysis grounded in sound studies rather than visual studies reveals a different technological outcome in the development of coastal navigation systems. In the late nineteenth century engineers at Scotland's Northern Lighthouse Board developed and managed a growing network of sound-based fog signals primarily using steam-powered sirens. Despite the prevailing perception that sound signaling was more unreliable and risky than lighthouses for coastal navigation engineers focused on maximizing the loudness of these devices to address the uncertainty of sound transmission. By prioritizing the siren and narrowing the system's goals to warning sailors about imminent danger the engineers created a system with fundamentally different aims implementation methods and design priorities than those of visually-based lighthouse technology. This sound-based analysis uncovers how sensory hierarchies shaped technological decisions leading to a unique and distinct approach to coastal navigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainable development of coastal peri-urban areas is associated with the awareness of the local vulnerability to natural disasters, such as flood hazards. In ungauged basins, statistical and modelling approaches combined with geographic information systems have been widely used for the evaluation of different scenarios. In the current study, a multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) simulated the response of the floodplains to the variations of the most dominant criteria, which affected the flood susceptibility of the area. An index of flood susceptibility is proposed to compare the simulated outcomes of the different scenarios. We provide a thorough discussion about improving the accuracy of the MCDA method through calibration and validation procedures, in association with the HEC-RAS 2D model. Observed and simulated inundation depths were compared for the validation process. The derived maps effectively revealed the flood susceptibility of the area upon the criteria variation, particularly the elevation and the rainfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal tidal wetlands are crucial for environmental and economic health, but facing threats from various environmental changes. Detecting changes of tidal wetlands is essential for promoting sustainable development in coastal areas. Despite extensive researches on tidal wetland changes, persistent challenges still exist. Firstly, the high similarity among tidal wetland types hinders the effectiveness of existing common indices. Secondly, many current methods, relying on hand-crafted features, are time-consuming and subject to personal biases. Thirdly, few studies effectively integrate multi-temporal and semantic information, leading to misinterpretations from environmental noise and tidal variations. In view of the abovementioned issues, we proposed a novel temporal-spectral-semantic-aware convolutional transformer network (TSSA-CTNet) for multi-class tidal wetland change detection. Firstly, to address spectral similarity among different tidal wetlands, we proposed a sparse second order feature construction (SSFC) module to construct more separable spectral representations. Secondly, to get more separable features automatically, we constructed temporal-spatial feature extractor (TSFE) and siamese semantic sharing (SiamSS) blocks to extract temporal-spatial-semantic features. Thirdly, to fully utilize semantic information, we proposed a center comparative label smoothing (CCLS) module to generate semantic-aware labels. Experiments in the Greater Bay Area, using Landsat data from 2000 to 2019, demonstrated that TSSA-CTNet achieved 89.20% overall accuracy, outperforming other methods by 3.75%–16.39%. The study revealed significant area losses in tidal flats, mangroves, and tidal marshes, decreased by 3148 hectares, 35 hectares, and 240 hectares, respectively. Among the cities in GBA, Zhuhai shows the most significant area loss with a total of 1626 hectares. TSSA-CTNet proves effective for multi-class tidal wetland change detection, offering valuable insights for tidal wetland protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD) aims to protect Jakarta from flooding. This project includes a coastal reservoir (CR) development plan at the Cisadane Estuary, Tangerang Regency, Indonesia. CR planning must consider the sedimentation process. With numerical modelling of sediment transport, the sedimentation pattern of bed load and suspended load sediments will be known. This study used the MIKE21/3 Integrated Models software that is coupled with Flow Model (FM) and Mud Transport (MT) for one year (August 1, 2020 - July 31, 2021). The validation result of surface elevation shows that the modelling results are valid with NRMSD 93.35%. Based on the simulation results, suspended sediment concentration in the west monsoon is higher than in the east. The sediment concentration around the coastal reservoir at the bottom layer of the water is slightly higher than the surface layer. There is an increase in the maximum bed thickness of 1.2 m in the northeast corner of CR. There is a reduction in the bottom thickness of about 0.5 m on the west side of the CR embankment. The results of this study can be used to develop the most optimal CR design to minimise the environmental impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution process of regional space between coastal and interior areas is a direct manifestation of the theory of regional economic development imbalance. Previous research has neglected the impacts of population, and economic factor flows on the balance of regional development between coastal and interior areas. By constructing global coastal-interior regional population-economic panel data and a threshold effect model, this study explored regional development imbalance on the largest scale between global coastal and interior areas. The results indicated that the global population is unevenly distributed across coastal and interior areas. Global coastal areas (accounting for 18.43% of the world's landmass) are occupied by ~52.8% of the global population; meanwhile, ~23% of the global population is concentrated in the 'near region' subtropical zone extending from 10° to 30° north and south in latitude. The economic pattern between global coastal and interior areas has become more balanced, and the per capita GDP gap between the two sub-regions has decreased from 2.08 times to 1.78 times during the study period (2000 to 2018). Nevertheless, the evolutionary process of population factors lags behind that of economic factors. Apart from Africa, the development gap of intercontinental coastal and interior areas has been converging to varying degrees. Adjusting regional per capita income levels and population-economic density can promote balanced development between coastal and interior areas both globally and across continents. These findings may contribute to the implementation of effective policies for spatial balance and sustainable development in coastal and interior areas across multiple spatial scales. This study extends the theoretical research on uneven regional growth and provides a foundation for further research to achieve the goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Coastal habitats function as shark nursery areas; however, coastal habitats can experience extreme variation in abiotic conditions and are susceptible to human disturbances. Aims: Drivers of abundance were tested within a shark nursery-area system in two populations of reef-associated neonate sharks, namely, blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) and sicklefin lemon sharks (Negaprion acutidens). Methods: Catch data from a fisheries-independent gill-net survey (n = 90 sets from October 2018 to March 2019) at 10 sites around Moorea, French Polynesia, were used to test for associations between shark abundance and abiotic conditions (temperature, oxygen, pH, salinity, lunar phase and depth). Historical levels of fin-fish fishing effort, trampling (i.e. human movement through habitat), and coastal artificialisation (i.e. walls and embankments) estimated for each site were used to test for anthropogenic effects on shark abundance. Key results: There were no effects of any abiotic or anthropogenic factor on abundance of either species. Conclusions: Previous work corroborates our findings by demonstrating neonate sharks' physiological tolerance to extreme abiotic conditions and high survival in response to anthropogenic stressors. Alternatively, populations are already degraded from decades of coastal development. Implications: These data can aid in predicting the use of coastal habitats as shark nursery areas. Coastal waters can be crucial nursery grounds for young sharks, but these areas are subject to a wide range of environmental changes and human interference. Our study found no significant effects on newborn populations of two reef shark species. This indicates either their remarkable resilience to environmental shifts and human presence in their habitats, or that these populations are historically degraded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractMany coastal small-scale fishing (SSF) communities in low and middle-income countries are experiencing urbanisation due to global development and migration patterns. Scholars have documented how processes related to urbanisation present SSF communities with a unique series of opportunities and challenges. However, it is still poorly understood how SSF communities perceive and pursue resilience while adapting to these changing conditions. To address this gap, we conduct ethnographic research among the members of a fishing cooperative in Cancun, Mexico. We find that four factors related to Cancun’s pattern of development have incentivized local fishers to adopt a trans-sector perspective of livelihood resilience through which they view fishing as a lucrative but fleeting opportunity, with some actively planning a transition to non-fishing livelihoods. These four factors are the depletion of local fisheries, rising land values, the proliferation of non-fishing livelihood opportunities, and regional migration patterns. Whether local fishers ultimately prove resilient to the stresses of urbanisation depends partly upon the degree to which local governance and support systems align with this perspective. By contextualizing these findings within the broader literature on SSFs and urban development, we develop a heuristic to hypothesize to what extent these findings are generalizable beyond the study context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surf breaks are increasingly recognized as socio‐environmental phenomena that provide opportunities for biodiversity conservation and sustained benefits for local communities. Here, we examine an additional benefit from improved conservation of the ecosystems that host and surround surf breaks—their coincidence with carbon dense coastal ecosystems. Using global spatial datasets of irrecoverable carbon (defined as carbon stocks that, if lost today, could not be recovered within 30 years' time), surf break locations, ecosystem types, protected areas, and Key Biodiversity Areas, we identified 88.3 million tonnes of irrecoverable carbon held in surf ecosystems. Of this total, 17.2 million tonnes are found in Key Biodiversity Areas without formal measures of protection. These results highlight surf conservation as a potential avenue to simultaneously mitigate climate change, protect biodiversity, and promote sustainable development in coastal communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Egyptian government is making significant efforts to establish environmental management plans for sustainable development in coastal areas across Egypt. However, challenges persist in finding a balance between development and environmental conservation due to the lack of effective mechanisms. The research focuses on environmental management plans for coastal areas in general, with a specific emphasis on the Suez-Zaafarana sector in the southern region of the Suez Canal. The sector faces environmental challenges stemming from the government's development strategies. The research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of environmental observatories as a tool to implement integrated environmental management plans for coastal and marine areas, contributing to comprehensive development in these regions. The methodology involves a review of environmental management theories, sustainable urban development goals in coastal areas, and various approaches to managing coastal environments. The study also examines the urban characteristics of coastal areas in Egypt, with a case study on the Suez-Zaafarana sector. The ultimate goal is to update and activate the environmental management plan to promote sustainable urban development in coastal areas. The research will culminate in formulating conclusions based on feedback from experts and specialists in integrated coastal tourism development. This feedback will help refine the environmental management plan for the Suez-Zaafarana sector, ensuring its effectiveness in achieving sustainable development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the abundance, distribution, and habitat use of dolphins can provide essential information for preserving marine biodiversity, managing coastal ecosystems, and enhancing our understanding of aquatic life. Herein, we investigated the abundance, distribution, and habitat use of two dolphin populations--Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) and common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)--in the Gulf of Urabá, Colombian Caribbean. Between 2017 and 2020, 34 non-systematic surveys were conducted across the studied region, amounting to an effort of 176.69 hours and covering 3,658.33 km, with a dolphin encounter probability rate of 8.65%. The Guiana dolphin population was estimated at 63 (95% CI = 53 to 76) individuals, whereas the common bottlenose dolphin population was estimated at 50 (95% CI = 43 to 58) individuals. The dolphins were mainly found in the central region of the Gulf, particularly around the Atrato River mouth and the east side of the estuary. Both species showed a preference for coastal areas with maximum depths of 20 m, and the Guiana dolphins showed a permanent presence in the Gulf of Urabá region. These findings indicate that the Gulf of Urabá acts as a crucial habitat and feeding ground for both Guiana and common bottlenose dolphins. Therefore, systematic monitoring programmes aiming to protect dolphin populations and their ecosystems from threats posed by coastal development, which currently endanger both species in the area, should be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal marine habitats (i.e. mangroves, saltmarshes, and seagrasses) have a high capacity for carbon sequestration (termed "blue carbon") and the potential to reduce the effects of greenhouse gas emissions. However, blue carbon habitats have historically decreased as a consequence of land conversion, coastal development, and pollution and are under threat in many locations. Restoration of these habitats can reverse historic losses and generate carbon credits through increased carbon sequestration. With a long coastline, we hypothesized that there would be significant opportunities for coastal blue carbon in Aotearoa New Zealand. Results revealed Aotearoa estuaries and coastal areas contain approximately 20,932 ha of saltmarsh, 30,533 ha of mangrove, and 61,340 ha of seagrass, estimated to sequester a total of approximately 57,800 tC/year. A further 87,861 ha of land was estimated to be potentially suitable for blue carbon projects via tidal restoration, of which 56,482 ha was suitable for saltmarsh restoration (equivalent to 60,435 tC yr if restored), 17,291 ha was suitable for mangroves (26,455 tC/year), and 14,087 ha was suitable for seagrass (4790 tC/year). Both existing extent and restoration opportunity varied throughout the country, with greater opportunity in some regions than others. Nationwide, the total sequestration potential for blue carbon restoration was estimated at 91,680 tC yr−1 if all potential areas were restored. Carbon credits generated by blue carbon projects could be traded on a carbon market in Aotearoa, generate revenue for landowners, provide an additional pathway to meet domestic and international climate change targets, and result in a diversity of other ecological, social, and cultural co‐benefits from coastal restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores how perceived crowding stimulates tourists' emotional reactions and affects their experience quality as well as satisfaction. Based on Stimulus-Organism-Response theory, it examined and verified relationship between perceived crowding and tourist satisfaction with mixed-methods approach. The qualitative study was conducted to establish research model, and multigroup analysis was conducted with data collected from hot springs and coastal destinations. The results indicated that human crowding is no longer a positive signal in both sites. Experience quality mediates relationship between emotional reactions aroused by perceived crowding and tourist satisfaction. The findings deepen understanding of crowding and provide effective management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To test the potential of high‐resolution satellite image analysis for assessing and predicting the mesoscale (<10 km in this study) effects of climate and environmental change on temperature and primary productivity in fishing grounds, we conducted satellite image analysis around an island in a coastal strait west of Japan from 2018 to 2023. We observed a distinct north–south gradient in sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll a concentration (CHL) over approximately 20 km of the transect, which was likely affected by the current system. The model configuration suggests that the frequency of southward currents during winter–spring can control the magnitude of spring phytoplankton blooms. In the study region, an increase in SST at a rate of 0.06–0.13°C y−1 occurred during the study period, accompanied by a decrease in CHL. The north–south gradient in the rate of change suggests that the variation in the temperature and flow rate of the Kuroshio Current into the study area was due to these abrupt changes. The relationship between the annual mean SST and CHL was also spatially heterogeneous, showing a higher sensitivity of CHL to SST in the southwest of the island than in the north. In addition to the intrusion of warm and oligotrophic Kuroshio waters, the spread of less saline and more eutrophic coastal waters likely influenced this spatial heterogeneity. The satellite image analysis in the present study successfully revealed mesoscale mosaics of environmental conditions in coastal fishery grounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's coastal areas are crucial to the country's socio-economic development, population employment, and other aspects, but the economic development will put pressure on the demand for resources in the cities, and the regional ecological environment faces serious challenges. The research integrates the SBM-DEA model with non-expected output and convergence analysis to study the spatialtemporal divergence, convergence, and influencing factors of environmental efficiency in coastal areas from 2010-2020. The results show: The overall environmental efficiency of the coastal areas rose from 0.5380 in 2010 to 0.6456 in 2020, showing a gentle escalating tendency; the environmental efficiency of the northern, eastern, and southern areas all exhibited a fluctuating upward tendency, and the spatial differences in environmental efficiency were large, but the spatial differences in environmental efficiency were shrinking. There are σ convergence, absolute β convergence, and conditional β convergence of environmental efficiency differences in the coastal areas as a whole, the northern, eastern, and southern regions. The economic development level, energy intensity, industrial structure, foreign investment, and governmental actions have different degrees of effect on the convergence of coastal cities as a whole and in three regions. The findings of the research are informative for the sustainable development of coastal areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Improving Coastline Edge Detail: EDS module enhances edge fitting. • Bridging Semantic Gap: CSDS and AFM collaboration enhances semantic information. • Outperforms with mIoU: CSAFNet achieves remarkable 96.72% mIoU value. The extraction of coastlines from remote sensing images is vital for promoting sustainable development in coastal areas, conserving marine environments, strengthening disaster response capabilities, and supporting scientific research. However, current coastline detection approaches using remote sensing face challenges related to resolution, terrain, boundary, and data, requiring accurate solutions for reliability. Here, we introduce the Collaborative Supervision and Attention Fusion (CSAFNet) model for pixel-level sea-land segmentation, with a primary goal of improving the accuracy of coastline extraction. The model integrates the Edge Deep Supervision (EDS) module to enhance coastline edge detail fitting. Additionally, the Collaborative Semantic Deep Supervision (CSDS) module and Attention Fusion Module (AFM) collaborate to bridge the semantic gap between different hierarchical features, resulting in a more precise and detailed delineation of coastlines. Experimental validation on the publicly available SLSD 1 1 The dataset was initially labeled as "sea-land segmentation data" by the authors. For ease of discussion, we will adopt the practice of using the initial letters of each word as an abbreviation. dataset has demonstrated superiority over various advanced methods, with an impressive mIoU value of 96.72%. Through simple optimization, detailed and rich coastlines can be extracted, validating the feasibility of coastline extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the potential for a broader, more integrated treatment of the long-term development of Latvia's coastal landscape, seeking avenues for conveying its dynamism. Various transformational processes are considered, with a particular focus on dune migration – formerly a major issue in Latvia but nowadays essentially resolved and forgotten. Relief features of the sandy, forested areas, as well as old pine trees, serve as cues to temporality in the present terrain, while historical and folkloric sources provide insights into past perceptions of the landscape and the experiences and imaginings of landscape change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection and surveillance of ship targets in coastal waters is not only a crucial technology for the advancement of ship intelligence, but also holds great significance for the safety and economic development of coastal areas. However, due to poor visibility in foggy conditions, the effectiveness of ship detection in coastal waters during foggy weather is limited. In this paper, we propose an improved version of YOLOv8s, termed YOLOv8s-Fog, which provides a multi-target detection network specifically designed for nearshore scenes in foggy weather. This improvement involves adding coordinate attention to the neck of YOLOv8 and replacing the convolution in C2f with deformable convolution. Additionally, to expand the dataset, we construct and synthesize a collection of ship target images captured in coastal waters on days with varying degrees of fog, using the atmospheric scattering model and monocular depth estimation. We compare the improved model with the standard YOLOv8s model, as well as several other object detection models. The results demonstrate superior performance achieved by the improved model, achieving an average accuracy of 74.4% (mAP@0.5), which is 1.2% higher than that achieved by the standard YOLOv8s model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The destination image perceived by tourists is crucial to coastal tourism market positioning and marketing. This paper utilizes tourists' Internet-generated content from 2017–2021, adopts the jieba text analysis method to identify the cognitive, emotional, and overall image of coastal tourism, divides the constituent elements of the destination image into four main classes and 20 subclasses through the text clustering method, and explores the tourists' perception of the image of coastal tourism with the help of the IPA model. The study found that: 1) The commonality of the cognitive image of "ocean" in 12 coastal cities is outstanding, but the internal characteristics are obvious, tourists pay more attention to coastal tourism in Bohai Rim and southern coastal areas, and Shanghai, Ningbo and Hangzhou show strong correlation; 2) Tourists' emotional image of coastal tourism destinations is dominated by positive attitudes, with a high overlap of adjectives representing positive emotions, but with heat differences in different cities; 3) The overall image of coastal tourism can be divided into three circles, including "traditional core-characteristic structure-peripheral perception", and there are obvious differences in the characteristics of the social semantic network of each city; 4) Tourists are more satisfied with the components of coastal tourism image, but pay more attention to the construction of optimized coastal tourism environment. Based on this, in the process of coastal tourism development, it is necessary to focus on creating distinctive and diversified tourism values, focusing on tourists' experience needs, improving the construction of quality tourism facilities and services, and promoting the high-quality development of coastal tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the spatial evolution of a flood-prone, sub-urban coastal area, Municipio X of Rome. The study investigates land use change through a diachronic analysis, providing empirical data to retrace the implication of the factors that shaped the study area and highlighting the connection between environmental vulnerabilities and planning measures. Qualitative and quantitative assessments are provided to understand the political and social factors that contributed to rapid urbanization in the area. This investigation aims to grasp how past developments influence current issues and assist planners and decision-makers in tackling present and future vulnerabilities more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides an overview of the challenges and solutions related to climate change and sustainability in California. It highlights the impacts of climate change that the state is already experiencing, such as increasing temperatures, sea level rise, and more frequent heatwaves. The article emphasizes the need for global emissions reduction and discusses the legislation and policies enacted by the state government to address climate change, with a focus on environmental justice. It also emphasizes the importance of understanding regional impacts and finding adaptable solutions. The document further discusses the importance of climate adaptation, particularly for marginalized communities, and highlights the role of Indigenous knowledge and stewardship in building climate resilience. It addresses the impacts of climate change on ecosystems, wildfires, agriculture, urban systems, and human health. The authors argue for inclusive and equitable policies and collaborations to tackle climate change and promote sustainability in California. The document includes references to various scientific studies and reports related to climate change and its impacts on the state. [Extracted from the article]

Sea-level rise (SLR) is one of the most unequivocal consequences of climate change, yet the implications for shorebirds and their coastal habitats are not well understood, especially outside of the north temperate zone. Here, we show that by the year 2050, SLR has the potential to cause significant habitat loss and reduce the quality of the remaining coastal wetlands in Northwest Mexico—one of the most important regions for Nearctic breeding migratory shorebirds. Specifically, we used species distribution modeling and a moderate SLR static inundation scenario to assess the effects of future SLR on coastal wetlands in Northwest Mexico and the potential distribution of Calidris canutus roselaari (Red Knot), a threatened long-distance migratory shorebird. Our results suggest that under a moderate SLR scenario, 55% of the current coastal wetland extent in northwest Mexico will be at risk of permanent submergence by 2050, and the high-quality habitat areas that remain will be 20% less suitable for C. c. roselaari. What is more, 8 out of the 10 wetlands currently supporting the largest numbers of C. c. roselaari are predicted to lose, on average, 17.8% of their Highly Suitable Habitat (HSH) areas, with 2 sites completely losing all of their HSH. In combination with increasing levels of coastal development and anthropogenic disturbance in Northwest Mexico, these predicted changes suggest that the potential future distribution of C. c. roselaari (and other shorebirds) will likely contract, exacerbating their ongoing population declines. Our results also make clear that SLR will likely have profound effects on ecosystems outside the north temperate zones, providing a clarion call to natural resource managers. Urgent action is required to begin securing sufficient space to accommodate the natural capacity of wetlands to migrate inland and implement local-scale solutions that strengthen the resilience of wetlands and human populations to SLR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although human‐made barriers to animal movement are ubiquitous across many types of ecosystems, the science behind these barriers and how to ameliorate their effects lags far behind in marine environments compared with terrestrial and freshwater realms. Using juvenile sawfish in an Australian nursery habitat as a model system, we aimed to assess the effects of a major anthropogenic development on the movement behavior of coastal species. We compared catch rates and movement behavior (via acoustic telemetry) of juvenile green sawfish (Pristis zijsron) before and after a major coastal structure was built in an important nursery habitat. Acoustic tracking and catch data showed that the development did not affect levels of sawfish recruitment in the nursery, but it did constrain movements of juveniles moving throughout the nursery, demonstrating the reluctance of shoreline‐associated species to travel around large or unfamiliar coastal structures. Given the current lack of information on human‐made movement barriers in the marine environment, these findings highlight the need for further research in this area, and we propose the development of and experimentation with marine animal crossings as an important area of emerging research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The northeastern Red Sea (Saudi Arabia) is currently being transformed to become a global hub of economic activity and tourism. This transformation requires the development of pristine coastal areas into populated and dynamic settlements. At the same time, the northern Red Sea is considered a climate refuge for corals in changing climate conditions, and efforts to preserve and protect marine biodiversity are being proposed. Accordingly, foraminifers are an efficient tool to assess and monitor their associated coral reefs' health. This study reports a modern-day health assessment of the corals of Shushah Island (Saudi Arabia) in the northeastern Red Sea as a reference for future monitoring as inferred by applying the FoRAM Index method. In general, our results revealed healthy conditions conducive to coral growth, yet some precautions and regular assessments are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sub-Saharan Africa, and in particular Mozambique, has considerable potential of salinity gradient energy, which could foster coastal development. However, the lack of scientific based information hinders the development of policies and investments in harnessing this source of energy in Sub-Saharan Africa. The present study, used historical data of temperature and salinity and estimated the potential of salinity gradient power in four main estuaries in Mozambique. The theoretical salinity gradient power ranged, on average, from 843.6 MW, in Incomati River estuary to 2,800.0 MW in Zambezi Delta. The Bons Sinais Estuary and Limpopo Estuary had 1,086.8 MW and 1292.0 MW, on average, respectively. The salinity power estimated in the Mozambique estuaries studied was above the maximum power densities for electrodialysis osmotic energy storage systems, which is set at 5 W m−2, and has potential extractable energy of about 3,000MW, and could benefit about 2 million coastal rural households (about 7% of the total Mozambican population) on irrigation and lighting houses. Further studies may be focused in determining the seasonal and salinity intrusion effects on salinity power gradient in the Mozambican estuaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased human activities in China's coastal zone have resulted in the depletion of ecological land resources. Thus, conducting current and future multi-scenario simulation research on land use and land cover change (LUCC) is crucial for guiding the healthy and sustainable development of coastal zones. System dynamic (SD)-future land use simulation (FLUS) model, a coupled simulation model, was developed to analyze land use dynamics in China's coastal zone. This model encompasses five scenarios, namely, SSP1-RCP2.6 (A), SSP2-RCP4.5 (B), SSP3-RCP4.5 (C), SSP4-RCP4.5 (D), and SSP5-RCP8.5 (E). The SD model simulates land use demand on an annual basis up to the year 2100. Subsequently, the FLUS model determines the spatial distribution of land use for the near term (2035), medium term (2050), and long term (2100). Results reveal a slowing trend in land use changes in China's coastal zone from 2000–2020. Among these changes, the expansion rate of construction land was the highest and exhibited an annual decrease. By 2100, land use predictions exhibit high accuracy, and notable differences are observed in trends across scenarios. In summary, the expansion of production, living, and ecological spaces toward the sea remains prominent. Scenario A emphasizes reduced land resource dependence, benefiting ecological land protection. Scenario B witnesses an intensified expansion of artificial wetlands. Scenario C sees substantial land needs for living and production, while Scenario D shows coastal forest and grassland shrinkage. Lastly, in Scenario E, the conflict between humans and land intensifies. This study presents pertinent recommendations for the future development, utilization, and management of coastal areas in China. The research contributes valuable scientific support for informed, long-term strategic decision making within coastal regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a predatory fish that migrates between freshwater and marine environments, the sea trout (Salmo trutta) is important in linking these systems. This study investigated movement patterns of sea trout in a coastal fjord at the Swedish Skagerrak region from August 2018 to January 2019, using acoustic telemetry, while assessing these against environmental variables across different spatial and temporal scales. Six acoustic receivers were deployed in the fjord and a river, which flows into the upper reaches of the fjord, with the aim of detecting 20 sea trout that had been tagged with acoustic transmitters. Sea surface temperature and winds (east–west) affected movement patterns of the sea trout the most, while changes in atmospheric pressure were also important, but to a lesser extent. Sea surface temperature and atmospheric pressure both had a positive relationship with the number of detections, whereas stronger winds from the east (i.e. from land) resulted in more detections than stronger winds from the west (i.e. from the ocean). In addition, interesting diel (day–night) movement patterns were observed for some fish. A significant positive correlation was also discovered between the weight of the fish and the number of detections. This study offers insight in movements of sea trout that use coastal habitats and how environmental conditions can affect movement patterns in a fjord system. To further our understanding of sea trout movement patterns and connectivity, tracking from river, through fjord, out to sea and at a longer time scale with more variation in fish size would be valuable to understand more about the complex movement dynamics of this important species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine coastal resources are crucial to Tanzania's socio‐economic development and are a lifeline for the livelihoods and incomes of coastal communities. This study provides an overview of the coastal development of mariculture in mainland Tanzania and suggests future development strategies. The review article covers extensive reports available through field interviews, government policy documents, library literature searches and field work carried out by the authors. Despite the immense potential of mariculture to improve food security for localcommunities, its development has been uneven. Specifically only seaweed farming has advanced to commercial‐scale production. Other mariculture activities, such as finfish farming (e.g. milkfish, silver pompano), shellfish farming (e.g. prawn, mud crab and half‐pearl) and sea cucumber farming, are underdeveloped and confined to small‐scale operations. Locally consumed finfish, such as milkfish and pompano, have not attracted investors out of fear that the recovery of investment may not be achieved due to the low prices offered in the market. In this context, the sustainable use of coastal resources through mariculture becomes paramount to alleviating poverty and facilitating controlled migration from rural to urban. This comprehensive review explores the historical evolution and current status of mariculture initiatives in the coastal waters of mainland Tanzania, which presents a crucial aspect of the socio‐economic development of the nation. With declining global capture fisheries production and a growing demand for fish protein, Tanzania has strategically embraced mariculture as a viable alternative. The article traced the development of mariculture since the 1970s, highlighting past and current initiatives managed by government agencies, non‐government organizations and the private sector. Notable successes, such as seaweed culture, are highlighted along with the challenges that hinder the growth of marine farming activities. The review integrates insights from a comprehensive survey in coastal Tanzania, focusing on mariculture activities and collecting information on people who have stopped such practices, elucidating reasons for quitting. By consolidating experiences from past and present mariculture initiatives, this review provides valuable guidance for decision‐making towards promoting sustainable mariculture that supports coastal communities while preserving marine biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of coastal areas in Japan for various land uses since the 1960s has contributed to industrial upgrades and improved the efficiency of transportation networks. However, there are concerns about the vulnerability of developments on alluvial plains and reclaimed lands to geological events, like ground subsidence due to liquefaction during large earthquakes. Realistic assessment of earthquake and tsunami hazards and evaluation of possible countermeasures require accurate estimation of the amount of subsidence that can be expected from liquefaction at coastal and riverside sites supporting various structures. In this study, to evaluate the amount a river embankment structure might be expected to settle as a result of strong motion from an assumed Nankai Trough great earthquake, we conducted a numerical simulation using the soil–water coupled finite deformation analysis code GEOASIA. We then investigated the effect of the estimated embankment subsidence on tsunami inundation, which was simulated by using nonlinear shallow-water equations and a grid spacing as fine as 3.3 m. The influence of urban structures on the inundated area was taken into account by using a structure-embedded elevation model (SEM). The results showed that subsidence of river embankments and the collapse of parapet walls on top of them would increase both the depth and area of inundation caused by a tsunami triggered by a Nankai Trough scenario earthquake. Our findings underscore the importance of evaluating not only earthquake resistance but also vulnerability of coastal and riverside structures to strong motion in tsunami hazard analyses. Furthermore, the importance of tsunami inundation analysis using a SEM for predicting the behavior of tsunami flotsam in urban areas was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical reefs encompass tremendous biodiversity yet are imperiled by increasing natural and anthropogenic disturbances worldwide. Meiobenthic biota on coral reefs, for example, ostracods, may experience substantial diversity loss and compositional changes even before being examined. In this study, we investigated the reefal ostracod assemblages from the highly diverse and productive ecosystem in the Zanzibar Archipelago (Pemba, Zanzibar, and Mafia islands), Tanzania, to understand how their diversity and faunal structure vary in response to water depth, benthic community type, and human impacts. We characterized four distinct ostracod faunas associated with different benthic habitats, which were deep fore reefs, shallow fringing reefs, degraded fringing reefs, and algae-covered intertidal flats. We identified typical ostracod associations, i.e., Bairdiidae versus Loxoconchidae–Xestoleberididae, that showed affinities towards hard corals or algae on the reef platforms, respectively. The highest diversity was found on shallow fringing reefs where coral-affined and algae-affined taxa exhibited maximum overlap of their distributional ranges, while the sand flats, mangrove, and marginal reefs within the intertidal zone had much lower diversity with a high dominance of euryhaline taxa. Along the western coast of Zanzibar Island, coastal development likely resulted in a unique faunal composition and comparatively low diversity of ostracod assemblages among those in reefal habitats, in conjunction with overall reef ecosystem degradation. This study represents the first large-scale assessment of shallow-marine ostracods in the Zanzibar Archipelago. It lays a solid foundation for future research into the ecological significance of ostracods on coral reefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Envy has garnered considerable attention in hospitality since emotions are crucial in understanding how individuals behave within an organization. However, research has failed to establish a link between envy and psychological detachment in coastline hotels. Our study investigates the effect of coworker envy on service sabotage through psychological detachment as a mediating factor and perceived employability and self-performance as moderators. Data were collected from 637 employees at three-star coastline hotels using a time-lagged approach. The SmartPLS results revealed that psychological detachment was partially mediated. Finally, employee performance strengthened the positive connection between psychological detachment and service sabotage conduct. Our study offers academics and hotel industry professionals significant insights into the coastal hotel sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve better biodiversity outcomes and match local governance capacity, cumulative effects assessment frameworks that combine Indigenous and western knowledge to predict future development impacts on biodiversity are needed.We developed a spatial future‐focused model informed by inclusive elicitation and strategic foresight to assess the regional cumulative effects of development on ecosystem health across the land and sea. We collaborated with three First Nations on the Central Coast of British Columbia, Canada, enabling Indigenous priorities, knowledge and values to drive the process, from the choice of priority ecosystem components (including salmon, herring, seabirds and bears), to identifying future development scenarios (based on forestry, energy/mining, tourism and salmon aquaculture sectors). Bayesian networks were populated with empirical data and expert judgement elicited from knowledge holders to predict the cumulative effects of current and future pressures on species and ecosystems.Under current conditions, the lowest probability of persistence was predicted for Pacific salmon (37%), followed by Pacific herring (43%). Under future conditions, the greatest declines in species health were associated with the intense development of mining, tourism and forestry, with up to a 54% decline from the current baseline health estimates predicted for Marbled Murrelets and old‐growth forest.Future outcomes for overall ecosystem health were predicted to be worst in scenarios with high future forestry activities (>60% decline in some areas). The continuation or development of all four industries resulted in an 8% decline overall in ecosystem health across the Central Coast. In contrast, predicted ecosystem health in the tourism economy scenario increased up to 15% in some marine areas, primarily driven by the removal of salmon aquaculture and forestry activities.Synthesis and applications. Our study demonstrates an inclusive, regional approach to assessing the cumulative effects of future development on coastal species. The novel participatory tools and predictive framework draw upon and interweave multiple forms of knowledge, enabling Indigenous values to drive the process, and appropriately integrate Indigenous knowledge into regional cumulative effects assessment. Our interactive web application provides First Nations partners access to all outputs, supporting Indigenous‐led governance and in situ ecosystem‐based management of their lands and water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seascapes of Small Island Developing States are at risk from anthropogenic pollution. To implement effective seascape management, there is a need to better understand the threats to the seascape, subsequent impacts and associated stakeholder perceptions. This study used a systematic literature review, online survey and follow-up interviews to identify the main threats and impacts to the seascape and analyze associated perceptions of stakeholders, using Mauritius as a case study. The key threats were found to be oil spills, anthropogenic marine debris, coastal development, tourism, poor environmental management, and inadequate enforcement of legislation. Associated perception data showed a high awareness of increasing pollution, some awareness of the impacts and a general consensus that the seascape is poorly managed. Stricter law enforcement and increased education were suggested by stakeholders to improve seascape management. It is hoped this data will inform future studies and subsequently improve the effectiveness of seascape management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engraulis ringens (anchovy) is a small pelagic fish of the Family Engraulidae that inhabits the neretic‐coastal zone from northern Peru to south‐central Chile. It is the main resource species of industrial fishing of northern Chile, representing 80% of the annual landings of the purse seine fleet. The history of this fishery (1985–2023) shows a strong decrease in annual industrial landings, especially during extreme El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. The greatest decrease in landings in two decades occurred in 2020, coinciding with a cold La Niña event, which had not been observed in previous La Niña events. We evaluated whether the current decrease in annual landings of E. ringens is associated with oceanographic changes in northern Chile during El Niño or La Niña events. We applied a neuronal network model to identify the spatial and temporal distribution of E. ringens using the catch probability of each boat of the industrial purse seine fleet. The selected oceanographic variables (sea surface temperature, salinity, depth of the mixed layer, sea height and currents) for the 2003–2020 period were obtained from the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS program) and used as predictor variables of the monthly landings of E. ringens. The neural network model explained 97% of the monthly variability of catch probability of E. ringens by the industrial purse seine fleet. The spatial distribution of catch probability of E. ringens was analyzed independently for El Niño (2015), La Niña (2007, 2013, and 2020), and Neutral (2004) years. We found that catch probability extended further west during La Niña events (except for 2020), occupying a greater area, but were limited to a 10 nautical mile coastal strip during the El Niño event. The spatial distribution of catch probability in the Neutral condition was near the coast, although not as restricted as during the El Niño event. The higher catch probabilities in the La Niña event of 2020 were near the coast, in contrast to the previous La Niña events of 2007 and 2013, due to the restriction of the optimal habitat of E. ringens in response to changes in oceanographic conditions. The application of the results of this study will allow understanding and probably anticipating the consequences that extreme ENSO events could have on the catch probability of the industrial anchovy purse seine fleet in northern Chile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In comparison to the wealth of critical evaluation of LEADER (i.e., Liaison entre actions de développement de l'économie rurale), there has been no consolidated attempt to reflect on the contribution of Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs), now entering their third EU programming period. Set up in the image of LEADER, and a novel governance instrument within the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), FLAGs aim to activate local responses that build resilience and adaptability within the fisheries sector and wider communities. In addition to introducing the accompanying articles that make up this special issue of Sociologia Ruralis, our article gives an account of the emergence of community‐led local development (CLLD) in fisheries and the attributes that have characterised the application of the LEADER approach within a fisheries‐territorial development context. In many cases, FLAGs have led to improved relationships between the small‐scale fishing sector and wider local social and economic networks, helping the sector reimagine its role within local economies. Yet outcomes vary as the FLAG approach has been applied across different cultural and institutional settings. There are indications that the system is becoming enveloped by wider priorities of coastal development and blue growth. Yet FLAGs may well provide a successful test case for widening participation in the CFP and upscaling integration of the fishing industry within local and regional economies. For CLLD in general, they are a reminder of the value of a differentiated CLLD approach tailored to different sectoral‐territorial contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small‐scale fisheries and coastal communities experienced dramatic downward trends over recent decades impacting rural development on European coastlines. Fisheries governance in the European Union (EU) follows exogenous top‐down regulations steering fishing practices through detailed regulations. In contrast, the EU's structural funding system of Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) involves an endogenous approach consisting of more participatory bottom‐up processes. This article explores these approaches by investigating the capacity of Swedish FLAGs to support small‐scale fisheries and coastal communities. Using document analyses and interviews, we show that, in principle, the FLAG approach has the capacity to support local fisheries developments and to foreground small‐scale fisheries interests in combination with community interests. However, the unique Swedish FLAG experience reveals a diminished scope for including small‐scale fisheries' and coastal communities' interests on a structural basis. The Swedish FLAG experience, we conclude, mirrors a path‐dependent trajectory of marginalisation and disempowerment of local fisheries interests hampering the potential of endogenous development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal development can significantly impact nearby shorelines, raising concerns about erosion and sustainability. This study investigated the long-term effects of the Tangier Med port on the coastlines of Dalia and Ksar Sghir beaches in Morocco using remote sensing techniques and the digital shoreline analysis system (DSAS). A multi-decadal approach analyzed shoreline changes for pre-construction (1988-2005) and post-construction (2004-2022) periods. The obtained findings reveal contrasting patterns. Ksar Sghir displayed accretion, due to port infrastructure disrupting natural sediment transport. Dalia beach exhibited a mixed response with ongoing erosion and localized accretion, influenced by the construction of a fishing port on the eastern side of the beach. To gain further insights into the future trajectory of these shorelines, a Kalman filter model was employed to predict shoreline positions for the year 2034 and 2044. These predictions highlight the potential for continued divergence between the beaches. Dalia beach faces potential infrastructure damage on the western side due to ongoing erosion, while the eastern side may require increased dredging to maintain fishing port access. Ksar Sghir beach, on the other hand, is projected to experience continued accretion with minimal anticipated negative impacts. This research offers valuable insights into the differential impacts of port development on adjacent coastlines. It highlights the importance of long-term monitoring and pre-construction data for understanding coastal interventions. Additionally, incorporating shoreline forecasting can aid in developing sustainable management strategies for both coastlines and port functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The available data on occurrence patterns of cetaceans in the Red Sea area of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is very limited. The dearth of information is of pressing conservation concern as the coastline is undergoing rapid development as part of the Kingdom's effort to diversify its national economy. To understand how these developments will impact cetaceans in the region, the first large‐scale acoustic and visual survey in the Kingdom's part of the Gulf of Aqaba and the northeastern Red Sea was undertaken in 2020. The results of the acoustic surveys reveal 3.6 encounters per 100 km of track line of odontocete species with variable distribution across the study area. No baleen whale vocalizations were detected. Through visual surveys, five odontocete species were identified within the study area: Tursiops truncatus, T. aduncus, Stenella attenuata, S. longirostris, and two opportunistic sightings of a single Grampus griseus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the rare occurrence of tsunamis in the Arabian Sea, and the lack of reliable records on them, tsunami preparedness has not been prioritized in plans for the development of coastal cities in the Middle East. However, an increase in the number of earthquakes in the region in the recent past has highlighted the vulnerability of low-lying coastal areas to tsunamis. We investigate the potential of date palm forests to mitigate tsunamis in the Middle East. Experiments were conducted at a scale of 1:100 to assess the effectiveness of forests in reducing the intensity of tsunamis. The reflection at the front of the forest was negligibly small when the depth of flow was lower than the height of the canopy, and increased with the height of the tsunami wave when the depth of flow was higher than the height of the canopy. This shows that the structure of the canopy of date palm trees is key to reducing the energy of the tsunami. The reduction in the maximum depth of flow behind the forest increased with the height of the tsunami when the forest was longer than 120 m. The largest reductions obtained in the depth and velocity of flow behind the forest were 37% and 40%, respectively, when the forest was 180 m long and the tsunami wave was 7 m high. The results suggest that a date palm forest with a length of at least 150 m on flat ground can mitigate tsunamis in the Middle East. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The desire to stabilize coastlines has led to widespread use of hard armoring infrastructure across the globe; however, ecologists and coastal managers have increasingly documented the deleterious effects of armoring on ecological communities. Although many studies have assessed economic and landscape correlates of armoring, few studies incorporate race as a predictor of armoring. Race may be an important force structuring the placement of armoring due to the long history of Black land loss in the US Southeast. Here, we assessed the distribution of armoring in the US state of South Carolina with respect to demographic and housing characteristics using a high spatial resolution data set and a combination of spatial statistics and generalized linear mixed models. We found clusters of high armoring counts in the more urbanized Beaufort and Charleston counties, with these clusters frequently occurring in large-scale, planned communities. We found a positive correlation between armoring count and the percentage of White residents, with the number of armoring structures predicted to increase from 1.61 to 7.77 between census block groups (CBGs) that are 0 to 100% White. Armoring count and the percentage of homeowners also showed a positive correlation with a similar magnitude of effect, with the number of armoring structures predicted to increase from 1.14 to 8.97 between CBGs that are 0 to 100% homeowners. These results highlight that racial composition and homeownership are strong predictors of armoring count on private, personal property, which provides critical context for how these structures are distributed and underscores that socioeconomic factors can control where their associated environmental impacts may be concentrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tsunami disaster mitigation is essential to reduce the possibility of negative impacts on human life by using ecologically acceptable alternatives. In line with the mitigation efforts, it is essential to focus on strategies such as reducing the risk of casualties and planning for coastal development. An effective method includes the implementation of coastal risk mapping for tsunami disasters. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the propagation and run-up modeling of tsunami waves, as well as evaluate the timing and extent of inundation, and identify affected areas, providing basic information for mapping tsunami risk and vulnerability. Geospatial analysis adopting stacking methods with integrated weighting was applied, using physical topography data as a basis. The results showed that the fault from the earthquake scenario, triggering a tsunami, led to elevated water levels in the southern area. This was attributed to the upward orientation of the fault in the southern area, causing higher waves. Specifically, wave height in the southern area reached a maximum of 8 meters, with the minimum wave value recorded at -4. Tsunami modeling presented a height of 22 meters, resulting in a run-up affecting an area of 965.96 Ha. In conclusion, this study provided an important contribution to the development of the basic theory related to the tsunami risk and vulnerability model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public coastal access is a growing issue in coastal management, particularly as both environmental changes and increased coastal development threaten existing public coastal access points around the country. This has implications both economically and on non-economic factors such as individual and community well-being. Through a mixed-methods case study of coastal users in Rhode Island (n = 200 surveys and n = 29 interviews), this study explores the concept of attachment to coasts as a specific type of place attachment by identifying Coastal Place Attachment (CPA) as a concept, developing a quantitative index to measure CPA, and qualitatively describing the value that coastal attachment brings to well-being. Results show that individuals do have a unique attachment to coastal environments that is not transferable to other natural areas, although it may be generalizable to other coastal areas. We also document how this attachment provides important contributions to psychological, physical, and social well-being. Implications for coastal access management are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yolas are indigenous fishing boats constructed by specific members of coastal communities in Puerto Rico. The knowledge of how to build and fish with yolas is passed down through generations and is considered traditional knowledge. The yola has formed an important part of the culture in Aguadilla and Rincón, Puerto Rico, but this piece of culture is being lost as younger generations are not using these boats. Youth in these communities are using larger fishing boats, which can go faster and farther out, but in turn they are not learning how to build traditional boats. In addition, these fishing communities are facing various challenges including coastal erosion, over-development of the coast, and fish migration away from the shoreline. These challenges are adversely affecting the elders of the fishing community, and contributing to a loss of knowledge by deterring youth from using traditional boats. For my project, I created a multimedia storymap utilizing pictures, audio, and video in order to tell the story of the ‘yolero’ community in Aguadilla and Rincón, Puerto Rico.Please see the links below for the full project: English: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/6960e77660474c01803ee2f835494c74 Spanish: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/4436f648c56d492189c78a085f111bfb