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This perspective reflects on conservation efforts to increase the coverage of marine protected areas in Solomon Islands. We demonstrate that the current model in which international conservation NGOs provide technical and financial support to pilot projects, from which community‐based resource management will spontaneously spread, is misguided. These site‐based projects typically require substantial financial resources, ignore external threats to coastal ecosystems, and tend to bypass existing governance structures, which makes replication in other areas highly problematic. We argue that to effectively support indigenous peoples and local communities in the management of marine resources and, thereby, achieve biodiversity conservation outcomes at scale, it is necessary to move away from site‐based conservation projects and focus instead on strengthening the capability of government agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aim Location Methods Results Main Conclusions The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most anthropized seas in the world but also a marine biodiversity hotspot with many fish species under threat. The main goal of the study is to test whether on the heavily fished and anthropized Mediterranean coast, the less impacted Corsica and Balearic Islands, can be considered as refugia for threatened and elasmobranch fishes independently of protection by marine reserves.The French Mediterranean coast and three north‐western Mediterranean islands: Corsica and also Mallorca and Minorca from the Balearic archipelago.We performed 187 fish surveys using environmental DNA metabarcoding on three islands and 109 along the continental coast. Of the 78 surveys on islands 22 correspond to no‐take marine reserves and of the 109 continental surveys 26 were carried out within reserves. After eDNA filtration, extraction, amplification, and sequencing we estimated the number of fish species but also the number commercial, threatened and elasmobranch fish species on each sample. We then performed an ANOVA by permutation to test the effect of insularity and protection on these four biodiversity metrics. We also modelled these four biodiversity metrics as a function of protection and human pressure but also environmental, habitat and sampling conditions. We also built species accumulation curves to obtain asymptotes representing the potential regional pools for each species category on both island and continental coasts.We obtained a total of 175,982,610 reads over the 187 eDNA samples that were assigned to 153 fish species including 17 elasmobranch species among which 7 were only detected on islands. We observed a higher total fish richness on continental than island surveys regardless of protection but a higher threatened and elasmobranch fish richness on the island than on continental surveys. We obtained a significant, negative and predominant human gravity impact on the diversity of elasmobranch species. The modelled asymptote reached 148 teleostean fish species on islands and 196 on the continental coastline with a very similar rate of diversity increase with sampling effort but the shape of the species accumulation curves differed markedly for elasmobranchs with a stronger increase in diversity with sampling effort on islands.Our findings highlight that Mediterranean islands can be refugia for sharks and rays but also threatened fishes in this overexploited region. Our results also suggest that reducing or banning trawling activities may play a key role for conserving vulnerable fishes, beyond the benefits of no‐take marine reserves, which appear limited on these large home‐range species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Coral reef ecosystems support high fish biodiversity through ecological interactions with structural complexity across multiple spatial scales including coral colony architecture and the surrounding seascape structure. In an era where the complexity of coral reef ecosystems is being diminished, understanding the importance of structural characteristics beyond single focal patches has the potential to better inform actions for protecting, restoring or creating habitat for reef‐associated species. A seascape ecology approach was applied to explore the associations between multiple scales of seascape structure and fish assemblage response variables within a small (49.6 km2) offshore no‐take MPA, Sir Bu Nair Island Protected Area, in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Fish–seascape associations were modelled with single regression trees. Both in situ and remote sensing–derived variables produced the best models with highest contributions from coral cover, amount of hard‐bottom habitat type and structural complexity of the seafloor terrain. Fish species richness was significantly higher where coral cover exceeded 35%. The hard‐bottom areas with coral supported diverse assemblages dominated by carnivorous and omnivorous fishes. The Sir Bu Nair Island Protected Area provides a critical refuge for threatened and regionally overexploited species including those with low resilience to fishing. The ecological success of this protected area is key to safeguarding regional marine biodiversity and recovering fish populations to enhance food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of larval dispersal and connectivity between deep-sea populations is essential for the effective conservation and management of deep-sea environments and the design and implementation of Marine Protected Areas. Dense sponge aggregations, known as "sponge grounds", are a key component of marine benthic ecosystems, by increasing the structural complexity of the sea floor and providing structure and habitat for many other species. These aggregations are characteristic of the Azores deep-sea environment. These sessile organisms rely primarily on larval dispersal for their reproduction. Connectivity between specific Pheronema carpenteri sponge aggregations in the Azores was studied using a 3-D biophysical dispersal model. Different biological trait scenarios were analyzed, considering spawning seasonality and pelagic larval duration. Model results indicate that regional circulation patterns drive larval dispersion, shaping population connectivity of P. carpenteri sponge aggregations in the Azores, particularly among aggregations in the Central Group of Azorean islands. Some areas present high retention rates, receiving larvae from several sponge aggregations while also being important larval source aggregations. In contrast, aggregations from the Eastern Group may be isolated from the others. Larval dispersal and connectivity patterns were analyzed concerning the current configuration of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Azores. The results underscored the importance of maintaining protection efforts in existing MPAs and identified stepping-stone locations and specific sites where additional measures could enhance species connectivity in the Azores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

This paper carries out an initial assessment of the integration of the ecosystem approach in the recently adopted agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ). The analysis seeks to assess whether or not such integration is likely to be effective. In this respect, this paper follows up on earlier analyses offered during the negotiating process and aims at offering some initial considerations on, and reactions to, the final text of the BBNJ agreement, in order to map the limits of this integration and the opportunities it may offer, for an effective implementation of the ecosystem approach in the context of the BBNJ agreement, focussing especially on article 7 (on general principles and approaches), on part III (on area‐based management tools, including marine protected areas) and part IV (on environmental impact assessments) with specific focus on strategic environmental assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine turtles are a group of imperiled marine megafauna particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic stressors. Most long‐term studies of marine turtles are based on nesting surveys which focus on numbers of eggs, hatchlings, and nesting females. However, we know less about long‐term abundance trends of immature and adult turtles in the marine environment. To address this data gap, we examined records from 35,000 underwater visual census (UVC) dives (1993–2019) and short‐term in‐water turtle survey data (2009–2014) at Cocos Island, Costa Rica. During UVCs, trained divemasters from UnderSea Hunter recorded observations of two species of marine turtles—green Chelonia mydas and hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata. Our short‐term in‐water surveys revealed that most turtles at Cocos are greens, but both immature and mature greens occur at Cocos. We analyzed long‐term UVC data using a hierarchical modeling approach and we modeled a 26% decrease in the relative abundance of turtles observed on dives each year. Our model also revealed potential interactions between tiger sharks and turtles, finding that for each additional tiger shark present during a dive, the predicted relative abundance of turtles decreased by 43%. Lastly, our model suggested the influence of environmental variation on marine turtle relative abundance; a 1°C increase in sea surface temperature (SST) decreased the predicted relative abundance of turtles by 7%. Our results suggest that marine turtles are sensitive to long‐term environmental and oceanographic changes, and potentially avoid certain areas to reduce exposure to tiger sharks. Given our study area is already protected, there needs to be more focus on protecting adult turtles during their movements across the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Our work also highlights the importance of long‐term underwater surveys to monitor adult turtles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the background of circular economy, sustainable development is no longer a slogan but an action. Many countries gradually attach importance to promoting green development and realization of sustainable development. However, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as the main force, may face financing risks. Thus, the risk control of equity financing has become a vital part of sustainable business management, and enterprises urgently need to effectively assess the risk of equity financing. To assess the risk in a quantitative way, we firstly adopt the Delphi method to construct an index system for financing risk, further extending the judgement dimension and establishing a risk assessment model of marine ranching equity financing. Next, the risk assessment model of marine ranching equity financing based on the PLTS-ER approach is established. Among them, fuzzy qualitative expert evaluation information is expressed in the form of probability by the probabilistic linguistic term sets (PLTS) method, which weakens the interference of subjective factors and calculates the basic probabilistic assignment (BPA) function. Furthermore, evidential reasoning (ER) method is applied to consider experts' evaluation information processed by PLTS method, finalized with a risk evaluation model. In addition, sensitivity analysis and comparative analysis are carried out in this paper, which further proves the applicability and effectiveness of the indicator system and PLTS-ER method in establishing the risk assessment model of marine ranching equity financing. The research conclusion is of great significance to the marine ranching listed enterprises to evaluate the risks arising from equity financing, and then help them carry out sustainable business management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish behaviour is intimately linked to fishing catchability. Measurements of fish behaviour may provide quantitative indicators that inform about the impact of fishing pressure and help design effective management strategies. The implications of spearfishing pressure on fish behaviour have mainly been characterized using single quantitative indicators such as flight initiation distance (FID), which provide incomplete views of spearfisher‐fish behavioural interactions.We used an integrative approach to advance the understanding of spearfisher‐fish behavioural interactions by complementing FID estimates with post‐flight responses (i.e. individual fish behaviour after fleeing), and the decreasing probability to catch a fish at increasing distance from a speargun. We first collected empirical observations of white seabream (Diplodus sargus) FID and post‐flight behaviour in response to an approaching human (spearfisher or snorkeler) inside and outside marine protected areas. We then combined these observations with simulations based on an innovative model representing how catchability changes during a spearfisher‐fish behavioural interaction.Empirical results showed that the likelihood of a still‐vulnerable post‐flight response after fleeing was inversely related to increasing exposure to spearfishers. This demonstrates that post‐flight response can be used as an indicator of spearfishing pressure. Moreover, post‐flight responses provided complementary information to that provided by FID, suggesting that these two indicators should be integrated for a holistic view of spearfishing‐fish interactions, such as in the model and simulations presented here.The simulations demonstrated that: (i) accounting for post‐flight responses may increase likelihood of approach by spearfisher within speargun range by up to 20%; and (ii) accounting for post‐flight responses and decreasing probability of capture with increasing distance from speargun drastically reduces estimates of likelihood of capture of white seabream at minimum catch length limit outside marine protected areas compared with using FID as single indicator of catchability.Synthesis and applications. First, integrating flight initiation distance (FID) measurement with post‐flight responses provides a more realistic indicator to measure fish behavioural reaction to spearfishing pressure. Second, the model presented here showed that spearfishing mortality may drastically decrease when accounting for both prey behaviour (i.e. FID and post‐flight responses) and spearfishers effectiveness (i.e. probability to catch a fish at increasing distance from a speargun). This must be considered to understand population dynamics and potential changes in catchability when spearfishing is managed through temporal restrictions (e.g. seasonal or periodic closures). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community engagement has been identified as a key component for successful conservation efforts. According to community members, key stakeholders, and coral reef restoration practitioners in the Seaflower Marine Protected Area (MPA), the most effective way to engage communities in coral reef restoration is by building local capacity. We used a mixed‐methods approach including interviews, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis, and surveys to assess strategies employed in the Seaflower MPA to involve local communities in coral reef restoration and the motivations and possible barriers that hinder community engagement. The community residing in the Seaflower MPA demonstrated awareness of the importance of coral reefs and their role in their livelihoods. They identified the main challenges to restoration as social dysfunctionality, administrative barriers, and environmental threats, along with a lack of opportunities for the community to participate in coral reef restoration. Our findings identified building trust, promoting equity, transparency, and accountability, fostering collaboration, and improving communication as essential to overcoming these challenges. Empowering local communities through capacity‐building initiatives such as educational programs, economic incentives, equity and inclusion measures, formal certifications, and local leadership would enhance support for coral reef restoration in the Seaflower MPA. In addition to building local capacity, our research identified the need for strategic planning, budgeting, and effective policies for enhancing community efforts in coral reef restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding species distribution across habitats and environmental variables is important to inform area-based management. However, observational data are often lacking, particularly from developing countries, hindering effective conservation design. One such data-poor area is the Gulf of Guinea, an understudied and biodiverse region where coastal waters play a critical role in coastal livelihoods. Here, we describe the results of the largest national-scale Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems (BRUVS) survey in the region, aiming to understand the effects of several environmental variables on fish community composition and diversity. From 2018 to 2020, we successfully deployed 417 benthic BRUVS in the coastal waters of the São Tomé and Príncipe (STP) archipelago. Species richness and relative abundance were higher in deeper waters, on steeper slopes, and in rocky reef habitats. Nevertheless, maerl and sand habitats also hosted unique, and economically important species. Our results potentially indicate historical impacts of fishing in the archipelago, especially in São Tomé Island, where observed fishing effort is higher. Indeed, abundance of large predatory fish was low in both islands and abundance of species targeted by artisanal fisheries was lower in São Tomé than in Príncipe. Our results provide crucial information supporting the designation and future monitoring of marine protected areas in STP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gilbert Bay marine protected area (MPA) was established in Labrador, Canada to protect a resident population of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and associated habitat. However, fisheries removals outside MPA boundaries have contributed to population decline and increases in potentially competing species may hinder recovery. Using acoustic telemetry and network analyses, we compared movements of Gilbert Bay cod (n = 23), conspecifics from offshore environments (offshore Atlantic cod, n = 19), and Greenland cod (Gadus ogac, n = 14) within and outside MPA boundaries from August 2014 to June 2017. Similar summer space use resulted in species overlap at seaward MPA boundaries and outside the MPA. In winter, Gilbert Bay cod and Greenland cod distributions overlapped within some MPA areas, and offshore Atlantic cod were absent. Some Gilbert Bay cod remained within the MPA year-round. Summer vulnerability to fisheries harvest outside MPA boundaries and winter overlap with competing Greenland cod within the MPA, may collectively challenge Gilbert Bay cod population recovery. Our study demonstrates the utility of acoustic telemetry and network analyses in evaluating animal movements for MPA management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Seagrass meadows represent a key marine ecosystem owing to the significant biodiversity they host. Protection actions are often implemented without considering connectivity between habitats. In this article, we project and prioritise Mediterranean seagrass habitats (Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa) based on their potential as sources/retention and stepping stones for dispersal propagules of the associated biotic communities. We use this information to identify gaps in the protection of highly ranked habitats. Location: Mediterranean Sea. Methods: We related seagrass observations with marine environmental predictors to run species distribution models and infer the distribution of Mediterranean seagrasses. We then used a network‐based approach (CONEFOR) to rank patches of seagrass suitable areas based on their contribution to the seascape in terms of patch area, potential as source/retention of propagules and stepping stone. Finally, by overlaying our ranking with the spatial distribution of marine protected areas (MPAs), we identified potential gaps in the protection of important seagrass habitats across the Mediterranean and its basins. Results: Most of the identified patches of seagrass suitable areas are not included in MPAs, only reaching a maximum protection coverage of ~50% in the Northwestern Mediterranean. Relatively few patches contribute disproportionately to connectivity, but top‐ranked habitat patches are not included within the existing MPAs network, both at the Mediterranean scale and for most basins. The largest gaps for the source/sink role are in the Aegean and Ionian Sea, and largest gaps for the stepping stone role are in the Adriatic, Ionian and Tyrrhenian Sea. Main Conclusions: Our results suggest that the current MPAs network fails to protect highly relevant patches of seagrass suitable areas in most of the Mediterranean basins. However, this gap could be filled by a few well‐placed MPAs. Overall, we provide novel insights for the identification of key habitats and planning novel coastal MPAs in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the occurrence and distribution of chemical pollutants, including total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), anionic surfactants, and total organic carbon (TOC), in the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) waters in the northern Persian Gulf. Water samples were collected from five MPAs during the winter and summer of 2022. The study identified significant seasonal variations, with higher pollutant levels recorded in winter compared to summer. Concentrations of ∑19PCBs (ng/L), anionic surfactants (µg/L), TPHs (mg/L), and TOC (mg/L) ranged from 0.72 to 4.66, 10 to 79, ND to 134.63, and 0.5 to 114.58 in winter, and from 2.49 to 5.05, 11 to 30, ND to 20.26, and 0.15 to 5.27 in summer, respectively. The pollution patterns revealed the Mond protected area as a major pollution hotspot, compromising its ecological health. The results highlight the critical need for targeted pollution control and enhanced conservation measures in the region's MPAs to protect biodiversity and marine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been few documented extinctions of fished species, but many bioeconomic models predict that open‐access incentives make extinction possible. Open‐access multi‐species fisheries can cause species' extinction if other, faster‐growing species maintain profits at fatal effort levels. Even target species can be profitably harvested to extinction if their prices rise sufficiently as they are depleted. Here, we explore interactions between these potential extinction mechanisms by modelling an open‐access multi‐species fishery with one or multiple fleets exploiting two species, each with different growth rates, ex‐vessel prices, and price dynamics. Increases in the strong stock's (the stock with higher productivity relative to fishing susceptibility) price as it is depleted increase the range of conditions under which the weak stock can be driven extinct and shrinks the range of bioeconomic parameters in which both species can coexist under open‐access. Catch hyperstability – whereby species become easier to catch as they are depleted – makes the weak stock weaker as it is depleted and further narrows the scope for coexistence. Fleet diversity in targeting ability can prevent weak stock extinction, as competition or switching balances species abundances. With few documented global fished‐species extinctions, our results raise important questions, which we discuss. Is the apparent lack of extinctions largely due to management? Are more species in lightly‐managed fisheries threatened with extinction than previously acknowledged? Have more extinctions than we realize already happened in data‐ and management‐poor fisheries? Or have fishes' high fecundity and the oceans' vastness provided protection against extinction that is uncaptured by existing theoretical models? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The survival of animals is impacted by landscapes of spatially varying mortality factors including habitat type, predation risk or harvest risk, among others. Characterization of these spatial mortality processes is important for managing animal populations and their habitats, yet this information has proved challenging to capture. Advances in telemetry now make it possible to monitor tagged individuals' locations through time for a wide range of taxa, providing opportunity to assess movement and mortality simultaneously through spatial time‐to‐event data. Existing time‐to‐event modelling frameworks have largely ignored spatially varying mortality processes or have treated an animal's location as fixed at a regional level.Here we present a general spatial survival model for analysing time‐to‐event data arising from animal telemetry. Our model has a flexible Cox regression form and can estimate the effects of conventional non‐spatial risk factors (size, seasonality, etc.), spatial covariates (e.g. habitat type) and spatial variation in risk not explained by covariates on mortality. We show how to fit our model using Bayesian methods and demonstrate applications of our model with several simulated examples and two animal telemetry case studies.Our model produced consistent and unbiased parameter estimates throughout simulations with a variety of spatial and non‐spatial hazards. In the first case study, data from 147 tagged caribou in British Columbia, Canada, revealed a spatially heterogeneous mortality landscape with caribou survival varying by elevation, likely in response to space use by predators. Our second case study involved a dataset of 390 acoustically tagged Atlantic cod in a southern Norwegian fjord where a marine protected area (MPA) was established during the study. We found that the MPA led to a shift from mostly fishing mortality to mostly natural mortality within the fjord and that these risks had markedly different spatial hazard patterns.Our spatial time‐to‐event model can make use of data from a variety of widely used telemetry technologies to characterize landscapes of mortality risks for different taxa. Our work provides new opportunities to inform the spatial ecology and management of fish and wildlife populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to define socio-economic criteria for prioritizing proposals related to new marine protected areas, boundary adjustments, area relocations, and network corridors within marine management approaches. The study also focuses on identifying ecosystem services (ES) that address the social dimensions of various spatial management approaches in the marine realm. The presented method quantifies nature’s significance to human communities through stakeholder perceptions, bridging the gap between human activities and ecosystem services. The research defines essential socio-economic criteria, identifies the corresponding ecosystem services, and assesses their societal values within the socio-ecological system of a specific area, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of marine management processes such as marine spatial planning and marine protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past several decades, the spatial extent of national parks, forest reserves, and other protected areas has expanded rapidly, encompassing more than 16 percent of the Earth’s terrestrial and inland water area in 2024. This expansion of protected areas has often led to population displacements and heightened restrictions on access to land and natural resources for indigenous peoples and other local communities, at times precipitating various conflicts, contestations, and broader forms of noncompliance with conservation regulations. Despite ongoing challenges in resolving trade-offs between conservation and livelihood objectives, the recently established Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) seeks to achieve even more ambitious conservation targets. These include GBF Target 3—sometimes referred to as the “30 × 30” target—of encompassing 30 percent of all terrestrial and marine ecosystems in protected areas or other effective area-based conservation measures by 2030. The GBF’s vision for achieving Target 3 implicitly assumes, however, that widespread challenges related to noncompliance in conservation governance can largely be resolved in their present manifestation(s), and prevented from reemerging as the scale of the global conservation estate increases. Seeking to deepen our understanding of the emergence and recurrence of illicit or otherwise non-rule-complying behaviors in everyday practices of conservation governance, we draw on a case study of the Manas Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve in the India-Bhutan borderlands region, northeastern India. Highlighting key findings from this case study, we foreground the concept of illicit resilience to encompass a suite of informal factors and dynamics that lead to the persistence of de facto land uses and management regimes in ways that often strikingly diverge from de jure prescriptions for resource conservation within protected areas. These dynamics include (1) long-term insurgency and political unrest; (2) collusive corruption, patronage, and local politics; and (3) elite-driven processes of informal resettlement and subsequent occupation of forestland. In short, we argue that a deeper understanding of such forms of illicit resilience and their underlying drivers will be crucial for more accurately conceptualizing both feasibility constraints on, and socioenvironmental justice implications of, efforts to rapidly upscale the spatial remit of conservation areas by 2030 and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global network of protected areas has rapidly expanded in the past decade and is expected to cover at least 30% of land and sea by 2030 to halt biodiversity erosion. Yet, the distribution of protected areas is highly heterogeneous on Earth and the social-environmental preconditions enabling or hindering protected area establishment remain poorly understood. Here, using fourteen socioeconomic and environmental factors, we characterize the multidimensional niche of terrestrial and marine protected areas, which we use to accurately establish, at the global scale, whether a particular location has preconditions favourable for paestablishment. We reveal that protected areas, particularly the most restrictive ones, over-aggregate where human development and the number of non-governmental organizations are high. Based on the spatial distribution of vertebrates and the likelihood to convert non-protected areas into strictly protected areas, we identify 'potential' versus 'unrealistic' conservation gains on land and sea, which we define as areas of high vertebrate diversity that are, respectively, favourable and unfavourable to protected area establishment. Where protected areas are unrealistic, alternative strategies such as other effective area-based conservation measures or privately protected areas, could deliver conservation outcomes. In this study, the authors show that the placement of protected areas is globally highly heterogenous but can be accurately predicted from a reduced set of socioeconomic and environmental factors. These predictions highlight that most unprotected areas critical for the conservation of vertebrates are located in unfavourable conditions to establish future protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a cornerstone of marine conservation efforts, with the potential to protect biodiversity and provide socioeconomic benefits. We quantified the effect of MPAs on fishing outcomes, economic activities, and material living standards in 24 coastal villages of Tanzania over two decades. We accessed original data from a study conducted in 2003 that found no effect of MPAs 3–8 years after their creation. Eighteen years later, we replicated the survey and used a Before‐After Control‐Intervention design to quantify the effect of MPAs. We found that villages near MPAs experienced a 50% higher improvement in living standards compared to those further from MPAs. This benefit is not related to higher fishing outcomes but to a diversification of economic sectors. Our findings highlight a decoupling between fish catches and economic benefits, revealing that socio‐economic outcomes can be observed for MPAs whose ecosystems’ productivity has declined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a context of global changes, a foresight study is helpful to look into the future, anticipate possible scenarios and take appropriate decisions to face emerging risks for food and feed safety. Considering that an increased use of the ocean is expected for the next decades, it is essential to explore its possible impact on the safety of food and feed from the oceans. A scoping study was carried out to analyse drivers of change that may impact/promote the future uses of the ocean and its resources. From bibliographic search, different ocean uses were identified: coastal and open‐sea mining, marine aquaculture, sea transport and trade, energy production and related infrastructures, fisheries, ocean crops, saline farming, desalination, extraction of bioresources, marine protected areas and conservation of the ocean. Through the information gathered in the scoping study and the input of several experts, three key ocean uses were prioritised to proceed to a participatory foresight exercise: (i) coastal and open‐sea mining; (ii) marine aquaculture; and (iii) sea transport and trade. The foresight exercise produced three possible scenarios for 2050 for each prioritised use of the ocean. On the basis of these scenarios, possible implications and potential emerging issues for the safety of food and feed from the oceans were identified and characterised through bibliographic data. This document also provides a description of the methodology followed in the scoping study and in the foresight exercise, and recommendations that could help EFSA to prepare to the challenges posed by the future exploitation of ocean resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus, a prized decapod crustacean species, is found at different depths across the East Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Despite management efforts, the stocks are globally characterised as overexploited. In the present study, the impact of biogeographical boundaries on the phylogeographical and demographic population status was investigated within the Adriatic Sea, addressing important genetic indices for decapod functional conservation management. Central Mediterranean, Adriatic Sea A total of 482 individuals of Nephrops divided into the 12 samples were collected across biogeographical range of the Adriatic Sea. Using the mtDNA D‐loop and microsatellite markers, methods of phylogeography and seascape genetics were applied to infer offshore versus coastal population divergence, demography and structure. Significant findings include genetic differentiation between offshore and coastal samples, with higher diversity indices in open waters. The limited gene flow observed between these two areas emphasises the self‐sustained nature of coastal populations. Recent demographic changes in coastal populations reflect geographical constraints, fishing pressures and fluctuations in self‐recruitment success. Additionally, the study reveals historical biogeographic events shaping the Adriatic populations, with evidence suggesting lineage divergence during the upper Pleistocene and postglacial recolonisation from southern Adriatic refugia. The role of biogeographical conditions in shaping genetic structure and limited gene flow between inshore and offshore areas underscore the need for improved management strategies, emphasising the importance of marine protected areas in conserving coastal populations and maintaining overall genetic diversity of the Norway lobster in the Adriatic Sea. Genomic monitoring within current management practices is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper outlines the history of scientific research developed in the Portofino Promontory, located in the centre of the Ligurian Sea. The chronicles span over two centuries, from the late 18th century to the present day. Portofino is now recognised as one of the best-known areas in the world regarding marine biological communities and their temporal dynamics, particularly in relation to current climate changes. In addition, since 1999, with the establishment of the Marine Protected Area, significant research related to marine environment conservation has developed in Portofino. The role of the University of Genoa, the Natural History Museum, other important institutions, and the researchers involved in the Portofino area has been outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The handling of beached cetacean carcasses requires social, legal, financial, ecological and logistical considerations. However, limited research on the topic hinders informed decision-making. A large humpback whale carcass that washed ashore at a South African marine protected area (MPA) provided an opportunity to gain insight into tourists' perspectives on carcass management within a national park and MPA setting. Eighty tourists were interviewed, and a thematic analysis approach was adopted to identify key themes and quantify the responses. Chi-square tests of independence were used to determine (i) whether the respondents' views on cetacean carcass management were dependent on their knowledge of the site's MPA designation, and (ii) whether the provision of contextual information would influence the respondents' perceptions. Tourists had mixed responses to whale carcass management, with half the respondents indicating that the carcass should be left to decompose naturally. Viewpoints were significantly influenced when context and information on the decision-making process were provided, with more respondents stating that no management intervention should be necessary. We propose a simple flow-diagram as a decision-support tool, which, in combination with spatial zonation maps to identify applicable management options, will help guide decision-making for management authorities. Inclusivity, transparency and consultation with experienced role-players from multiple agencies will provide legitimacy to the final management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review draws on a long history of ichthyological and fisheries research to examine the changing stock status of the estuary-dependent white steenbras Lithognathus lithognathus in the South African Swartkops and Knysna estuaries. The available evidence points to a major decline in the L. lithognathus population of the Swartkops Estuary, from an already exploited status in the late 1800s and early 1900s to a collapsed status by the late 1900s, and the loss of adults which were recorded as prevalent in the estuary in 1915. In recent decades, the spotted grunter Pomadasys commersonnii appears to have occupied the niche previously used by L. lithognathus in the Swartkops Estuary, although climate change may also be playing a role in this trend. The Knysna Estuary had a healthy juvenile L. lithognathus population in the 1970s and 1980s, but increasing anthropogenic pressures on the system, including exploitation by recreational anglers and small-scale fishers, are cause for concern, particularly as fishery regulations for this species are not being adhered to in this and other systems. No-take marine protected areas (MPAs) appear to have been successful in providing some opportunity for stock recovery by adult populations of L. lithognathus in certain coastal regions within the distributional range. In conjunction with adequate enforcement of current fishery regulations, the proclamation of estuarine protected areas (EPAs) for juveniles in important estuarine nursery areas is required to enable the stock to recover and for the status of this fishery resource to be upgraded from collapsed to sustainable in the future. By providing protection for L. lithognathus in selected no-take EPAs, these same areas could also benefit other overexploited marine fish species, such as the dusky kob Argyrosomus japonicus and leervis Lichia amia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covering two-thirds of the ocean and half of the planet's surface, the high seas are increasingly the focus of commercial activity and conservation ambitions. Contrary to narratives of a lawless frontier, they are governed by a dense network of sectoral institutions for shipping, fisheries, and other industries, although these collectively deal with conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in a fragmented and uneven manner. These gaps were the subject of nearly 20 years of negotiation, resulting in the adoption of the Agreement on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction in June 2023. The Agreement was designed to address access and benefit sharing associated with marine genetic resources; the establishment of area-based management tools such as marine protected areas, Environmental Impact Assessments, and capacity building; and the transfer of marine technology. Achieving coherence across public and private governance mechanisms will be a significant challenge as human activity increases on the high seas, but it is key to achieving ocean sustainability goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims at assessing the reserve effect on fish assemblage in a small urban fully protected and highly enforced Marine Protected Area (MPA), Larvotto MPA (Monaco, Mediterranean Sea). The data about fish density, size, and biomass was collected by underwater visual census in the MPA and unprotected areas in two habitats, artificial rocky substrates and Posidonia oceanica meadows. On artificial rocky substrates, we recorded significantly higher fish biomass within the MPA compared to unprotected areas, while no significant difference was detected on Posidonia , with this suggesting the habitat-specific responses of fish assemblages to protection. Here we highlight the potential effectiveness of highly enforced small-sized urban MPAs, such as the Larvotto MPA, in generating ecological benefits, and speculate about their potential role in supporting networks of MPAs. This study supports increased attention to urban MPAs in conservation efforts, emphasizing the need for efficient management strategies in the face of ongoing coastal expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, different approaches for detecting of beach litter (BL) items in coastal environments are applied: the direct in situ survey, an indirect image analysis based on the manual visual screening approach, and two different automatic segmentation and classification tools. One is a Mask-RCNN based-algorithm, already used in a previous work, but specifically improved in this study for multi-class analysis. Test cases were carried out at the Torre Guaceto Marine Protected Area (Apulia Region, southern Italy), using a novel dataset from images acquired in different coastal environments by tailored photogrammetric Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) surveys. The analysis of the overall methodologies used in this study highlights the potential exhibited by the two machine learning (ML) techniques (Mask-RCCN-based and SVM algorithms), but they still show some limitations concerning direct methodologies. The results of the analysis show that the Mask-RCNN-based algorithm requires further improvements and a consistent increase in the number of training elements, while the SVM algorithm shows limitations related to pixel-based classification. Furthermore, the outcomes of this research highlight the high suitability of ML tools for assessing BL pollution and contributing to coastal conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrative social–ecological approaches are crucial for addressing sustainability challenges in coastal and marine systems. Among these, Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) emerges as a pivotal approach for integrated management. Often, the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and the application of MSP occur in parallel. Given the potential synergies, there is a need to better understand and address barriers to the adoption of MSP approaches for integrative conservation mechanisms. Using São Tomé and Príncipe as a case study, we illustrate how MSP was employed as an operational framework for establishing an MPA network. Drawing on the experiences of people directly involved in this co‐design process, we reflect on the main challenges and opportunities in achieving social–ecological integration, and highlight recommendations for conservation practitioners and planners. Applying MSP was perceived to contribute substantially to multiple project goals, with some (e.g., incorporating perspectives and needs of vulnerable groups) more challenging to achieve. While MSP enhanced conceptual, disciplinary, methodological and functional integration, practical challenges in implementation hindered the extent to which each of these was achieved. Given international commitments to Blue Growth, high fisheries dependence and current patterns of change, developing effective integrative MSP approaches is essential for social–ecological resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Reconciling conservation goals with sustainable resource use requires adaptive management strategies. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulates global trade for species listed on Appendix II, partly by requiring member countries (parties) to ensure exports do not damage wild populations (called making positive "nondetriment findings" [NDFs]). Unfortunately, when parties find NDFs difficult, they often suspend legal trade, imposing economic costs and driving trade underground. To make it easier for parties to examine the detrimental nature of exports, we devised a spatial approach and applied it to seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) in Tamil Nadu, India, as an example. Our approach involves mapping answers to 5 key questions on species distribution (QA), pressures (QB), management measures (QC), management implementation (QD), and species' population status (QE). We gathered data from fisher interviews and published literature. Seahorse abundance was greatest in southern Palk Bay and the northern Gulf of Mannar, primarily in seagrasses and coral reefs (QA). Fishing pressure was highest in Palk Bay, primarily from bottom trawlers and dragnetters operating in shallow seahorse habitats near the coastline (QB). Management measures including a marine protected area (MPA), bottom trawl exclusion zone, and closed season were theoretically in place (QC), but their implementation was poor (QD). Fishers reported seahorse catches in 85% of the area covered by the MPA and the exclusion zone; bottom trawlers were responsible for most violations. Seahorses were also captured in Sri Lankan waters, where bottom trawling is banned. Fisher reports indicated declining seahorse catches and reduced body sizes (QE), highlighting unsustainable exploitation. Our results highlight the need for better implementation of existing management measures before a positive NDF can be made and suggest mitigation beyond bans. Such pragmatic spatial analyses can help regulate exports at sustainable levels, supporting CITES implementation for its vast range of species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adaptively managing marine protected areas (MPAs) requires accurately assessing whether established MPAs are achieving their goals of protecting and conserving biomass, especially for harvested populations. Ecological MPA assessments commonly compare inside of the MPA to a reference point outside of and/or before implementation (i.e., calculating "response ratios"). Yet, MPAs are not simple ecological experiments; by design, protected populations interact with those outside, and population dynamic responses can be nonlinear. This complicates assessment interpretations. Here, we used a two‐patch population model to explore how MPA response ratios (outside–inside, before–after, and before–after‐control‐impact [BACI]) for fished populations behave under different conditions, like whether the population is receiving a sustainable larval supply or if it is declining despite protection from harvest. We then conducted a Bayesian evaluation of MPA effects on fish and invertebrate populations based on data collected from 82 published studies on 264 no‐take MPAs worldwide, using the results of an earlier global meta‐analysis as priors. We considered the effects of calculating different summary metrics on these results, drawing on the theoretical insights from our population model as a comparative framework. We demonstrate that not all response ratio comparison types provide the same information: For example, outside–inside and BACI comparisons can fail to detect population decline within MPAs, whereas before–after comparisons likely detect that pattern. Considering these limitations, we nonetheless found that MPAs globally are producing positive outcomes, with on average greater biomass, density, and organism size within their boundaries than reference sites. However, only a small portion of studies (18 of 82) provided the temporal data necessary to determine that protection, on average, has led to increased abundance of populations within MPAs over time. These findings demonstrate the importance of considering the underlying system dynamics when assessing MPA effects. Assuming that large outside–inside or BACI response ratios always reflect large and net positive conservation effects may lead to misleading conclusions, we recommend that: (1) when assessing specific MPA effects, empirical findings be considered alongside theoretical knowledge relevant to that MPA system, and (2) management should respond to the local conditions and outcomes, rather than a blanket expectation for positive MPA effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The value of no-take marine protected areas (MPAs) in providing fisheriesindependent information to evaluate the status of adjacent fish stocks is increasingly being recognised. However, to ensure robust assessments of fisheries using this approach, MPAs need to be representative of the wider fished area and sampling should include multiple MPA and fished locations spanning the area of interest. The spiny lobster Jasus edwardsii fishery in Aotearoa New Zealand's Hauraki Gulf has been in decline since the late 1990s, but latest stock estimates suggest a dramatic recovery following catch reductions in 2018. We compared J. edwardsii populations on shallow reefs (<20 m depth) in three marine reserves with six fished locations across the Hauraki Gulf to provide a fisheries-independent assessment of this important fishery and the degree of recovery following catch reductions. Region-wide surveys found that J. edwardsii populations within protected areas were dominated by large, legal-size individuals, whereas lobster in fished locations were mostly below or around legal-size. Total, vulnerable, and spawning stock biomass was 12-43 times higher within MPAs compared to fished locations. Overall, biomass at fished locations was <10% of that in reserves and there was little evidence of recovery following catch reductions. Our fisheries-independent data suggest that recent stock assessments have severely overestimated the recovery and state of lobster populations in the Hauraki Gulf and that populations on shallow reefs remain depleted. These findings highlight the critical need for fisheries-independent data and the value of MPA monitoring data in evaluating population status and recovery following fisheries management actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seagrass is an important marine habitat that provides benefits to society in the form of ecosystem services. Services include the provision of food via fisheries, the regulation of water quality and the ability to sequester and store carbon. In the UK, seagrass beds are in decline, increasing the risk of ecosystem service loss. Current efforts to protect, restore and create seagrass habitat, beyond spatial management measures, rely on grant funding and donations. Emerging carbon, biodiversity and wider ecosystem service markets offering potential revenue sources could facilitate the enhancement of seagrass habitat at scale. Participation in ecosystem service markets, requires that projects deliver on the ecosystem service benefits defined. As the benefits will have been paid for, there are risks associated with not delivering on ecosystem service benefits. It is important that the risk is clearly defined. In this study we further the marine natural capital and risk register approach and apply the method to a case study area to support the development of sustainable funding options for seagrass habitat enhancement in Plymouth Sound, UK. Habitat Suitability modelling is also used to map potential areas for seagrass habitat enhancement. We find that, in the Plymouth Sound area, the risk of loss of ecosystem services for subtidal seagrass habitats is, at present, high. This is primarily linked to the declining extent and condition of subtidal seagrass assets. Under current governance, all of Plymouth Sound's subtidal seagrass are within a Marine Protected Area, though this conservation designation does not guarantee that the seagrass bed is protected from damaging activity. Under current environmental conditions there is opportunity for widespread seagrass restoration and creation. Risk to seagrass beds and any future private funding could be reduced by governance actions that enable effective direct protection of the seagrass assets and mitigate harmful pressures (e.g., reduction of water pollution). Emerging financial 'products' from seagrass ecosystem services that can support restoration and creation, require a high degree of integrity. The natural capital asset and risk register framework can provide information to underpin product development. With the development of revenue streams from ecosystem services there is a need for more intentional governance and site-based monitoring of these habitats as natural capital assets. Further research is needed to define any social or economic outcomes. Synthesis and Application: By assessing the risk to the status of seagrass assets through this approach, it is possible to determine the complementary governance actions needed to underpin investment in seagrass habitat enhancement. The methods are transferable to other locations where data exists to define the asset status. These specific findings are relevant nationally where similar vectors of risk (pressures) are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a study on the vocalizations of Atlantic white-sided dolphins in the North Atlantic Ocean. The dolphins' vocal repertoire includes echolocation clicks, whistles, and burst pulses. The study found that the dolphins' clicks have a median peak frequency of 25 kHz and their whistles exhibit regular frequency changes. The research also suggests that the dolphins may produce burst pulses and buzzes during foraging. These findings contribute to our understanding of the species' vocalizations and can aid in conservation efforts. [Extracted from the article]

Trait-based approaches that complement taxonomy-based studies have increased in popularity among the scientific community over the last decades. The collection of biological and ecological characteristics of species (i.e., traits) provides insight into species and ecosystem vulnerability to environmental and anthropogenic changes, as well as ecosystem functioning. Here, we present the FUN Azores trait database, describe our approach, evaluate its scope, compare it to other marine trait databases, and explore the spatial distribution of its traits with "functional maps." While most of the available trait databases to date contain essential information to understand the functional diversity of a taxonomic or functional group, our ecosystem-based approach provides a comprehensive assessment of diverse fauna (i.e., meio-, macro-, and megafauna) from benthic and pelagic environments in the Azores Marine Park; including ridges, seamounts, hydrothermal vents, and the overlying water column. We used a collaborative approach involving 30 researchers with different expertise to develop the FUN Azores database, which contains compiled data on 14 traits representing morphological, behavioral, and life history characteristics for 1,210 species across 10 phyla. The "functional maps" show a distinct distribution of the two most common size classes, suggesting different communities with different functionalities. The following traits had the best scoring coverage (i.e., >95% of the species scored): maximum body size, body form, skeleton material, feeding structure, motility, environmental position, substratum affinity, distribution, and depth range; while traits related to species behavior (e.g., sociability or aggregation tendencies) and life history (e.g., developmental mechanism) had lower scoring coverage, highlighting the need for further research to fill these knowledge gaps. We found a larger number of species in the benthic compared to the pelagic environment and differing species composition between areas within the Azores Marine Park resulting from varying biodiversity, ecosystem types, sampling effort, and methodologies used. The FUN Azores database will foster and facilitate trait-based approaches in the area, develop a framework for expansion of crossecosystem and cross-taxa trait databases elsewhere, and improve our ecological understanding of the Azores Marine Park and its conservation requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the increasing impact of climate change and human activities on marine ecosystems, there is an urgent need to study marine water quality. The use of remote sensing for water quality inversion offers a precise, timely, and comprehensive way to evaluate the present state and future trajectories of water quality. In this paper, a remote sensing inversion model utilizing machine learning was developed to evaluate water quality variations in the Ma'an Archipelago Marine Special Protected Area (MMSPA) over a long-time series of Landsat images. The concentrations of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), phosphate, and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) in the sea area from 2002 to 2022 were inverted and analyzed. The spatial and temporal characteristics of these variations were investigated. The results indicated that the random forest model could reliably predict Chl-a, phosphate, and DIN concentrations in the MMSPA. Specifically, the inversion results for Chl-a showed the coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.741, the root mean square error (RMSE) of 3.376 μg/L, and the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 16.219%. Regarding spatial distribution, the concentrations of these parameters were notably elevated in the nearshore zones, especially in the northwest, contrasted with lower concentrations in the offshore and southeast areas. Predominantly, the nearshore regions with higher concentrations were in proximity to the aquaculture zones. Additionally, nutrients originating from land sources, transported via rivers such as the Yangtze River, as well as influenced by human activities, have shaped this nutrient distribution. Over the long term, the water quality in the MMSPA has shown considerable interannual fluctuations during the past two decades. As a sanctuary, preserving superior water quality and a healthy ecosystem is very important. Efforts in protection, restoration, and management will demand considerable labor. Remote sensing has demonstrated its worth as a proficient technology for real-time monitoring, capable of supporting the sustainable exploitation of marine resources and the safeguarding of the marine ecological environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial distribution of coral reef biodiversity is regulated by a series of natural variables and human-induced factors such as depth, habitat availability, spatial variation, and management policies. However, spatial distribution patterns and management zoning strategy outcomes of coral reefs biodiversity are still scarce in several areas, such as Southwestern Atlantic Ocean Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). It has been previously demonstrated that better management strategies worldwide could be supported by better species distribution data. In the present study, a total of 94 reefs spatially distributed around the MPA Costa dos Corais (Northeastern Brazil) under different zoning strategies and ranging from 1 to 30 m depth were sampled. Our study is the first one to characterize biodiversity spatial distribution of the largest Brazilian coastal MPA Costa dos Corais biodiversity and the importance of management zoning as a major coral reef conservation strategy in Brazil. Highest coral cover (48.33%) and coral richness (6.31 species/20 m) have been recorded for North of Alagoas (NAL), and highest fish abundance (75.22 individuals/100 m2), richness (11.45 species/100 m2) and biomass (395.60 g/100 m2) were recorded for South of Alagoas (SAL). Yet, only fish richness and biomass were significantly different compared with other regions. Compared to other management zones, no-take zones had the highest coral cover and richness, and fish abundance, richness and biomass. Additionally, our findings have shown that depth positively influences fish and negatively influences coral biodiversity. Hence, management and zoning strategies have influenced the structure of coral reef communities with a series of different ecological effects highlighting the importance of those strategies for Southwestern Atlantic Ocean MPAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To fulfill their conservation potential and provide safeguards for biodiversity, marine protected areas (MPAs) need coordinated research and monitoring for informed management through effective evaluation of ecosystem dynamics. However, coordination is challenging, often due to knowledge gaps caused by inadequate access to data and resources, compounded by insufficient communication between scientists and managers. We propose to use the world's largest MPA in the Ross Sea, Antarctica as a model system to create a comprehensive framework for an interdisciplinary network supporting research and monitoring that could be implemented in other remote large‐scale international MPAs. Our proposed framework has three key components: (i) policy engagement, including delineation of policy needs and ecosystem metrics to assess MPA effectiveness; (ii) community partner engagement to elevate diverse voices, build trust, and share resources; and (iii) integrated science comprising three themes. These themes are: advancement of data science and cyberinfrastructure to facilitate data synthesis and sharing; biophysical modeling towards understanding ecosystem changes and uncertainties; and execution of observational and process studies to address uncertainties and evaluate ecosystem metrics. This proposed framework can improve MPA implementation by generating policy‐relevant science through this coordinated network, which can in turn improve MPA effectiveness in the Ross Sea and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A collection of swallowers (Chiasmodontidae) was examined in exploration of a contested specific distinction between Chiasmodon niger and C. harteli. The specimens had been taken during four midwater-trawl surveys in The Gully, a submarine canyon and Marine Protected Area (‘MPA’) off the coast of Nova Scotia. Vertebral counts, the principal feature proposed for distinguishing the species, were derived from skeletal images prepared from computed tomography scans. All specimens available for study resembled the description of C. harteli but their morphology was more varied than previously supposed. In addition, the species’ distribution within The Gully was described and the chiasmodontid component of the MPA’s biodiversity established, including the presence of Kali indica – a new record for Canada’s Atlantic waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-latitude ecosystems have been overlooked in carbon budgets, which traditionally focus on mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses. The benthic assemblages and their Nature Contributions to People in Namuncurá – Burdwood Bank I and II, two offshore sub-Antarctic Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), are the conservation values. Here we show that the carbon reservoirs of these MPAs can be greater than those of their Antarctic counterparts, which, together with their extension, emphasize the need to maintain their protected status. Considering their total area, these MPAs stored in biomass 52,085.78 Mg C, corresponding 34,964.16 Mg to organic carbon (OC) and 17,121.62 Mg to inorganic carbon (IC). Surficial sediments stored 933,258,336 Mg C with 188,089,629 Mg of OC and 745,168,707 Mg of IC. However, when accounting for CO2 production through CaCO3 precipitation, the IC fractions decrease to 3,150.37 Mg C and 137,111,042 Mg C for biomass and sediments, respectively. We assume low sediment deposition due to the oceanic location, as direct sedimentation rates for these areas are unavailable. Most blue carbon assessments have focused solely on OC, despite the formation of CaCO3 releases CO2, decreasing net carbon storage. We compared various approaches for incorporating carbonates into carbon estimations. These results underscore the importance of including IC into carbon assessments and highlights the importance of sub-Antarctic benthic ecosystems as nature-based solutions to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recruitment of marine species in isolated oceanic island systems can be challenged by prevailing currents, as exemplified by the Tropical Southwestern Atlantic. In this region, the Fernando de Noronha ridge hosts several seamounts, the Rocas Atoll and the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, which are home to great marine biodiversity. However, along the ridge, the central branch of the South Equatorial Current (cSEC), flowing westward, poses a challenge to the recruitment of organisms toward Fernando de Noronha. To unveil critical insights into the intricate processes shaping biodiversity in these insular ecosystems, we use a dispersal Lagrangian tool to explore the role of diel vertical migration (DVM) to depth strata influenced by the South Equatorial Undercurrent (SEUC), which flows eastward bellow the cSEC, in shaping species dispersal and metacommunity dynamics. Our results show that while not a direct journey, the DVM into SEUC‐influenced strata increases the possibility that the seamounts and the Rocas Atoll act as stepping stones between the continental shelf and Fernando de Noronha. Propagules of organisms originating primarily from the continental shelf are transported to the western seamounts of the ridge. Upon reaching the western seamounts, organisms can find suitable habitats to recruit. The progeny of these communities that migrate to SEUC‐influenced strata have the opportunity to reach suitable habitats at the Rocas Atoll and the Eastern seamounts, ultimately connecting to the Fernando de Noronha archipelago. These results provide scientific fundaments for the development of a functional network of marine protected areas in the Tropical Southwestern Atlantic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is crucial to comprehend the factors influencing fishermen's support for a newly established Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Malacca. This understanding aids in calculating stakeholder perspectives and informs decision-making processes related to marine management. The research objectives were to identify fishermen's perception towards the newly proposed MPA in Malacca and determine the factors affecting their intention to support it. A total of one hundred fifty respondents were enlisted through a questionnaire that specifically targeted the fishermen in the Jasin area of Malacca, who were primarily affected by the gazettement of the MPA. The selection of respondents from nine fishermen bases was via stratified random sampling technique. The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) formed the foundation for comprehending the fishermen's intention to provide support. The factors were specifically mentioned. The outcome proved advantageous for the Department of Marine Parks Malaysia in comprehending the fishermen's perception and, consequently, making suitable decisions regarding the well-being of the impacted fishermen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of important areas (i.e., nursery grounds) is essential for the conservation of most shark species. To assess whether Salas y Gómez Island serves as a nursery area for the Galápagos shark Carcharhinus galapagensis, we conducted a thorough literature review. Multiple lines of evidence show that young‐of‐the‐year (YOY); inhabiting the remote Salas y Gómez Island (1) present a higher density around Salas y Gómez Island than the surrounding deeper oceanic waters and in the south‐eastern Pacific, (2) potentially display high fidelity to this area, and (3) demonstrate the repeated use of this area over multiple years. We also discuss the significance of this isolated island for the Galápagos shark population and propose specific research, management, and conservation actions for its preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine protected areas (MPAs) can allow some fish populations to rebuild within their borders in areas impacted by overfishing, but the effectiveness of reserves is highly dependent on how effectively fishing mortality is controlled, which in turn depends on the level of fishery management implementation. In Cuba's Gardens of the Queen MPA, the largest in the Caribbean, a variety of fishery management measures have been implemented to ensure the social, economic, and political viability of protecting such a large area. Here, we evaluate the biological response, in terms of fish density and the biomass of commercially valuable and ecologically important reef fish species, to a spatial gradient of fishery management enforcement, in terms of fish density and biomass, of commercially valuable and ecologically important reef fish species. The enforcement gradient is characterized by the level of protection, fishing effort, patrolling effort, distance to the nearest fishing port, and fishing intensity. Fish density and biomass were estimated from visual scuba surveys. Areas with higher levels of enforcement support higher levels of average biomass (up to 1378 kg/ha) and density (up to 2367 indv./ha) of commercially important fishes in comparison to areas with very low or no enforcement (estimates of 757 kg/ha average biomass and 1090 indv./ha average density, respectively). These fish density and biomass levels can serve as proxies in the development of harvest control rules that adjust fishing pressure according to the ratio of fished density or biomass to unfished density or biomass, through the use of the MPA Density Ratio method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we conduct a morphological integrative analysis, using traditional techniques and micro-computed tomography imaging, on Septibranchia species. Specimens deposited in malacological collections and samples collected aboard the research vessels Puerto Deseado and Austral off Mar del Plata (~36°S), San Jorge Gulf (~46°), and Marine Protected Area Namuncurá/Burdwood Bank area (~54°S), at depths ranging from 200 to 3000 m, are the subjects of this study. Seven species were identified, including Cardiomya cleryana (d'Orbigny, 1846), Cardiomya knudseni (Allen & Morgan, 1981), Lyonsiella cf. fragilis Allen & Turner, 1974, and Cetoconcha spinulosa (Thiele, 1912), previously found in the study area. Cardiomya fragilissima (E. A. Smith, 1885), an Antarctic/sub-Antarctic species, extends its distribution up to 36°S. Two new species, Cetoconcha gigas sp. nov. and Lyonsiella tentaculata sp. nov. are described. A lectotype is designated for Pholadomya adelaidis Hedley, 1916 and a neotype for Sphenia cleryana d'Orbigny, 1846. A detailed description of the morphological characters of each species and genus, along with insights into their geographical and bathymetric distribution, are provided. The micro-computed tomography analysis of Cardiomya cleryana , Cardiomya fragilissima , and Cetoconcha spinulosa contributed to a detailed anatomical inspection and revealed the presence of muscle bundles associated with the anterior portion of the visceral mass in the scanned specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foundational habitats such as seagrasses and coral reefs are at severe risk globally from climate warming. Infectious disease associated with warming events is both a cause of decline and an indicator of stress in both habitats. Since new approaches are needed to detect refugia and design climate-smart networks of marine protected areas, we test the hypothesis that the health of eelgrass (Zostera marina) in temperate ecosystems can serve as a proxy indicative of higher resilience and help pinpoint refugia. Eelgrass meadows worldwide are at risk from environmental stressors, including climate warming and disease. Disease outbreaks of Labyrinthula zosterae are associated with recent, widespread declines in eelgrass meadows throughout the San Juan Islands, Washington, USA. Machine language learning, drone surveys, and molecular diagnostics reveal climate impacts on seagrass wasting disease prevalence (proportion of infected individuals) and severity (proportion of infected leaf area) from San Diego, California, to Alaska. Given that warmer temperatures favor many pathogens such as L. zosterae , we hypothesize that absent or low disease severity in meadows could indicate eelgrass resilience to climate and pathogenic stressors. Regional surveys showed the San Juan Islands as a hotspot for both high disease prevalence and severity, and surveys throughout the Northeast Pacific indicated higher prevalence and severity in intertidal, rather than subtidal, meadows. Further, among sites with eelgrass declines, losses were more pronounced at sites with shallower eelgrass meadows. We suggest that deeper meadows with the lowest disease severity will be refuges from future warming and pathogenic stressors in the Northeast Pacific. Disease monitoring may be a useful conservation approach for marine foundation species, as low or absent disease severity can pinpoint resilient refugia that should be prioritized for future conservation efforts. Even in declining or at-risk habitats, disease surveys can help identify meadows that may contain especially resilient individuals for future restoration efforts. Our approach of using disease as a pulse point for eelgrass resilience to multiple stressors could be applied to other habitats such as coral reefs to inform conservation and management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents novel information on sponge (Porifera) colonization of artificial substrates in the framework of the LIFE EU Strong Sea Life Project, focusing on the northwestern Sardinian Sea (Western Mediterranean Sea). Five abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gears (ALDFGs) of the local artisanal fishery from circum-seas of the Asinara Island Marine Protected Area (MPA) were focused. The composition, taxonomic richness, relative abundance, and lifestyle of sponge assemblages are reported. Taxonomic richness is notably high with 2 classes and 13 orders comprising 26 families, 36 genera, and 47 species of Porifera displaying miniaturized body size and dominant encrusting to massive/erect growth forms. New records at species level are reported for the MPA, the Sardinian Sea, and the Western Mediterranean Sea. The successful colonization of the recovered ghost fishing gears by sponges highlights that adaptive strategies of these basal metazoans support their ability to settle and persist on synthetic materials. This dataset contributes to the inventory of (i) recovered ALDFGs in MPAs, (ii) exogenous substrata as suitable substrata for sponge settlement, and (iii) species richness of an MPA and (iv) promotes the biodiversity assessment of the plastisphere in a global context of ocean pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence and abundance of Astrospartus mediterraneus (Risso, 1826) have significantly increased in the last three decades in several areas of the Mediterranean Sea. In the Tavolara–Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area (NE Sardinia, Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean Sea), 60 specimens were observed mainly on the granitic shoals of the Tavolara Channel, an area characterized by very intense currents and high sedimentation. The basket stars were mainly found living as epibionts of gorgonians (Eunicella verrucosa, Paramuricea clavata and Leptogorgia sarmentosa) and massive sponges (Spongia officinalis, S. lamella, Sarcotragus foetidus). We also documented 21 small specimens (3–20 mm in diameter of the oral disc) observed in June 2024 between 27 and 52 m depth on E. verrucosa and P. clavata colonies. The bimodal size-frequency distribution of these specimens suggested that, probably, specimens belong to two different reproductive events occurring in spring 2023 and 2024. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]