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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]

Aggregations and social interactions play an important role in the movement ecology of many animals, including elasmobranchs. Several of these species have shown the capability of carrying out complex social behaviours, and the importance of sociality in this taxon is being realized. Although it is a growing field of study in the case of these organisms, these processes still need to be better understood, especially to support management and conservation policies. In this study, a long-term acoustic telemetry data set collected on Dasyatis pastinaca in a coastal marine protected area was analysed. A co-occurrence network analysis was done to investigate preferential associations among individuals, revealing non-random associations among them. The analysis revealed a few strong and consistent associations that were maintained across inter-migratory periods, as this species performs seasonal migrations to a nearby estuary, suggesting temporal stability of the observed associations. Moreover, individuals had similar average positions and a generally high overlap of space use in both periods, indicating some level of site fidelity to the fully protected area. Groups of up to 64% of tagged individuals were co-detected at a same receiver, particularly in the western side of the array. Despite our limited sample size, likely underestimating associations, these results show that in addition to their large-scale movement pattern, D. pastinaca is likely to also present active partner preference and spatial structure at a finer spatial scale. The nature of such results is relevant to support the protection of these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the post-nesting migration and foraging areas of hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) nesting on St. Kitts and Nevis, an important nesting site for hawksbills in the eastern Caribbean. To elucidate internesting, migration and foraging patterns of hawksbills from Nevis, we satellite tagged 28 post-nesting turtles between 2006 and 2022. Internesting, migrating and foraging activity periods were determined using a switching state–space model to estimate the behavioral state of the turtle's locations. Twenty-five turtles (83–2,171 tracking days) established a foraging area, migrating between 5.3 and 2,799.5 km from the nesting beach. Twenty-one turtles were tracked during internesting movements with internesting areas ranging between 1.9 and 28.2 km2. Nearly half of the internesting centroids were located closer to a different beach than the beach where the turtle was originally encountered nesting. Hawksbills crossed through 29 different Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), including zones with legal sea turtle fisheries or traditional subsistence use. Core foraging areas (KDE 50%) ranged between 3.8 and 69.0 km2. Nearly a third of foraging centroids were within a Marine Protected Area (MPA), while nearly a quarter were within a legal sea turtle fishery EEZ. Hawksbills nesting on Nevis disperse to local, regional, and Caribbean wide foraging grounds, emphasizing the necessity of cooperative efforts to protect turtles and their habitats to ensure support of the recovery of hawksbill turtles throughout the wider Caribbean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flatfish are ecologically diverse species that commonly occur in marine environments, but also in estuarine and riverine habitats. This complicates the examination of the potential role of flatfish in the 'marine fish event horizon', an economic shift in human exploitation from freshwater to marine fish species during the 10–11th centuries CE around the southern North Sea. This study represents the first multi‐disciplinary investigation of flatfish remains to make species‐specific interpretations of flatfish exploitation. Peptide mass fingerprinting and multi‐isotope analysis of carbon (δ13C), nitrogen (δ15N) and sulphur (δ34S) was performed on collagen from 356 archaeological flatfish and 120 comparative archaeological marine or freshwater species to explore the catch habitat of individual flatfish species between 600 and 1600 CE from the North Sea area. European flounder show signals reflecting both freshwater and marine environments, while other flatfish show only those of marine habitats. A subtle shift towards more marine exploitation towards the end of the period is identified, corresponding to the observed transition in targeted species from flounder to plaice throughout the medieval period. Sites show slight differences in δ13C and δ34S within the same species, related to the local environments. Remarkable is the high abundance of marine plaice and flounder during the early medieval period, which shows clear marine or coastal exploitation of flatfish early on, well before the previously accepted onset of the marine fish event horizon. This indicates a gradual shift from coastal to open marine fish exploitation over the medieval period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global policies increasingly focus on the importance of maintaining or improving the integrity of ecosystems, but defining, assessing, and monitoring integrity in marine protected areas (MPAs) remains a challenge. In this paper, we conceptualized ecological integrity along dimensions of heterogeneity and stability containing seven components: physical structure, diversity, function, persistence, resistance, resilience, and natural variability. Through a structured literature search, we identified indicators and metrics used for quantifying ecosystem status components in the marine environment, then reviewed MPA management plans worldwide for inclusion of these components. We evaluated 202 papers applying 83 ecological indicators built from 72 metrics. Ecosystem components were most comprehensively addressed by metrics of taxa presence, organisms count, and area occupied by benthic organisms, and community structure, biomass, and percent cover indicators. Of the 557 MPA management plans we reviewed globally, 93% used at least one ecosystem status term or its synonym in an ecologically relevant context, but 39% did not address any components of stability. In particular, resistance was mentioned in only 1% of management plans, but in some cases it may be inferred from indicators and metrics used to track the best addressed component in management plans, diversity. Plans for MPAs with both an ecological/biological purpose and a research and education purpose contained ecosystem status terms more frequently than other plans, suggesting that engagement with the scientific community may have improved the application of these terms. An improved understanding of how to operationalize and measure ecological integrity can help MPA monitoring and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parks Canada, in response to commitments undertaken towards reconciliation, has signaled its readiness to reassess the participation of Indigenous peoples in the co-management of national parks, national park reserves, and national marine conservation areas (NMCAs). However, the effectiveness of co-management, as the established framework underpinning these and other longstanding partnerships between the state and Indigenous groups, has been disputed, based on an uneven track record in meeting the needs, interests, and aspirations of Indigenous communities. This paper explores the potential of co-management to facilitate reconciliation within national parks, reserves and NMCAs by developing a typology of various types of co-management agreements. Addressing a critical knowledge gap in co-management governance, we provide a comprehensive review of 23 negotiated co-management agreements involving the state and Indigenous groups in a national park context. The resulting typology categorizes these agreements according to contextual factors and governance arrangements, offering insights into the feasibility of shared governance approaches with Parks Canada. Moreover, it identifies the strengths and weaknesses of co-management agreements in fulfilling reconciliation commitments. Our findings indicate that, although Parks Canada has implemented innovative approaches to co-management and shown a willingness to support Indigenous-led conservation efforts, true shared governance with Indigenous groups, as defined by international standards, is limited by the Canadian government's evident reluctance to amend the foundational legislation to effectively share authority in national parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the intrinsic and instrumental value of corals, and coral reefs, from the epistemological perspectives of Western conservation biologists and Pacific coastal fishers. It uses data on local language names ('folk taxonomies') from several language groups to understand the salience, or perceived value, of corals and coral reef fishes for the speakers of those languages. In all of the folk taxonomies examined, there are very few local language names for corals or reef-associated fishes in the most species-rich families (gobies, blennies, damselfishes, and butterflyfishes). This is interesting particularly because one of the primary rationales for Western conservation interest in Indo-Pacific coral reefs is the 'cumulative intrinsic value' of the large number of biological species associated with these ecosystems, irrespective of their other values, including fishery production. The 'weight' of this cumulative intrinsic value underpins a moral mandate for transnational conservation intervention, typically in the form of marine protected areas, most of which impose a short- to medium-term economic cost on people who are already very poor. The related and widely used Western cultural construct of 'iconic' is also investigated. The paper examines various implications of the large differences between Western scientific and Pacific Islander attributions of value to corals and coral reef ecosystems, including in the context of their importance for fishery production and food (or nutrition) security. I also discuss the apparent lack of (a) reflexivity about the social construction of science and (b) curiosity about the environmental knowledge and values of Indo-Pacific coastal fishers, among many in the Western transnational conservation community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the urgency to reduce carbon emission increases, seagrass ecosystems have recently received attention due to their capacity to take up and store high amounts of carbon. Protection of this ecosystem is key to increase resilience to climate change. However, in some of the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), seagrass ecosystems are still under threat. This study aims to investigate the current condition of seagrass ecosystems and compare it to the previous study before MPA was established in the Berau coastal water. SeagrassWatch method was used to measure seagrass community structure. Other proxies were also used to explain factors affecting seagrass condition such as total suspended solid (TSS) and sedimentary stable isotopes to identify the source of organic carbon. The percentage cover of seagrass in this study were categorized as not healthy (<29-59.9%), which was statistically related to TSS. The higher TSS resulted in the lower seagrass cover, as observed in the Rabu Rabu island located adjacent to mainland. Changes in seagrass composition were observed, including the emergence of larger species of E. acoroides and T. hemprichii in the islands located adjacent to mainland. The spatial and temporal changes of seagrass ecosystems observed in Berau MPA should be taken into consideration that conservation on seagrass ecosystems needs to be prioritized by improving the MPA function to avoid further loss of carbon from seagrass ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While extinction risk categorization is fundamental for building robust conservation planning for marine fishes, empirical data on occurrence and vulnerability to disturbances are still lacking for most marine teleost fish species, preventing the assessment of their International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) status. In this article, we predicted the IUCN status of marine fishes based on two machine learning algorithms, trained with available species occurrences, biological traits, taxonomy, and human uses. We found that extinction risk for marine fish species is higher than initially estimated by the IUCN, increasing from 2.5% to 12.7%. Species predicted as Threatened were mainly characterized by a small geographic range, a relatively large body size, and a low growth rate. Hotspots of predicted Threatened species peaked mainly in the South China Sea, the Philippine Sea, the Celebes Sea, the west coast Australia and North America. We also explored the consequences of including these predicted species' IUCN status in the prioritization of marine protected areas through conservation planning. We found a marked increase in prioritization ranks for subpolar and polar regions despite their low species richness. We suggest to integrate multifactorial ensemble learning to assess species extinction risk and offer a more complete view of endangered taxonomic groups to ultimately reach global conservation targets like the extending coverage of protected areas where species are the most vulnerable. Empirical data on occurrences and vulnerability are still lacking for most marine teleost fish species, preventing assessment of their IUCN extinction risk status. This study uses machine learning with occurrence data, species biological traits, taxonomy and human usage to infer a 12.8% extinction risk for marine fish species, surpassing existing estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the factors that influence the blue economy in EUROMED, aiming at promoting economic growth in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. EUROMED was chosen because all of its nations have fisheries and marine tourism, which are the two key indicators of the blue economy. Blue economy contributes to sustainable development in the fisheries and marine tourism sectors. A commitment to sustainability has sped up national and regional blue economy policy development. The study uses secondary qualitative data and literature review to analyse the synergies and conflicts between EUROMED blue economy strategies and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The findings suggest that GDP growth, aqua production, open trade, CO2 emissions, and inflation rate influence the blue economy, and that ecotourism that considers education, society, and the environment may generate sustainable fisheries and marine tourism. Only 21 countries gave the ARDL test between 2000 and 2019. This study analyses synergies and conflicts between EUROMED blue economy strategies and UN Sustainable Development Goals. Location-based contextual development of blue economies that suit all players' requirements is essential to maintain sustainability objectives. Ensure resilience against future environmental and political shocks, preserve the ecological underpinning for vibrant blue economies, and create capacity at all levels to promote effective and fair governance. This study tries to make good use of ocean conservation and aquaculture within the context of the blue economy. This is the first EUROMED blue economy study and contributes to the theoretical and methodological development of blue economy research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) is an important method to ensure marine protection. To protect and conserve global marine biodiversity, with the adoption of the "Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework" during the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties of Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) in December 2022, the establishment of an effectively managed MPA network by 2030 and the protection of 30% of the world's oceans will be common goals for all countries party to the CBD over the next decade. Based on the distribution of over 150 types of marine species, habitats, ecosystems, and abiotic elements, ArcGIS10.5 and Zonation are used in this study to calculate the marine protection priority levels of coastal, nearshore, open ocean, and deep ocean trench areas, and a plan to reach the "30 by 30" targets is proposed. The suggestions for scientifically identifying and managing MPAs are as follows: first, improve MPA planning and establish a well-connected MPA network in national jurisdictions, then conduct scientific marine investigations to obtain background data on MPA establishment and delimitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimates of home range sizes for marine fishes are essential for designing and assessing the effects of spatial wildlife conservation policies and management interventions. However, in situ studies of marine species movement are challenging and often expensive, resulting in a paucity of data on the home range size of the vast majority of marine fishes. Here, we develop a set of new datasets, which we have collectively named Marine Fish Movement, that synthesises published empirically evaluated home ranges reported for adult marine fishes that interact with fisheries and leverage these data to estimate home range sizes for unstudied species. The empirical data contain estimated home range sizes (km2) for 193 species across 63 family groups from 179 studies published between 1971 and 2022. We use a random forest regression model to estimate home range sizes (km2) for 664 fished marine species currently lacking home range estimates. Marine Fish Movement can inform spatial interventions including the design and management of marine protected areas and dynamic fisheries management to meet sustainability goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although transboundary conservation areas (TCAs) are critical tools for protecting ecosystems and ecological processes that transcend national jurisdictions, they are challenging to create due to the differences in governance contexts and capacity and power dynamics among countries. Marine TCAs are also more difficult to enforce relative to terrestrial TCAs because most nations still treat oceans as open access. Current guidelines for TCA development and implementation also focus mostly on terrestrial TCAs, which are not practical for marine TCAs. Hence, we reviewed the challenges associated with the design and management of marine TCAs and devised analytical and practical approaches to support the application of spatial planning frameworks and adaptive governance mechanisms. We used the lessons from the review to examine the decisions made for the proposed marine TCA in the Kenya–Tanzania border region and created options and considerations to promote effective design and management processes. We found the obstacles to marine TCAs in general are related to issues of fit, particularly differences in environmental research capacity, socioeconomic contexts, and internal institutional arrangements. These included differences in knowledge and capacity for marine ecological research and conservation; ability to adjust and update data; differences in values, interests, and resource uses; conservation costs; jurisdictional differences; engagement of multiple levels of organization; and differences in legal bases and policy development processes. Understanding and reconciling these challenges during the TCA development process can help enhance meaningful discussions in the design of the TCA and cultivate the enabling conditions for collaborative governance across countries and within different levels of organization from national to local actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangalia area harbors in the western Black Sea a distinctive marine environment thriving under specific hydrochemical conditions, largely influenced by a significant number of sulphurous springs occurring in shallow marine waters. These springs led to the designation of the area as part of the Natura 2000 Marine Protected Area (MPA) network at European level (Underwater Sulphurous Springs from Mangalia - ROSAC0094), as unique hydro-geomorphological features in the region. In 2021 and 2023, two research cruises led by GeoEcoMar investigated underwater sulphurous springs primarily located offshore of Mangalia (Constant, a County, Romania). The study area, located between 17-29 meters water depth and 1.8-3 km offshore, encompasses two marine protected areas: the Underwater Sulphurous Springs from Mangalia (ROSAC0094) and Cape Aurora (ROSCI0281). The research combined geophysical and geochemical techniques and sediment sampling. Considering the susceptibility of these natural systems to human activities such as fishing and dredging, as well as the impact of ecological and climate changes, this paper offers significant insights contributing to the development of effective conservation and management strategies for these environments. The surveys were conducted for benthic habitats mapping, with the objective of improving our understanding of these ecosystems' distribution, composition and dynamics. As these sulphurous waters are rich inmethane, a powerful greenhouse gas, our results also contribute to the inventory of greenhouse gas sources. The results presented in this paper provide valuable new insights into this specific environment, contributing to the understanding of its complex functioning and evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are widely promoted as effective tools for conserving biodiversity and safeguarding ecosystem services. However, MPA success can be hindered by a lack of legitimacy and low social support because of perceived negative effects on ecosystem services and human well-being. Despite these social challenges, the social dimensions of marine conservation, such as the effects of MPAs on coastal livelihoods and local communities' perceptions of these effects, are often overlooked in conservation initiatives. In this study, we use a mixed methods approach, combining qualitative thematic analysis and quantitative network analysis derived from interviews and focus group discussions, to examine the perceptions of key stakeholder groups about the Litoral Norte MPA in Portugal. Our findings reveal that most stakeholder groups hold more negative than positive views about the governance and management of the MPA. Key concerns include unsatisfactory participation in MPA decisions and perceptions that the MPA fails to deliver positive social and ecological outcomes, such as increased community involvement, fair income distribution, and enhanced fish abundance. Policy makers and managers need to address these negative perceptions to improve conservation governance and management. By considering the stakeholder feedback presented in this study, such as fostering better engagement with the local community and transforming conflicts into opportunities for co-developing new conservation actions with local resource users, policy makers and managers can increase support for Litoral Norte and enhance the social and ecological outcomes of the MPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livelihood initiatives are common within marine protected areas (MPAs) aiming for poverty alleviation or higher income opportunities. However, results can be mixed in reality, as well as change over time. Furthermore, who benefits is a key consideration, as results can vary based on inequalities, including gender. Here, the monetary outcomes of different livelihood strategies were investigated across three MPA regions in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Using a quantitative approach, the results show that livelihoods have shifted in a six-year period, with livelihood strategies differing in poverty incidence and income. Livelihood initiatives, namely seaweed farming and tourism, did not provide significantly higher monetary returns compared to long-standing livelihoods, such as fisheries. Seaweed farming showed income stability but a high poverty incidence predominantly within women-headed households. During the study period, men primarily remained in fisheries, whilst women shifted to small-scale businesses and fisheries, largely exiting seaweed farming. This underscores a need for adaptive, gender sensitive management within fast changing coastal contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding interactions within and between species is crucial to ecological research. However, for cetaceans such interactions can be difficult to observe in the field. Photographs offer an opportunity to study intra‐ and inter‐specific interactions, by capturing 'snapshots' of their occurrence over space and time. At‐surface and underwater photographs of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) inhabiting Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve (PPMR), Mozambique, were used to examine evidence of interactions with other dolphins, predators and ectoparasites. Intra‐specific scarring levels significantly differed by sex and age class, with males displaying more scarring than females. Similarly, adults had more scarring than juveniles or calves. Shark bites significantly differed in their distribution across dolphin body areas, with the dorsal side being more frequently wounded than the ventral side. The presence of barnacles was exclusive to fluke, dorsal and pectoral fins, and showed strong seasonal trends. Overall, this study demonstrates the value of photographs for examining marine ecological interactions. It provides the first insights regarding dolphin social behaviour, predation risk and health for this population. These in turn will support future research into the population dynamics and conservation of the PPMR dolphins, which is urgently required in the face of locally increasing anthropogenic pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

In order to understand the drivers of the distribution and abundance of pelagic seabirds it is necessary to know what they eat, yet there remains little detailed, geo-referenced information on the diets of pelagic seabird. In particular, due to sampling difficulties, information is lacking for non-breeding stages, smaller species, such as storm-petrels, and remote oceanic areas, which may include important diversity hotspots. In this study, we aimed to characterize the trophic ecology of Leach's storm-petrels foraging in the vicinity of the North Atlantic Current and Evlanov Seamount Marine Protected Area using a combination of survey methods. On a cruise undertaken in June 2017 to characterize the distribution and ecology of seabirds in the region, nineteen Leach's storm-petrels were caught, sampled and released unharmed. Regurgitations and faecal samples were collected, as well as blood and feather tissues for stable isotope analyses. Of the 12 males, 6 females and 1 unsexed bird, 84% were in active flight feather moult, suggesting they were non-breeders. Prey species, assayed via molecular metabarcoding, were dominated by mesopelagic fish, principally lanternfishes (Myctophidae) and hatchetfishes (Sternoptychidae), but also included cephalopods and crustaceans. Additionally, almost half of the birds had microplastics in their regurgitates. Stable isotopic ratios did not differ significantly between sexes. Our results, combined with those of previous studies, suggest that within the oceanic North Atlantic, Leach's storm-petrels feed at a similar trophic level to much larger seabirds, targeting mesopelagic fishes that are a key component of the North Atlantic pelagic food web. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective seabird conservation requires understanding their marine spatial ecology. Tracking can reveal details of their foraging ecology and habitat use, as well as the suitability of marine protected areas for at-sea conservation, but results are often regionally specific. Here we characterised the foraging behaviour of tropical breeding brown boobies Sula leucogaster in the Chagos Archipelago, Western Indian Ocean, and tested habitat requirements. GPS tracking of thirteen individuals from two colonies, located 142 km apart on the same atoll (Great Chagos Bank), showed similar foraging effort and habitat preferences despite differences in season and breeding stage. Brown boobies from both tracked populations foraged close to the colony along the atoll shelf edge, avoiding deep oceanic areas and shallow waters of the Great Chagos Bank atoll, but within the Chagos Archipelago Marine Protected Area. Sea-level height anomaly and sea surface temperature were important foraging predictors at both sites, although birds experienced distinct environmental conditions between colonies. These results suggest that while brown boobies have colony-specific at-sea foraging areas, similarities in habitat drivers of distribution and foraging behaviour can inform predictions of distributions at other colonies within the archipelago, with important benefits for at-sea conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring changes in coral reef ecosystems for their conservation and management is important as they are frequently subject to various natural and anthropogenic threats. However, in Sri Lanka, the attention in this regard is to be further concerned for their well‐being. Therefore, this study focused on the selected shallow water (<5 m) coral reefs as Pigeon Island (PIR), Adukkuparu (AR), Salli Beach (SBR), Kayankerni (KR), and Passikuda (PR) on the Eastern coast of Sri Lanka to estimate their changes over 2020, 2021, and 2022. The remote sensing demarcations with the composition of reef ecosystems were done through the analysis of the Allen Coral Atlas data followed by field surveys. Higher accuracy levels for corals were obtained for each site due to field verifying all individual polygons and omitting unmatched polygons of the initial maps from the Allen Coral Atlas. Then, the in‐situ reef surveys were conducted over randomly selected permanent transects at each site. From 2020 to 2022, the live coral percentages have increased in PIR, AR, and SBR while reduced in KR and PR. Dead corals have facilitated the overgrowth of macroalgae. The combined area of live coral on all five reefs has slightly gone up. This increase is primarily due to the rise in live coral cover in AR and SBR. Also, prominent increments of coral diversity have resulted from those sites. Therefore, it is suggested that AR and SBR be designated as Marine Protected Areas to safeguard the newly emerging live corals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Networks of marine protected areas (MPAs) are being increasingly implemented worldwide as conservation management tools. We report here on MPA effectiveness using data from a 17‐year long remotely operated vehicle (ROV) monitoring program spanning mesophotic (~ 20–130 m) depths in 26 MPAs across California's MPA network. We utilize a spatial modeling approach that includes important environmental covariates as well as spatial dependence in the data, and allows the separation of statewide and regional trends in the abundance of focal species from additional trends specific to MPAs. We demonstrate that there have been statewide and/or regional recoveries in abundance for the majority of our 10 focal demersal fish species, with all four statewide species assessments and 18 out of 22 species‐region combinations assessed displaying positive trends. We also demonstrate that MPA protection has had an additional positive effect on the abundance of the majority of these focal species inside MPAs compared with reference areas, with positive effects for all four statewide species, and 18 out of 22 statewide/regions assessed showing positive effects, four showing no statistically detectable differences, and no negative MPA effects found. Comparisons with theoretical expectations of MPA recovery for our focal species showed that 2 out of 4 statewide, and 11 out of 17 species‐region combinations assessed displayed higher mean MPA effects than expected. Our results highlight strong trajectories of increasing abundance and additional MPA effects for many of our focal species, demonstrating that MPAs are having positive effects in mesophotic depths across the network as well as at previously reported shallower depths, and that image‐based platforms such as ROVs provide an important tool to support timely reporting on the effectiveness of MPA networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Genetic diversity of marine forests results from complex interactions of eco‐evolutionary processes. Among them, oceanographic connectivity driven by dispersal through water transport is hypothesized to play a pivotal role, yet its relative contribution has not been addressed at the global scale. Here, we test how present‐day oceanographic connectivity is correlated with the distribution of genetic diversity of marine forests across the ocean. Location: Global. Time period: Contemporary. Major taxa studied: Marine forests of brown macroalgae (order: Fucales, Ishigeales, Laminariales and Tilopteridales). Methods: Through literature review, we compiled a comprehensive dataset of genetic differentiation, encompassing 699 populations of 30 species. A biophysical model coupled with network analyses estimated multigenerational oceanographic connectivity and centrality across the marine forest global distribution. This approach integrated propagule dispersive capacity and long‐distance dispersal events. Linear mixed models tested the relative contribution of site‐specific processes, connectivity and centrality in explaining genetic differentiation. Results: We show that spatiality‐dependent eco‐evolutionary processes, as described by our models, are prominent drivers of genetic differentiation in marine forests (significant models in 91.43% of the cases with an average R2 of 0.50 ± 0.07). Specifically, we reveal that 18.7% of genetic differentiation variance is explicitly induced by predicted contemporary connectivity and centrality. Moreover, we demonstrate that long‐distance dispersal is key in connecting populations of species distributed across large water masses and continents. Main conclusions: Our findings highlight the role of present‐day oceanographic connectivity in shaping the extant distribution of genetic diversity of marine forests on a global scale, with significant implications for biogeography and evolution. This understanding can pave the way for future research aimed at guiding conservation efforts, including the designation of well‐connected marine protected areas, which is particularly relevant for sessile ecosystems structuring species such as brown macroalgae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Increasing reliance on numerical simulation models to help inform management and restoration choices benefits from careful consideration of critical early steps in model development. Along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico, the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica fulfills important ecological and economic roles. Using the eastern oyster as an example, we draw on several recent frameworks outlining best practices for model development and application for restoration, conservation, and management. Methods: We identify priority model questions, outline a conceptual ecological model (CEM) to guide numerical model development, and use this framework to identify uncertainties and research needs. Result: The CEM uses a nested design, identifying explicit vital rates, processes, attributes, and outcomes for the species (oysters), population, and metapopulation (i.e., network of populations) levels in response to drivers of species, population, and metapopulation changes and changing environmental factors. Most management actions related to oyster restoration and harvest affect population attributes directly, but many coastal management actions and changes (i.e., climate change and coastal and water resource engineering) impact environmental factors that alter vital rates and attributes of oysters, populations, and metapopulations. Conclusion: Investment in studies targeting individual oyster‐ and population‐level multi‐stressor responses (filtration, respiration, growth, and reproduction) and improving hydrodynamic and environmental models targeting drivers that influence metapopulation vital rates and attributes (i.e., connectivity and substrate persistence) would contribute to reducing uncertainties. Development of numerical models covering the entire oyster life cycle and connectivity of populations using hydrodynamic models of current and predicted conditions to provide key abiotic and biotic factors influencing larval movement, recruitment, and on‐reef oyster vital rates would assist in balancing the goals of conservation, restoration, and fisheries management of this foundational estuarine species. Impact statementManaging fisheries species of conservation, production, and habitat value relies increasingly on the development of numerical models. We develop a tiered conceptual ecosystem model to guide model development for the eastern oyster and to highlight key uncertainties in vital rates and outcomes. This tiered approach provides a flexible framework to guide numerical model development, and highlight key uncertainties influencing modeled outputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dugong population of New Caledonia was recently assessed as endangered by the IUCN due to its low genetic diversity, its limited number of mature individuals and the continuing threats from poaching, collisions, incidental capture and seagrass degradation. No‐take marine protected areas (MPAs) implemented in critical dugong habitats may efficiently safeguard the remaining population by directly or indirectly reducing these threats.The goal of the present study was to develop scenarios of MPAs targeting dugongs in New Caledonia, focusing on the central west coast where they are known to aggregate during austral winter.We combined 7 h of video surveys from a light airplane and habitat modelling to derive regional predictions of dugong density. We then used these predictions to (1) assess the proportion of dugong population abundance protected by existing no‐take MPAs and (2) develop spatial prioritization scenarios based on explicit dugong abundance targets.We found that existing no‐take MPAs only protect 11% of the estimated dugong population in the study region, leaving most dugong hotspots unprotected. For the same protected area coverage, prioritization based on abundance would allow protecting nearly five times more dugong individuals.Given the endangered status of the population, a 70% abundance prioritization scenario is warranted, requiring the expansion of existing MPAs toward reef passes and shallow nearshore areas where dugong abundance is the highest. Our study offers an opportunity for dynamic spatial management through the implementation of a seasonal closure strictly restricting human activities in areas where dugongs aggregate in winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conservation of marine ecosystems depends on the establishment and functioning of marine protected areas (MPAs). These areas are not exempt from the effects generated by a variety of anthropogenic stressors. Coastal biodiversity can provide key information of MPAs health; however, it is not usually considered in MPAs planning process, particularly in the Southwestern Atlantic.In this work, we provide an analysis and discussion of the anthropogenic stressors and the rocky intertidal biodiversity parameters occurring along 10 latitudinal degrees within the major MPAs of the continental Patagonia (Argentina). Specifically, we studied the intensity of 10 social, economic and environmental marine‐related anthropogenic stressors and characterized the intertidal biodiversity (biomass, density and size of scorched mussels and its associated communities) in the mid intertidal rocky shore.We found that most of the anthropogenic stressors studied had some level of intensity at all MPAs in Patagonia. In addition, each MPA has unique biodiversity assemblages. Total anthropogenic stress was not directly correlated with the mussel bed parameters or the richness of the associated fauna. Artisanal fisheries, tourism, invasive species and trampling were found to have the highest intensity on the MPAs. Moreover, a negative relation between artisanal fisheries, tourism and invasive species and the biomass and size of mussels was found, along with a negative relation between tourism and density. Furthermore, three MPAs registered the greatest anthropogenic pressure.Our study evidence that although Argentina has significantly advanced in the creation of MPAs in the last decades, the objectives for the conservation of the ecosystems are still narrow. Our results highlight that globally, MPAs need to include the perspective of coastal intertidal biodiversity and their stressors in their management strategies. By doing this, it will contribute to have a more holistic approach and thus it will improve MPAs conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the most appropriate stocking density for a specific fish species in an ambient condition is essential for successful cage aquaculture in terms of profitability which is mainly governed by growth. The current study was conducted to ascertain which stocking density gives the best result of widely cultured species in cage aquaculture, pangas (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus), at swamp forest environment of Ratargul Freshwater Swamp Forest, Bangladesh in terms of growth, production and economic return. Fish were reared for 93 days at three stocking densities, namely 30, 40 and 50 fish/m3 which were denoted as FSD30, FSD40 and FSD50, respectively, containing three replications of each. Growth and yield comparisons indicated that the stocking density of fish had significant (p < 0.05) effects on growth rate and productivity. Fish cultivated at the maximum density (FSD50) had lower mean weights than fish reared at lower densities. The significantly highest mean weights (376.58 ± 14.65 g) and benefit–cost ratio (BCR) (1.617 ± 0.035) obtained from FSD30 show the suitability of this density in terms of fish growth and profitability of pangas in swamp forest environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective protection of highly mobile and data-poor species constitutes a great challenge amid growing ocean exploitation and use. Blue whales and bowhead whales in the North-East Atlantic face several threats, such as climate change, ship strikes, pollution, and entanglement in fishing gear. Consequently, the OSPAR ("Oslo-Paris Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic") Commission recognised their need for protection and included them on the OSPAR List of Threatened and/or Declining Species. Two actions to protect these endangered species that OSPAR Contracting Parties have agreed on are (i) identifying areas that play an essential role in the species' life cycle—subsequently called key habitats, and (ii) ensuring that those key habitats are covered by OSPAR marine protected areas (MPAs). In addition, OSPAR has committed to expanding its network of MPAs and other effective area-based conservation measures by 2030 to cover at least 30% of the OSPAR maritime area (termed the 30 × 30 target) from today's approx. 11%. In this paper, we present the results of modelling key habitats for the bowhead and blue whales in the North-East Atlantic, including Arctic waters. Due to the sparse data situation for these species, we apply presence-only modelling methods. As this method can, in principle, produce somewhat biased results, we recommend that systematic, regular surveys on these species in Arctic waters be significantly intensified for future analyses to overcome the data paucity and allow using presence–absence/count data modelling approaches. Key habitats of blue whales were identified between Iceland and Svalbard, extending to the Azores. For bowhead whales, key habitats were identified in the Fram Strait. However, our findings show that only 11.8% of blue whale key habitats and 4.1% of bowhead whale key habitats are currently covered by OSPAR MPAs. To protect 30% of key habitats for these species in the most efficient way, our analyses suggest that suitable areas to designate new OSPAR MPAs are located around the Azores for blue whales and in the Fram Strait for bowhead whales. With these additional MPAs, OSPAR would substantially improve the protection of the two endangered species and, at the same time, progress towards its 30 × 30 target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explored the influence of seasonal and environmental variables on the variation and density of ichthyoplankton in the Thermaikos Gulf and the adjacent marine protected area of the Litochoro artificial reef in Pieria, northern Greece. The objective was to assess the condition of existing ichthyoplankton communities, understand their relationship with seasonal environmental parameters, and ascertain whether the area plays the role of a fish nursery site. Observations were carried out on the boundary of the marine protected area near Litochoro, with collection sessions occurring during the spring, summer, and fall seasons from 2018 to 2021. Ichthyoplankton was collected using a bongo net sampler across 16 stations, identifying seventy larval fish species. Measurements of physico-chemical parameters were taken as well as community and population metrics such as species abundances. In the Litochoro area, the interplay between environmental conditions and the dynamics of ichthyoplankton species highlights significant ecological trends. Notably, commercially important species such as Engraulis encrasicholus (anchovy) and Sardina pilchardus (sardine) exhibited peaks in abundances, with anchovies reaching up to 544/10 m2 in May 2021 and sardines peaking at 383/10 m2 in April 2020. These species are crucial both ecologically, as integral components of the marine food web, and economically, serving as primary targets in local fisheries. Spearman analysis showed some species like anchovy having a negative trend with chl-a values. Also, diversity indices had strong negative correlations with chl-a values, suggesting that higher chl-a concentrations might be associated with lower biodiversity whereas most diversity indices, apart from Pielou's normality index (J) and Simpson's diversity index (1–lambda), showed a significant positive correlation with surface salinity. This suggests that increased salinity levels might boost certain facets of biodiversity during the summer and early autumn months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coral reefs worldwide are under increasing levels of pressure due to global and local stressors. Long-term monitoring of coral reefs through repeated observations at fixed survey sites allows scientists to assess temporal patterns in coral-reef communities and plays important roles in informing managers of the state of the ecosystems. Here, we describe coral assemblages in Papahānaumokuākea, the largest contiguous fully protected marine conservation area in the United States, using long-term monitoring data collected from 20 permanent (fixed) sites at three islands/atolls, Lalo, Kapou and Manawai, between 2014 and 2021. Significant temporal shifts in coral colony composition were detected at some of the monitoring sites, which were attributed to the impact of a mass coral bleaching event in 2014 and Hurricane Walaka in 2018. In particular, the bleaching affected multiple sites at Kapou and one site at Manawai where coral assemblages shifted from the Montipora dilatata/flabellata/turgescens complex to M. capitata dominance; despite being the dominant species at multiple monitoring sites prior to the bleaching, the M. dilatata/flabellata/turgescens complex has not been recorded at any of our monitoring sites in recent years. Coral conditions, such as bleaching, predation, subacute tissue loss, Porites pigmentation response and trematodiasis, did not show differences in the occurrence among the three islands/atolls once the site and temporal variabilities, as well as environmental covariates for bleaching, were considered. Coral genera, however, exhibited different sensitivities to these conditions. These findings highlight the importance of continuing coral reef monitoring at the species level, covering a broad range of coral assemblage compositions and habitat types in Papahānaumokuākea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Area-based management tools (ABMTs), including marine protected areas (MPAs) are often static and fail to reflect the dynamic realities of marine ecosystems. Marine ecosystems are characterized by their embodiment of constant change, which is further amplified by anthropogenic stressors, particularly climate change. ABMTs and MPAs are, however, premised on an implicit assumption of environmental equilibrium as their boundaries and management framework are often fixed and difficult to adjust. This article seeks to lay bare the tension between static conservation strategies and the deeply and inherently dynamic nature of marine ecosystems. It further seeks to advance the notion of dynamic ABMTs, proposing an integrated conceptualization of ABMT governance, one that is more apt to respond to the type of challenges that the dynamism of complex marine ecosystems presents. Dynamism, in this context, is broadly construed as encompassing three dimensions: spatial, with fluid and adjustable conservation measures; normative, denoting a volatile and adaptive management framework that utilizes ecological and management thresholds as an initiator for adaptive, timely, and prospective approaches to enhance management outcomes; and institutional, i.e., sufficiently flexible and dynamic institutional machinery overseeing ABMT implementation. Following a comprehensive conceptualization of dynamic ABMTs, the article addresses the question whether the legal frameworks governing the ocean can sustain such a dynamic mode of ocean governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plans for habitat restoration will benefit from predictions of timescales for recovery. Theoretical models have been a powerful tool for informing practical guidelines in planning marine protected areas, suggesting restoration planning could also benefit from a theoretical framework. We developed a model that can predict recovery times following restoration action, under dispersal, recruitment and connectivity constraints. We apply the model to a case study of seagrass restoration and find recovery times following restoration action can vary greatly, from <1 to >20 years. The model also shows how recovery can be accelerated when restoration actions are matched to the constraints on recovery. For example, spreading of propagules can be used when connectivity is the critical restriction. The recovery constraints we articulated mathematically also apply to the restoration of coral reefs, mangroves, saltmarsh, shellfish reefs and macroalgal forests, so our model provides a general framework for choosing restoration actions that accelerate coastal habitat recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine protected areas (MPAs) have been identified as one of the most effective tools to halt marine biodiversity loss. However, conflicting evidence from disparate, small-scale studies obfuscate a cohesive global picture of the role that MPAs can play in enhancing local fisheries through spillover benefits. We conducted a global analysis of trophy-size fish catches as a proxy for spillover occurring outside of fully protected MPAs, focusing on time series of recreational angling catch records. We show that the accumulation of recreational fishing records accelerates close to MPAs (compared to reference areas) and that this effect grows stronger over time. Our results provide a standardized global assessment of one of the benefits MPAs provide to recreational anglers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous policies have been proposed by international and supranational institutions, such as the European Union, to surveil Earth from space and furnish indicators of environmental conditions across diverse scenarios. In tandem with these policies, different initiatives, particularly on both sides of the Atlantic, have emerged to provide valuable data for environmental management such as the concept of essential climate variables. However, a key question arises: do the available data align with the monitoring requirements outlined in these policies? In this paper, we concentrate on Earth Observation (EO) optical data applications for environmental monitoring, with a specific emphasis on ocean colour. In a rapidly changing climate, it becomes imperative to consider data requirements for upcoming space missions. We place particular significance on the application of these data when monitoring lakes and marine protected areas (MPAs). These two use cases, albeit very different in nature, underscore the necessity for higher-spatial-resolution imagery to effectively study these vital habitats. Limnological ecosystems, sensitive to ice melting and temperature fluctuations, serve as crucial indicators of a climate in change. Simultaneously, MPAs, although generally small in size, play a crucial role in safeguarding marine biodiversity and supporting sustainable marine resource management. They are increasingly acknowledged as a critical component of global efforts to conserve and manage marine ecosystems, as exemplified by Target 3 of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which aims to effectively conserve 30% of terrestrial, inland water, coastal, and marine areas by 2030 through protected areas and other conservation measures. In this paper, we analysed different policies concerning EO data and their application to environmental-based monitoring. We also reviewed and analysed the existing relevant literature in order to find gaps that need to be bridged to effectively monitor these habitats in an ecosystem-based approach, making data more accessible, leading to the generation of water quality indicators derived from new high- and very high-resolution satellite monitoring focusing especially on Chlorophyll-a concentrations. Such data are pivotal for comprehending, at small and local scales, how these habitats are responding to climate change and various stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expansion of marine protected areas (MPAs) is a core focus of global conservation efforts, with the "30x30" initiative to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 serving as a prominent example of this trend. We consider a series of proposed MPA network expansions of various sizes, and we forecast the impact this increase in protection would have on global patterns of fishing effort. We do so by building a predictive machine learning model trained on a global dataset of satellite-based fishing vessel monitoring data, current MPA locations, and spatiotemporal environmental, geographic, political, and economic features. We then use this model to predict future fishing effort under various MPA expansion scenarios compared to a business-as-usual counterfactual scenario that includes no new MPAs. The difference between these scenarios represents the predicted change in fishing effort associated with MPA expansion. We find that regardless of the MPA network objectives or size, fishing effort would decrease inside the MPAs, though by much less than 100%. Moreover, we find that the reduction in fishing effort inside MPAs does not simply redistribute outside--rather, fishing effort outside MPAs would also decline. The overall magnitude of the predicted decrease in global fishing effort principally depends on where networks are placed in relation to existing fishing effort. MPA expansion will lead to a global redistribution of fishing effort that should be accounted for in network design, implementation, and impact evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lakes are important in supporting ecosystem services and livelihoods. However, their food webs and ecological functioning are continuously threatened by anthropogenic influences. Food web models have been widely used in studying trophodynamics, fisheries impacts, and ecological functioning of temperate lakes, but less often in Afrotropical lake systems. We used Ecopath mass‐balanced trophic models annually in 1999, 2010, and 2020 to assess trends in ecosystem function, and the impact of fisheries on the Lake Baringo Ecosystem, a shallow freshwater lake in Kenya. Pre‐balance (PREBAL) and Pedigree analyses supplemented Ecopath models. Model input data were from field sampling, published and gray literature. Food web trophic models indicated a bottom‐up grazer and detrital food chains in all 3 years. Odum's ecosystem development indicators (total productivity to total biomass and total respiration ratios; TPP/TB and TPP/TR) showed that the lake was in a low to intermediate developmental stage, with room for bio‐manipulation, and a highly reduced mean transfer efficiency (TE) (6.4%–0.49%) indicated low trophic transfer of internal production. System omnivory (SOI) and connectance (CI) indices that varied among years indicated temporal variation in food web complexity. Indices of system resilience (overhead and ascendency) indicated an increasing potential for the lake to recover from perturbations. The mean trophic level of the catch (MTLc) increased from 1999 to 2010 and decreased in 2020, by fishing down the food chain as fishing pressure increased. Oreochromis niloticus, an endemic cichlid, was the keystone species (KSi >0) controlling community structure, while the lungfish Protopterus aethiopicus, the top predator in the lake, was not a keystone species (KSi <0). We recommend an integrated approach to lake management that incorporates watershed regulations, regulates fishing effort on the keystone species (O. niloticus), and monitors water quality for sustainable management of the Lake Baringo ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The addition of coarse woody habitat (CWH) is often used to mitigate the loss of natural structure in aging waterbodies. Ecosystem‐scale effects of large‐scale CWH additions and their influence on fish productivity have been assessed in oligotrophic, natural lakes, but need to be assessed in more ecosystems. Therefore, we tested the effects of an ecosystem‐scale addition of CWH to a eutrophic reservoir using a reference reservoir and data from 4 years before and 4 years after habitat enhancement. Zooplankton and benthic macroinvertebrates did not respond to the addition of CWH, but bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) reproductive productivity and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) size structure increased. Positive fish responses that contrasted with a lack of fish population‐level responses after a similar CWH addition in an oligotrophic, natural lake highlight the importance of assessing the efficacy of CWH addition across diverse ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing human use of the marine environment increases the proximity of humans to marine wildlife and thus likely increases human–wildlife interactions. Such interactions influence perceptions of nature and promote or undermine conservation. Despite their importance, human–wildlife interactions are rarely considered in ecosystem‐based marine spatial planning (MSP). Ideally, these interactions should be identified and considered in ecosystem‐based management (EBM), which is often purported to be the basis for MSP. We used Marxan software and data from a citizen science project documenting location, species, age, sex, and activity type to identify regions along Israel's coast with a high probability of encounters between people and 2 species of guitarfish. We considered the geographic distribution of these encounters and the various activities undertaken by the reporting observers. We ran 4 scenarios in Marxan. Two had conservation goals of 30% and 50% guitarfish habitat protection. In the third and fourth scenarios, we added a 50% conservation goal of human leisure activities to each guitarfish conservation goal. We also conducted a gap analysis between our guitarfish conservation goals and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority's master plan for marine protected areas. We found the park authority was close to meeting the 30% goal but was far from meeting the conservation goal of 50% of guitarfish habitat conservation. Different human uses were more likely to interact with different life stages of guitarfish, and different recreational activities occurred in different areas. Identifying areas of specific human use showed which activities should be addressed in conservation management decisions. Our addition of certain recreational uses to the model of habitat conservation showed how enhancing human dimensions in conservation planning can lead to more holistic ecosystem‐based conservation necessary for effective marine planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The underwater soundscape was recorded in Seaview Bay off Inexpressible Island, Ross Sea region Marine protected area, for 3 days in December 2021. Leopard seal Hydrurga leptonyx vocalizations were a prominent sound source that led to variations in ambient sound pressure levels in a frequency range of approximately 150–4500 Hz. Among the 14 call types previously identified, except ultrasound vocalizations, six types of broadcast calls were classified, and their acoustic characteristics were analyzed. We focused on the acoustic characteristics of four low‐frequency calls, clustered in a relatively narrow bandwidth, which have been relatively less studied. We identified a new call type of a triple ascending trill consisting of three trill parts, expanding upon the findings of previous studies. The audio data extracted from leopard seal vocalization videos, recorded by a monitoring camera on sea ice, enhanced the reliability of identifications of the underwater triple ascending trill. We present the unique results of underwater passive acoustic monitoring conducted at Seaview Bay, designated as Antarctic Specially Protected Area No 178. Our results could contribute to the development of detection and localization algorithms for leopard seal vocalizations and can be used as fundamental data for studies related to the vocalization and behavior of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding spatial heterogeneity in reproductive success among at-risk populations facing localised threats is key for conservation. Sea turtle populations often concentrate at one nesting site, diverting conservation efforts from adjacent smaller rookeries. Poilão Island, Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea-Bissau, is a notable rookery for green turtles Chelonia mydas within the João Vieira-Poilão Marine National Park, surrounded by three islands (Cavalos, Meio and João Vieira), with lower nesting activity. Poilão's nesting suitability may decrease due to turtle population growth and sea level rise, exacerbating already high nest density. As the potential usage of secondary sites may arise, we assessed green turtle clutch survival and related threats in Poilão and its neighbouring islands. High nest density on Poilão leads to high clutch destruction by later turtles, resulting in surplus eggs on the beach surface and consequently low clutch predation (4.0%, n = 69, 2000). Here, the overall mean hatching success estimated was 67.9 ± 36.7% (n = 631, 2015–2022), contrasting with a significantly lower value on Meio in 2019 (11.9 ± 23.6%, n = 21), where clutch predation was high (83.7%, n = 98). Moderate to high clutch predation was also observed on Cavalos (36.0%, n = 64) and João Vieira (76.0%, n = 175). Cavalos and Meio likely face higher clutch flooding compared to Poilão. These findings, alongside observations of turtle exchanges between islands, may suggest a source-sink dynamic, where low reproductive output sink habitats (neighbouring islands) are utilized by migrants from Poilão (source), which currently offers the best conditions for clutch survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes to establish Maximum Sustainable Employment (MSE) as a new guiding light, or beacon, for wild fisheries governance. This new social beacon complements the directives provided by the prevailing beacons: Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) and Maximum Economic Yield (MEY). The argument is that context matters: in countries where poverty levels are high and alternative employment is scarce, fisheries governors cannot limit themselves to a sectoral perspective. Instead, they must include the remunerative employment and 'decent work' that wild fisheries offer society in their strategic deliberations. This perspective is especially relevant for countries in the Global South, but it also has a bearing on the Global North. After discussing the history of scientific fisheries management and the relevance of employment in fisheries, the paper considers the arguments made against MSE. It concludes with a reflection on the balancing of the three beacons in line with prevailing circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, impacts of climate change display an increasingly negative development of marine biomass, but there is large regional variability. In this analysis of future climate change on stock productivity proxies for the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea, and the Barents Sea, we have provided calculations of accumulated directional effects as a function of climate exposure and sensitivity attributes. Based on modelled changes in physical and biogeochemical variables from three scenarios and knowledge of 13 different stocks' habitats and response to climate variations, climate exposures have been weighted, and corresponding directions these have on the stocks have been decided. SSP1‐2.6 gives mostly a weak cooling in all regions with almost negligible impacts on all stocks. SSP2‐4.5 and SSP5‐8.5 both provide warmer conditions in the long term but are significantly different in the last 30 years of the century when the SSP5‐8.5 warming is much stronger. The results show that it is the current stocks of cod and Calanus finmarchicusin the North Sea, and polar cod and capelin in the Barents Sea that will be most negatively affected by strong warming. Stocks that can migrate north into the northern seas such as hake in the Norwegian Sea, or stocks that are near the middle of the preferred temperature range such as mackerel and herring in the Norwegian Sea and cod and Calanus finmarchicus in the Barents Sea, are the winners in a warmer climate. The highly different impacts between the three scenarios show that multiple scenario studies of this kind matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change continues to exert pressure on ocean ecosystems. The fisheries‐related responses, such as altered body growth, recruitment and spatial distribution of the targeted stock(s), have generally been reasonably well investigated. Nevertheless, there are still important knowledge gaps in how biophysical drivers impact stock productivity and thereby sustainable harvest levels. Considering this, we investigated 26 fish stocks in the Northeast Atlantic, a region characterized by accelerated climate change effects and a diverse set of fisheries. A novel, stepwise, Bayesian framework to quantify stock productivity was established to identify shared trends and project future patterns, aiming at determining essential baselines for adaptive fishery management in the face of climate change. Despite variation among large marine ecosystems and stocks, an overall declining trend in productivity over the past four decades was observed, especially in high‐latitude areas. These hindcast results were mainly attributed to higher temperatures posing negative effects on productivity, which was dependent on the stock's thermal preference. Contrastingly, the proxy for food availability – gross secondary production – exhibited less consistent impacts. In the forecast, the applied Shared Socio‐economic Pathways (SSPs) indicated that most stocks are likely to encounter adverse effects, with the worst cases expected to occur under SSP2‐4.5 in the 2050s, and under SSP5‐8.5 in the 2090s. Thus, this study generally not only supports earlier climate vulnerability assessments ('scorings') of experts but also provides evidence for revised directional effects under climate change, underlining the complexity of processes affecting stock productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid‐19 lockdown in India in March 2020 revealed the presence of Adivasi communities in the marine fishing industry of Goa, a coastal state in India. While the migration for work of Adivasi communities from the central regions of the country is well recorded, their movement across geographies of the forest and the coast is relatively unknown. Working with initial data collected during the lockdown, interviews conducted after the pandemic and using secondary materials, the paper sought to understand the social and material conditions in the forest and the coastal regions that shape this movement. Centring the waged relation of Adivasi workers opened the door to thinking about the marine fishing sector in India as a capitalist industry, while paying attention to social reproduction highlighted how the coastal and forest regions are spatially linked through their movement and labour. This highlights that the coasts and forests are going through distinct processes of capitalist intensification and expansion. Making connections between ecological appropriation, historical processes of resource extraction and marginalization, the paper finds that the extraction of fish resources in Goa is made productive through the hierarchization and differentiation of Adivasi workers. It reveals how the social relations of identity and caste mediate access to and define conditions of work at sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The movement and growth of spotted gully sharks Triakis megalopterus (family Triakidae) along the coast of South Africa were investigated using external dart tagging. Of a total of 7 211 sharks tagged, 657 (9.1%) were recaptured over a 37-year period, from 1984 to 2021. Average distance moved by recaptured sharks was 31 (SD 82) km, with a maximum distance moved of 911 km. The longest time at liberty was 6 332 days (17.3 years). Most recaptures (66.9%) displayed resident, philopatric behaviour, although adults moved significantly more than juveniles. There was strong seasonality in the catches, with more individuals caught during summer months (October–March); however, there was no evidence to suggest that adults undertook seasonal migrations to and from mating or pupping areas. Similarly, the findings suggested that pupping likely takes place throughout their distribution and is not confined to a particular region. Growth of recaptured individuals was slow, with an average growth rate of 50 mm year−1. This was similar to the growth rate determined by vertebral band counts but suggested that individuals could reach a theoretical maximum age of 41 years. Based on the species' resident behaviour and slow growth rate, we advocate for maintenance of the current fishing regulations and greater protection in no-take marine protected areas with suitable habitat within their distribution. Further research using acoustic telemetry is also recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oceanographic connectivity in an effective network of protected areas is crucial for restoring and stabilising marine populations. However, temporal variability in connectivity is rarely considered as a criterion in designing and evaluating marine conservation planning. In this study, indicators were defined to characterise the temporal variability in occurrence, flux, and frequency of connectivity in a northwestern Mediterranean Sea area. Indicators were tested on semi-theoretically-estimated connections provided by the runs of a passive particle transport model in a climatological year and in three years between 2006–2020, showing large deviation from the climatological year. The indicators allowed comparing the temporal variability in connectivity of four zones, highlighted differences in connectivity due to their locations and the mesoscale hydrodynamics, and identified areas that require further investigation. The three indicators also showed that the temporal variability in connectivity was influenced by the duration and depth of particle transport, although no consistent pattern was observed in the indicator variations of the compared zones. Provided that specific objectives will be given when parameterising transport models (i.e., selection of focus species and time period), indicators of temporal variability in connectivity have potential to support spatial conservation planning, prioritise the protection of marine resources, and measure the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas, in line with a long-term vision of ocean management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the role of environmental impact assessments (EIAs) in establishing and managing marine protected areas (MPAs) in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Agreement under the UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement). The analysis is conducted by discussing Articles 194 and 205–206 of the UNCLOS and Articles 27–28 and 30 of the BBNJ Agreement. It concludes that the interaction between EIA and MPAs in ABNJ is not only desirable but also critical for the success of MPAs. The BBNJ Agreement operationalises the role of EIAs in establishing and managing MPAs under the UNCLOS by (1) granting EIA an important role in assessing the susceptibility of an MPA to the impact of certain human activities and (2) factoring part of indicative criteria for identifying potential MPAs in the list of criteria to be considered for conducting EIA screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the loss of biodiversity worldwide, understanding species distribution is essential for species management, but modelling the distribution of rare and poorly detectable species can be challenging because of data gaps and observer biases. Over‐ or under‐predictions are frequent, leading to uncertainty in spatial management measures, particularly for highly mobile and data‐poor species.Here we developed a 'Combined Model for Accurate Prediction' to accurately predict the distribution of data‐poor and rare species. This modelling framework aims to improve the accuracy of both predicted 'core' and 'unsuitable' habitats, to help support managers with spatial protection measures. We tested the combined modelling approach on 11 data‐poor and rare diadromous fish during their at‐sea life history phase and used the combined model to analyse the adequacy of existing marine protected areas (MPAs) for these fish.The combined modelling approach modelled both 'core' and 'unsuitable' habitats with high accuracy. Of the seven diadromous species modelled, most MPAs designated to protect diadromous fish are outside their core habitats. Furthermore, when their core habitat was within an MPA, only 50% of this area was designated to protect them. These results highlight inadequate protection of the existing networks of MPAs for protected and threatened species.Synthesis and applications. Being able to accurately model species distribution is critical to reliable and transparent biodiversity and conservation assessments. By modelling accurate 'core' and 'unsuitable' habitats with models that minimise omission and commission rates respectively, conservation measures could be targeted in specific spatial areas that maximise the protection of rare and poorly detected species. This method therefore helps minimise impacts on stakeholders, while providing managers with increased confidence in the model predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This rapid communication describes a lithic blade that was recently recovered during excavations in the Velondriake Marine Protected Area in southwest Madagascar. This represents the only recorded archaeological lithic blade recovered from southwest Madagascar. The blade was recovered in situ at a depth of 1.66 m, a deposit dating to between 750 and 1200 BP at site G134, adjacent to the modern village of Antsaragnasoa. While similar in material choice (translucent-brown chert) and morphology (parallel-sided blade) to other lithics recovered at the northern sites of Ambohiposa and Lakaton'i Anja, it is significantly larger than other recorded lithics on Madagascar. More research is required but this finding suggests that lithic technology may have been more widespread on the island, particularly among coastal communities, than previously thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]