79717 research outputs found
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Accounting for the sustainability and equity dimensions in tuna fisheries: Pathways for the management of yellowfin tuna and DFAD fisheries in the Indian Ocean [presentation]
No full textCo-developing climate-responsive propositions for aquatic food systems in the Bengal Delta to influence transformative policies and investment [presentation]
No full textThe Role of Ecosystem Value and Stakeholder Participation in Marine Spatial Planning: The Case of Indramayu Regency [abstract]
No full textOne of the significant issues facing Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is striking the right balance between environmental protection and socioeconomic development. However, marine spatial planning rarely presents a detailed study of the economic impact of the MSP policy scenario. The existence of detailed data and information regarding the economic value of marine ecosystem services can provide an overview of the potential and impact of activities carried out in MSP. This study will focus on marine spatial planning in mangrove ecosystems, which is essential in providing ecosystem goods and services (e.g., food, storm protection, nursery grounds, tourism) to support human well-being in coastal areas. Thus, the implementation of spatial planning in coastal areas must consider the existence of the mangrove ecosystem. The Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model will explore how integrating ecosystem services into marine spatial planning could lead to different outcomes. The analysis focuses on the supply and delivery service of the mangrove ecosystem (i.e., aquaculture, coastal protection, and recreation). In addition, the InVEST model will provide spatially explicit outputs regarding the biophysical, monetary, and non-monetary value of mangrove ecosystem services. This study will explore the case of the mangrove ecosystem in the coastal area of West Java, the most highly populated province in Indonesia, with some communities dependent on the coastal area. We used bio-physical data (i.e., bathymetry, oceanography, habitat type) and socio-economics data (i.e., population density, demographies, aquaculture, property value, tourism) to model the habitat risk and provide mangrove ecosystem services outpu
Toward Ethical and Sustainable Practices: Integrating Efforts to Combat Forced Labor and IUU Fishing in Southeast Asia [abstract]
No full text"The offshore commercial fishing industry confronts intersecting challenges: forced labor affecting 128,000 fishers and illegal fishing draining $23 billion annually from the global economy. In Southeast Asia, where 200 million people depend on fisheries, these issues compound, imperiling livelihoods, food security, and marine ecosystems. Utilizing a desktop literature review and key informant interviews, this research provides a comprehensive examination of the current state of labor practices and an exploration of potential avenues for improvement to safeguard fishers, fisheries, and economic development. It advocates for a comprehensive strategy, proposing integration of insights from transboundary and transdisciplinary collaboration to coordinate efforts and navigate the complex operational space shared by forced labor and IUU fishing. In parallel, this research emphasizes the urgent need for better fair labor practices in the private sector, shifting from viewing fishers as stakeholders to recognizing them as rights-holders. It identifies a lack of fair labor 'best' practices and emphasizes three pivotal elements: surpassing international labor standards, empowering worker voice, and collaborating with unions or fish worker organizations. Recommendations target stakeholders at all levels - this transboundary crisis needs a whole of society approach. From the general public to civil society organizations and the private sector to military, law enforcement and governance, everyone has a role in a concerted, strategic, and transdisciplinary approach. These integrated actions aim to foster a just, equitable, and sustainable fishing industry, aligning with consumer demands for ethical seafood while safeguarding the well-being of fishers and marine ecosystems.
Trends in yield and exploitation patterns of the commercial fisheries in Kyoga Basin Lakes and future prospects [presentation]
No full textFinancing for the climate induced hazards for small-scale fisheries communities in Sri Lanka
No full textClimate change directly threatens Sri Lanka's marine small-scale fishing communities, mainly with storms, floods, erosion, and saltwater intrusions. As an impoverished and highly vulnerable group, the fisheries communities demand a sustainable, proactive response, such as climate financing—an area often overlooked in the country's efforts to build resilience. Hence, this study attempts to identify the availability, affordability, and access to financial instruments for the small-scale marine fisheries communities as a measure to build resilience against climate-induced hazards. The study used primary data collection methods to gather information from 250 randomly selected fishermen in coastal areas of Sri Lanka: Galle, Tangalle, Hambantota, Trincomalee, and Jaffna. The study reveals that post-disaster aids are primarily unconditional and focus on immediate needs, such as providing food rations and repairing infrastructure, occasionally extending to vessel restoration for short to medium-term recovery. While investments in coastal protective structures, coral reefs, and mangroves are noted, coastal erosion remains unresolved without long-term solutions. Additionally, it is noted that most cash transfers to the fisherman are unconditional. Overall, the study identifies a lack of sustainable, long-term strategies to address the effects of climate change on small-scale fisheries communities in Sri Lanka. The study primarily recommends connecting climate finance to conditional cash transfer systems as long-term and sustainable solutions in building resilience. Furthermore, more awareness should involve locals in allocating climate funds, advocating for capacity-building, financial literacy programs, and livelihood diversification. Funding should support both long and medium-term activities for effective resilience against climate hazard
Feeding Chicory Silage, but not Se-yeast or a Single Injection of Inorganic Se, Affects Metabolism, Fat in Milk, and Type I Immunity in Transition Ewes
No full textIn the study, we assessed the effect on performance and health of a single injection of inorganic Se prepartum or feeding chicory silage and organic Se supplementation during the peripartum in ewes. Approximately one month before lambing, 45 pregnant Polypay ewes were moved into single pens and randomly assigned to 5 groups to be fed either grass or chicory silage and supplemented or not with 3.6 mg Se/day as selenium yeast or given a single prepartum injection of Na-selenite. Daily dry matter intake (DMI), water intake, milk production and components, blood metabolic, immune and inflammatory parameters, and blood micromineral levels were measured. DMI was lower in ewes fed chicory silage, although no statistical differences in milk yield were observed. Very few differences were observed in milk components, except fat %, which was higher among ewes fed chicory silage. The type of silage had a significant effect on the fatty acid profile of the milk, with the milk from ewes fed chicory having a higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids and overall improved health indices compared to the milk from ewes fed grass silage. Blood NEFA and BHBA were higher in ewes fed chicory vs. grass silage. Neither silage type nor Se supplementation had a strong effect on most of the parameters associated with immune or inflammatory function, except for the liver enzymes GGT and GOT, which were lower, and a larger type I/type II ratio immune response measured by the DxD2 assay among ewes fed chicory vs. grass silage. No effects on parasite fecal egg counts were observed. Supplementation of ewes with Se-yeast resulted in higher blood levels of Se, whereas the one-time prepartum injection had no significant effect on whole blood Se levels. Feeding chicory silage and supplementing Se during the transition period had a minimal impact on ewe performance and health
The Campus Commute: Justification and Implementation of Shared Micromobility Programs on University Campuses
No full textThe term Shared Micromobility encompasses the shared usage and often privatized vending of bikes, electric bikes, and/or electric scooters within a geographical region. As a more sustainable and accessible ‘last-mile’ commute option, shared micromobility adds a complex layer to urban mobility. This thesis contains three interrelated chapters that both justify and articulate an implementation process for shared micromobility programs, mainly within higher education settings.
Chapters 1 and 2 provide a general analysis of the shared micromobility market by assessing historical context, environmental factors, technological capabilities, and consumer preferences pertinent for effective operations. It aims to understand the environmental, economic, and social impacts of shared micromobility that reflect the costs and benefits associated with the industry in general. Chapter 3 narrows the scope to higher education through a cost-benefit analysis articulating the net benefits a university can expect when implementing a shared micromobility program.
The final chapter of this thesis applies the information shared in the prior sections to a roadmap designed to facilitate the implementation of a program comparable to the one achieved by Oregon State University. It maps out the process necessary to award a vendor and launch a shared micromobility service on a university campus. It highlights administrative and student leadership roles, the integration of student government into the process, and offers readers templates to guide the intended implementation. I assume part three’s pathway is relatively similar to other potential implementation sites outside of higher education campuses and therefore argue that although geared towards higher education settings, this program can be followed by most any group hoping to bring shared micromobility to their community.
This thesis was written to document my efforts of implementing a shared micromobility program at Oregon State University, and it is intended that accompanying this thesis will be a physical program on campus.Keywords: Shared Micromobility, Higher Education, University, Campus, Bikeshare, Economic Analysis, Student Governmen
Analysis of the geometry and internal structure of an ice shelf basal melt channel on the Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf
No full textThe Antarctic ice sheet is losing mass at exponentially increasing rates, having already contributed 7.6 mm to sea level rise between 1992 and 2017. Antarctica’s coast is fringed by ice shelves, which are floating extensions of glaciers that form where ice flows off the continent into the ocean. These floating masses are essential to overall Antarctic ice loss as they provide a vital buttressing effect to grounded ice. Many of these shelves are experiencing rapid thinning and increasing instability in large part due to anthropogenic climate change. Of particular note is the Thwaites Ice Shelf, a thin, rapidly retreating shelf located in West Antarctica. Warm, deep circumpolar water has been melting this ice shelf from underneath for decades, thinning and fracturing the shelf. Patterns of basal melt are critical to projecting change in the future and here we focus on basal channels, a particular feature formed by localized basal melt. These channels become weak zones within ice shelves due to enhancing local thinning in a positive feedback loop, which can in turn lead to overall shelf weakening and crevasse formation. We investigate the evolution of the primary basal channel on the Thwaites Ice Shelf. We analyze this channel using high-resolution, ground-based ice-penetrating radar data collected in both the 2019/2020 and 2022/2023 field seasons. These data allow us to visualize the channel in 2D and 3D to determine channel geometry and spatial and temporal changes in geometry. We find that the cross-section of the basal channel comprises both M-shape double-peaked profiles as well as upside-down U-shape profiles, and the channel shape is often asymmetric due to the Coriolis effect, which reflects spatial melt patterns. The channel apex depth decreases downstream due to the viscous thickening of the ice shelf; this implies that melt rates are not sufficient to overcome the viscous relaxation of the ice. Over the three years, we see significant changes in channel profile (height and width); local fracturing interrupting channel form; and downstream viscous thickening increasing through time. We present high-resolution mapping of a basal channel and related topography, finding that ice shelves have complex and interrelated basal features including terraced steps and crevasses that interact with channels. These features influence ice melt patterns and are vital to assessing ice shelf stability.Key Words: ice-penetrating radar, ice shelf basal channels, West Antarctic ice sheet, Thwaites Glacie
Marine Protected Areas in South Africa: Tracking Current Status and Alignment with Conservation Goals
No full textMarine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a widely used area-based conservation tool designed to prevent or reverse the loss of marine biodiversity and resources in the global ocean due to human impacts and accelerating climate change. International targets for ocean protection (Aichi Target 11, SDG Goal 14.5) have thus far largely focused on tracking MPA coverage, since MPAs are widely used and reported globally through the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA). Progress towards international targets is largely due to the actions of individual countries that improve coverage of ocean protection through the establishment of new MPAs.
South Africa has made significant investments in ocean conservation and recently established twenty new MPAs through the “Operation Phakisa” initiative that was launched in 2014, bringing the total area protected to 5.4% of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Ocean health is a critical issue for South Africans, as millions rely on the ocean for food security and sources of income. The level of protection afforded to the marine environment can vary greatly among MPAs, which is why it is important to understand MPA quality as well as quantity. For South Africa to achieve national ocean conservation goals and contribute to international targets, there needs to be clarity around the quality as well as quantity of existing MPAs.
A newly developed MPA categorization, planning, reporting, and tracking tool called The MPA Guide helps clarify when an MPA should count as “protected”, the “quality” or effectiveness of protection, and the types of outcomes that are likely to result from MPAs with these characteristics, drawing from decades of published data on MPAs. The Guide categorizes MPAs based on their Stage of Establishment (hereafter “Stage”), or steps in MPA establishment and management, and their Level of Protection (hereafter “Level”), or the scale of the impact of human activities occurring within an MPA. The four Stages are Proposed/Committed, Designated, Implemented, and Actively Managed. The four Levels are Fully Protected, Highly Protected, Lightly Protected, and Minimally Protected, which correspond to minimal, low, moderate, and high human impacts, respectively.
In collaboration with the South African conservation organization, WILDOCEANS, I comprehensively assessed the Stage and Level of all South African MPAs. I also investigated the relationships between Stage and Level and other elements of the South African MPA system using logistic regression models. To assess whether South African MPAs are set up to achieve their stated goals, I evaluated the alignment between MPA goals and the impacts of current uses.
I found that all South African MPAs are in the Implemented or Actively Managed Stages. This means all MPAs are currently active on the water and able to provide conservation outcomes, not just Proposed or Designated on paper. Most MPAs are Fully Protected (3.1% of the EEZ) or Highly Protected (1.5% of the EEZ), with some areas Lightly Protected (0.8% of the EEZ). In total, 4.7% of the South African EEZ is in MPAs that are Fully or Highly Protected and Implemented or Actively Managed, which are areas where the greatest conservation outcomes can be expected. I found that larger MPAs were statistically more likely to be Implemented than Actively Managed and that as distance from shore increased, MPAs were statistically more likely to be Highly Protected than Fully Protected. Results of the goals analysis showed that just over half of South African MPAs have alignment between stated goals and the impacts of current uses (24 out of 40 total MPAs). Overall, the South African MPA system appears strong and effective, and could help guide international efforts to increase the number and extent of effective MPAs.
Results of this assessment can help improve the understanding of South African MPAs, inform national research and conservation objectives, clarify progress towards national conservation targets, and inform management of individual MPAs. The novel goal assessment component of this research helps identify MPAs likely to achieve desired conservation outcomes and areas where the expected outcomes could be better aligned with site-specific goals. The assessment framework of The MPA Guide is expected to become part of the global MPA reporting system run by the WDPA to clarify MPA effectiveness and improve the understanding of expected outcomes from global MPAs. This research helps highlight South African ocean conservation investments in this international context, as findings can be directly compared to those from other assessments that have used the Guide around the world