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Effects of fishery bycatch-mitigation measures on vulnerable marine fauna and target catch
Get PDFReducing fisheries bycatches of vulnerable species is critical to marine biodiversity conservation and sustainable fisheries development. Although various preventive technical measures have been implemented, their overall effects are poorly understood. Here, we used a meta-analysis approach to quantify the effects of 42 technical measures on the target catch and the bycatch of seabirds, elasmobranchs, marine mammals and sea turtles. We showed that these measures generally reduced the bycatch while having no statistically significant effect on the target catch. Sensory-based measures generally outperformed physical-based ones in reducing the bycatch. Mitigation measures that worked well for several fishing gears or taxa, although useful, were very rare. Most of the adoptions by regional fisheries management organizations (59%) were supported by our findings, although many others are yet to be robustly evaluated. Our study encourages the innovation and adoption of technical measures and provides crucial insights for policy-making and further research in sustainable bycatch management
Impacts of forest extent, configuration and landscape context on presence of declining breeding Eurasian curlew Numenius arquata and implications for planning new woodland
Get PDFIn response to the combined impacts of the climate and biodiversity crises, as well as for timber security and increased recreational access to green spaces, there is a global drive to increase tree cover. In the UK, an estimated 1.5 million ha of afforestation are required to meet its carbon net-zero emissions targets (Committee on Climate Change, 2018). Despite the potential benefits, careful consideration must be given to the impacts of woodland creation on species adapted to open habitats. To investigate potential risks and mitigation for the IUCN Near Threatened Eurasian curlew Numenius arquata, a national spatially extensive field-scale dataset was used to investigate the relationships between curlew presence during the breeding season and a range of forest and landscape variables at two different spatial scales (0.5 km and 1 km). Variables included forest extent and configuration, and interaction between forests and extent of semi-natural open habitats, moorland management and topography. At both spatial scales, a negative relationship existed between extent of forest and the probability of curlew presence, and at 1 km, between probability of presence and the number of forest patches. However, these negative patterns depended on landscape context and were reduced where there was a greater quantity of semi-natural open habitat, such as moorland or rough grassland, and moorland management present. Overall, the findings emphasise the need to consider the impacts of woodland creation projects on species adapted to open habitats. However, the results suggest that these impacts can be influenced by landscape. These results could help inform decisions regarding the appropriateness of woodland creation in different landscapes and possible mitigation measures that could be applied against the risks created by afforestation
A Delphi study exploring physical and emotional safe spaces within sport for development projects targeting mental health
No full textSport for Development (SFD) offers a promising vehicle for intervention in the battle against the global mental health crisis. Sport on its own is not enough to support positive mental health and requires additional structuring to achieve such aims. One established ‘plus’ element to SFD is the concept of safe spaces, yet there has been limited robust exploration into the key aspects of safe spaces and their implementation. This study aimed to build consensus on key aspects of safe space facilitation through the use of the Delphi method. Coaches (n = 26) from varied SFD programs around the world (n = 12) were remotely and anonymously surveyed through initial open-ended questions. This was followed by three rounds of collaborative refinement of statements to build consensus. In total consensus was reached on 75 statements relating to the characteristics of safe spaces within SFD targeting mental health. These consensus statements have pragmatic implications for the implementation of safe spaces within SFD, while providing the starting point for further research and the development of targeted evaluation tools. Crucially the findings also highlight the complexity of safe spaces, and the degree of intentional planning, preparation, and effort they require within a SFD context
A Framework for Multi-Perspective Knowledge Transfer and Organizational Efficiency
No full textConventional analysis of organizational workflows may overlook intricate interplays between individuals/employees and ever-shifting information dynamics. In this paper, we discuss , how the Perspective Oriented Process Categorization (POPC) framework may overcome some of these shortcomings by integrating objective perspectives into a cohesive analytical framework. The application of nonlinear dynamics and probabilistic reasoning alongside data science principles aims to provide a more balanced method for increasing efficiency and operational productivity. The discussion offers a theoretical underpinning for the framework and considers its mathematical roots in such a way as to highlight its ability to simulate intricate adaptive systems by reshaping the perception in uncertain and nonlinear environments. We suggest that the impact of this approach on standard managerial processes may open up avenues for advancements in efficiency by tapping into a flexible and responsive structure which may already exist within the organisation
The Good Work Time Series 2024
No full textGood Work builds resilience against social, economic and health shocks. More than any other single factor, access to good jobs will determine future prospects for people and places across the country.The 2024 Good Work Time Series tracks trends in access to good work across all local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales. This unique view over time is designed to help policymakers identify the most effective ways to improve social, economic and health outcomes together, enabling policy interventions tailored to local challenges.This year, our analysis shows that the trends and trajectories we identified in 2023 are becoming entrenched, with widening gaps between top and bottom performers and differences between local areas becoming more pronounced.Increasing job polarisation, combined with significant reductions in total scores seen in parts of the East Midlands and North East, should cause policymakers to reflect on the efficacy of current interventions aimed at addressing pronounced regional inequalities.On the upside, many components of the Good Work Monitor are still interacting positively, despite a drop in median pay, reinforcing the case for a new economic paradigm of good work. This offers offer fresh impetus to develop an industrial strategy in which the creation and protection of good work is recognised as a policy priority across different tiers of government and stages of the technology life cycle
Antennas
Get PDFThis Topic aims to comprehensively address all facets of antennas that are utilized in current or prospective wireless communication systems. Readers will be introduced to the state of the art of antenna technology, gaining insights that not only showcase recent progress but also chart the course for future endeavors, offering promising opportunities for further exploration and research in the realm of wireless communication systems
Aquatic connectivity: challenges and solutions in a changing climate
Get PDFThe challenge of managing aquatic connectivity in a changing climate is exacerbated in the presence of additional anthropogenic stressors, social factors, and economic drivers. Here we discuss these issues in the context of structural and functional connectivity for aquatic biodiversity, specifically fish, in both the freshwater and marine realms. We posit that adaptive management strategies that consider shifting baselines and the socio-ecological implications of climate change will be required to achieve management objectives. The role of renewable energy expansion, particularly hydropower, is critically examined for its impact on connectivity. We advocate for strategic spatial planning that incorporates nature-positive solutions, ensuring climate mitigation efforts are harmonized with biodiversity conservation. We underscore the urgency of integrating robust scientific modelling with stakeholder values to define clear, adaptive management objectives. Finally, we call for innovative monitoring and predictive decision-making tools to navigate the uncertainties inherent in a changing climate, with the goal of ensuring the resilience and sustainability of aquatic ecosystems
The Good Lives Model and restorative justice: combined potential in cases of sexual violence
Get PDFThis article explores the combined potential of the Good Lives Model (GLM) and restorative justice as complementary approaches to justice, healing and social integration for sexual crime victims and offenders. When the synergies in both perspectives are combined, they have the potential to enhance the lives of victims, offenders and their respective communities. The two different practice approaches can be integrated within the practice framework model developed by Ward and Durrant (Ward, T., & Durrant, R. (2021). Practice frameworks in correctional psychology: Translating causal theories and normative assumptions into practice. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 58. 10.1016/j.avb.2021.101612). We also suggest that aspects of the GLM could be explored as a potential framework to guide victim services too. The GLM and restorative justice are natural allies because of their shared commitment to the equal value and dignity of every individual involved in crime. The paper makes two important contributions. First, it considers the potential to combine the GLM with restorative justice. Second, it suggests there is potential to develop aspects of the GLM for survivor services
Comparative analysis of the barriers to smart sustainable practices adoption in the construction industry between Hong Kong and Nigeria
Get PDFThe deployment of digital systems has facilitated process improvement in building construction, including for green practices implementation. However, it has encountered several challenges that have limited its use and hindered the diffusion of sustainable practices. Hence, this study aims to identify and assess the major barriers to smart-sustainable practices (SSP) adoption and evaluate its likely impact. A quantitative research method using empirical questionnaire surveys to solicit stakeholders' perceptions in Hong Kong and Nigeria to understand whether there is a commonality in the identified barriers between the two contexts. The collated data were analysed using descriptive statistics such as mean and inferential statistics (factor analysis), while fuzzy synthetic evaluation was used to develop the predictive models. Using non-probability sampling techniques, 97 and 69 responses were gotten from respondents in Hong Kong and Nigeria, respectively. The results revealed that workforce expertise, hesitancy to change from working practices, technical know-how, and inadequate understanding of the SSP process as the most critical barriers to SSP diffusion in Hong Kong and Nigeria. Also, impact evaluation models were developed as a predictive tool to evaluate and respond to the impact of these barriers. It is recommended for industry practitioners and policymakers to collaborate to create local context-based guidelines for facilitating SSP diffusion and monitor its implementation
‘Come on mate, let's make you a cup of tea’: Theorising materiality and its impacts on detainee dignity inside police detention
Get PDFIn this article, we examine detainee experiences of dignity in police detention through the lens of materiality. To do this, we draw on sociological and anthropological literature on the ‘material turn’ and its application to criminal justice settings, and a mixed-methods study of police custody in England and Wales. First, we conceptualise different dimensions of materiality in police custody. Second, we show how some forms of materiality, in conjunction with staff–detainee relationships, shape detainee dignity rooted in equal worth, privacy and autonomy. Third, we examine how the intertwining of the social and material in police custody opens up new possibilities for theorising police work. The materiality of police work is active, not just symbolic. Alongside social relations, it shapes citizen experiences of the police, including of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ forms of policing, and by implication, pain and injustice. Materiality therefore provides a further way of theorising the production of social order inside and outside police detention
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