1,721,050 research outputs found
Perceptions and attitudes of residents toward small-scale longline tuna fishing in the Galapagos Marine Reserve: conservation and management implications
Full text linkLonglining represents a cost-effective fishing modality for catching tuna, but its use is contentious due to the unintended catch of endangered, threatened, and protected (ETP) species. In 2000, longlining was banned in the Galapagos Marine Reserve, Ecuador. Since then, local small-scale fishers have contested this decision. In contrast, longlining ban supporters argue that this regulation is fundamental for conserving ETP species, despite scientific and anecdotal evidence indicating that its effective implementation is unfeasible. We conducted an online survey to investigate Galapagos residents’ perceptions concerning longlining, its ecological impact, and diverse potential management strategies. Our findings revealed misconceptions about longline fishing, which highlight the need for improved public awareness and education regarding longline fishing practices, their impact on ETP species, and possible solutions to this complex social-ecological problem. Our study also highlights
Galapagos residents’ openness to find a solution that addresses both fishers’ livelihoods and the conservation of ETP species. Galapagos residents are receptive to implementing evidence-based solutions, including testing new
bycatch mitigation methods and more selective fishing gears, enhancing monitoring and enforcement, and creating market-based incentives that encourage progressive and adaptive improvements in fishing practices. To
solve the Galapagos longline controversy, we recommend a holistic, adaptive, and evidence-based approach that encourages stakeholders to engage in open dialogue, fosters cross-sector collaboration, and promotes research,
communication, and educational initiatives. By raising awareness through comprehensive, rigorous, and unbiased scientific information, this ecosystembased management approach aims to ensure the sustainable development of the small-scale tuna fishery, while conserving the Galapagos’ invaluable and unique marine biodiversity
Advances in sandy beach research – Local and global perspectives
No full textSandy beaches are increasingly being considered as social-ecological systems (SES). This implies the consideration of specific sets of proximate and distal drivers acting on them. Hence, ecological and social features as well as their interaction need to be identified, quantified and modeled in order to enable stakeholders and decision-makers to achieve a science-based vision of such a complex system. The urgent demand for integration and multidisciplinarity is therefore an open challenge for all those working on the topic. Information from different disciplines, if considered as part of a holistic perspective as the one required by the approach to SES, maximises its impact and opens new perspectives. A range of dimensions, from local scale to macroareas, still need to be tested to identify the most suitable scale for the observation and depiction of phenomena and trends. Many open challenges then, are awaiting to be taken
Climate-driven ‘species-on-the-move’ provide tangible anchors to engage the public on climate change
Full text linkEste artículo fue escrito por 26 autores.1. Over recent decades, our understanding of climate change has accelerated greatly, but unfortunately, observable impacts have increased in tandem. Both mitigation and adaptation have not progressed at the level or scale warranted by our collective knowledge on climate change. More effective approaches to engage people on
current and future anthropogenic climate change effects are urgently needed.
2. Here, we show how species whose distributions are shifting in response to climate change, that is, ‘species-on-the-move’, present an opportunity to engage people with climate change by linking to human values, and our deep connections with the places in which we live, in a locally relevant yet globally coherent narrative. 3. Species-on-the-move can impact ecosystem structure and function, food security, human health, livelihoods, culture and even the climate itself through feedback to the climate system, presenting a wide variety of potential pathways for people to understand that climate change affects them personally as individuals.
4. Citizen science focussed on documenting changes in biodiversity is one approach to foster a deeper engagement on climate change. However, other possible avenues, which may offer potential to engage people currently unconnected with nature, include arts, games or collaborations with rural agriculture (e.g. new
occurrences of pest species) or fisheries organisations (e.g. shifting stocks) or healthcare providers (e.g. changing distributions of disease vectors).
5. Through the importance we place on the aspects of life impacted by the redistribution of species around us, species-on-the-move offer emotional pathways to connect with people on the complex issue of climate change in
profound ways that have the potential to engender interest and action on climate change
Reconsidering the longline ban in the Galapagos Marine Reserve
Full text linkIn 2000, longline fishing was banned inside the Galapagos Marine Reserve to prevent illegal fishing of sharks and
bycatch of endangered, threatened, and protected (ETP) species. Despite local management institutions possess
one of the most sophisticated control and surveillance systems in the Eastern Tropical Central Pacific, statistical
and anecdotic evidence suggest the longline ban has been ineffective in eradicating illegal, unreported and
unregulated (IUU) fishing for the last two decades. This short communication examines the legal, institutional,
and socio-economic factors that have prevented the effective implementation of the longline ban and proposes an
ecosystem approach to fisheries to maintain bycatch mortality rates below biologically based limits, facilitating
the recovery of ETP species while safeguarding a sustainable development of the Galapagos small-scale tuna
fishery. Significant investments in science, technology, and innovation are necessary to encourage gradual and
adaptive improvements in fishing practices to reduce IUU fishing and bycatch
Biogeographic Patterns in Life-History Traits of the Yellow Clam, Mesodesma mactroides, in Sandy Beaches of South America
Full text linkDemographic and life-history attributes of the yellow clam, Mesodesma mactroides, were analyzed along exposed sandy beaches of the Atlantic coast of South America, from Brazil (32ºS) to Argentina (41ºS), covering most of its geographical range (24?41ºS). Population features varied markedly within this range and exhibited systematic geographical patterns of variation. Abundance and growth/mortality rates significantly decreased from northern (Brazil and Uruguay) to southern (Argentina) populations. Snapshot information at the edge of its northern geographical range suggests a large-scale unimodal distribution pattern. Northern populations also had an extended or quasi-continuous recruitment season, whereas Argentinean populations had seasonal recruitment that became negligible at the southernmost edge of the range (41ºS). Maximum individual sizes increased nonlinearly with latitude. This result, when considered together with density patterns, provided the second large-scale evidence of scaling of population density to body size in a sandy-beach population. Lifespan increased with latitude, ranging between 3 and 7 years. Length frequency distribution analysis revealed marked intra-annual growth patterns for two populations located 7 grades latitude apart. Variations in water temperature explained large-scale differences in the demography and population dynamics of the yellow clam, and the high plasticity over latitudinal gradients leads to an adjustment of the phenotype environment relationship. Long-term studies in Uruguayan beaches suggest that wide population fluctuations are the result of intertwined forces of environmental, density-dependent, and human-induced factors operating together at different spatiotemporal scales. As this species with planktonic larvae is structured as a metapopulation, future studies should incorporate a number of hierarchical scales to better understand macroscale variations in demographic patterns and life-history traitsFil: Fiori, Sandra Marcela. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía; ArgentinaFil: Defeo, Omar. Instituto Politécnico Nacional Unidad Merida; México. UNDECIMAR Facultad de Ciencias Igua; Urugua
Addressing illegal longlining and ghost fishing in the Galapagos marine reserve: an overview of challenges and potential solutions
Full text linkDespite regulations aimed at curbing shark finning and bycatch, shark fishing mortality rates continue to escalate, partly due to unintended consequences of these policies which, along with illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and ghost fishing, undermine conservation efforts. The ineffectiveness of current regulations to curb shark mortality highlights the pressing need for reevaluating shark conservation strategies, especially in ecologically sensitive areas. In this context, the debate on enforcing longlining bans in multiple-use marine protected areas, including shark sanctuaries, is intensifying. Some argue for total bans to minimize incidental shark mortalities, while others highlight the socioeconomic importance of longlining, advocating for alternative conservation measures. In 2000, longline fishing was banned in the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR) as a precautionary measure to prevent illegal fishing of sharks and bycatch of endangered, threatened, and protected species. After 24 years of enforcement, official and anecdotal evidence indicate that illegal small-scale tuna longlining and ghost fishing are increasing threats across the reserve. This paper provides an overview of the longline fishing controversy within the GMR, incorporating scientific evidence, legal and socioeconomic considerations, and perceptions from the Galapagos small-scale fishing community. We offer novel insights and recommendations for the development of the Galapagos small-scale tuna fishery within an ecosystem approach to fisheries. This approach aims to reconcile conservation goals with the needs of local communities, while also proposing innovative solutions to address the longstanding debate surrounding longlining in the GMR
Long-term trends in striped venus clam (Chamelea gallina) fisheries in the western Mediterranean Sea: the case of Ebro Delta (NE Spain)
Full text linkAll clam fisheries in the western Mediterranean Sea have dramatically declined in the last few decades. Recently, most have collapsed in Spain, resulting in job loss for hundreds of small-scale fishers. However, insufficient attention has been given to the profound significance of this socio-ecological crisis. We evaluated the historical, social, and ecological context of the striped venus clam (Chamelea gallina) fisheries in the western Mediterranean Sea, focusing on one of the main productive areas of this region (the Ebro Delta, Catalonia, NE Spain) to detect possible causes of the decline in clam landings. Different governance systems (self-governance, centralized governance, and de facto co-governance) had been successful in maintaining striped clam fisheries since they were established in the 1940s. However, since the industrialization of fishing fleets in the mid-1970s, a lack of reliable management (e.g., free access; conflicts between different interested parties) and a progressive increase in fishing capacity, fishing effort, and technological enhancements across the small fishing grounds have increased the vulnerability of the exploited stocks and set them on a collapse trajectory. We recommend the following management measures to promote the recovery of the striped venus clam stock and mitigate the loss of its ecological, social, and economic value: (1) the closure of the fishery in the Ebro Delta; (2) the preparation and implementation of a Spanish Management Fishery Plan to restore the striped clam fishing grounds; (3) the establishment of a supra-regional Management Plan for the striped venus clam on the Mediterranean coast of Spain
Cumulative stressors impact macrofauna differentially according to sandy beach type: A meta-analysis
No full textMany studies have demonstrated human impacts on sandy beach macroinvertebrates. However, little is known about causative drivers among multiple co-occurring stressors and how these interact with natural habitat conditions to yield specific faunal responses. We performed a global meta-analysis to shed light on how interactions between human disturbances and beach morphodynamics shape macroinvertebrate populations. We found that supralittoral forms (Talitridae and Ocypodidae) responded more negatively to the Human Modification Metric (a proxy for urbanization) on dissipative beaches, whereas intertidal organisms (Hippidae and Cirolanidae) showed more negative responses on non-dissipative beaches. Based on these findings we propose the Cumulative Harshness Hypothesis (CHH), which predicts higher sensitivity of beach macroinvertebrates to human disturbances when inhabiting a harsher physical environment according to their life histories. Secondly, we compared the response of macroinvertebrates to urbanization levels from local to larger scales (from 500 to 50000 m). Supralittoral families responded more negatively to local urbanization, which leads to habitat loss due to removal or reduction of upper beach zones. Conversely, intertidal organisms with planktonic larval stages were more affected by urbanization at the largest spatial scales, which we hypothesize disrupts metapopulation dynamics by impacting the supply of larvae that could colonize human-disturbed beaches. The differential effects of human disturbances on macroinvertebrates according to beach morphodynamics suggest that the efficiency of these ecological indicators for beach monitoring is context-dependent. Focusing on multiple stressors rather than on a single one is also critical to mitigate human impacts on these threatened ecosystems
Behavioral adaptations of sandy beach macrofauna in face of climate change impacts: A conceptual framework
Full text linkSandy beaches are severely under-represented in the literature on climate-change ecology, yet different lines of
evidence suggest that the macrofauna inhabiting these narrow and dynamic environments located at the land-sea
interface is being reorganized under the influence of this large scale and long-lasting stressor. This is reflected in
macrofaunal sensitivity to increasing sea surface temperature, sea-level rise, extreme events and erosion of the
narrow physical habitat. However, evidence of behavioral responses by sandy beach macrofauna that are consistent with expectations under climate change is scarce and fragmentary. In this paper, specific hypotheses are formulated for how behavioral adaptations in sandy beach macrofauna are predicted to respond to climate
change impacts. Firstly, a conceptual framework and an overview of macrofauna behavioral adaptation features
are provided. Secondly, the effects of main climate change drivers on sandy beaches are summarized. Thirdly, a
conceptual framework is developed giving behavioral adaptations of sandy beach macrofauna under climate change pressure. The degree to which observations on behavioral adaptations of beach animals conform to
expectations under specific climate change drivers (sea level rise, sea surface temperature, winds and storminess, rainfall, acidification and eutrophication) is explored. Taking into account the empirical evidence and the theoretical framework detailed in the paper, emergent hypotheses/predictions are proposed. Climate change
drivers are expected to impact habitat features and consequently the behavioral expression of macrofauna as
active responses to habitat changes. Behavioral adaptations are expected to be impaired, more variable or
disrupted, thus decreasing fitness, causing local population extirpations and potentially triggering a range of
cascading effects of ecological change in the beach ecosystem. Biodiversity loss will be the outcome of the
negative pressures driven by climate change. The specificity of sandy beaches as narrow ecotones between sea
and land may be lost under climate change pressure, adversely affecting fine-tuned macrofaunal adaptations and
therefore ecosystem functioning. Strictly adapted endemic sandy beach fauna will be especially subjected to
local extirpations, while species with a large reaction norm (i.e. phenotypic and behavioral plasticity) may face
changes by dispersal and exploitation of new niches. Under climate change impacts, biodiversity loss is predicted,
which would hamper beach ecosystem resilience. The limits to which sandy beach macrofauna responds
and can behaviorally adapt to environmental change are worthy of exploration, in view of the increasing influence
of the long-lasting climate driven stressors threatening these ecosystems at risk
An overview of social-ecological impacts of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and climate change on Galapagos small-scale fisheries
Full text linkSmall-scale fisheries in the Galapagos Marine Reserve face significant challenges due to climatic anomalies and
human-induced changes such as weak governance and overfishing. This overview explores the social-ecological
impacts of the El Nino-Southern ˜ Oscillation (ENSO) and climate change on Galapagos small-scale fisheries,
including the progress and challenges of ENSO and climate change research in this multiple-use marine protected area. The extreme El Nino ˜ events of 1982/83, 1997/98, and 2015/16 caused significant ecological shifts and fluctuations in fisheries productivity. While some species have shown increases in biomass, likely linked to sea surface temperature changes and altered ecosystem dynamics, the impacts on others remain uncertain or
underexplored. Sailfin grouper (Mycteroperca olfax) and spiny lobster (Panulirus penicillatus and P. gracilis) fisheries have exhibited mixed responses to the El Nino, ˜ illustrating the complex nature of ENSO’s ecological
effects, which are further exacerbated by overfishing. The socio-economic impacts on fishing communities
include reduced landings, longer search times, higher fishing costs, and increased livelihood insecurity. Future
projections suggest an increasing vulnerability to ENSO and climate change, emphasizing the need for an
ecosystem approach to fisheries. Key strategies include enhancing adaptive capacity, promoting sustainable
practices, and adopting a social-ecological and transdisciplinary research approach. However, progress in ENSO
and climate change research is hampered by weak governance, characterized by institutional barriers that hinder
the formulation and enforcement of solid fisheries governance policies. To strengthen the resilience of Galapagos
small-scale fisheries, interinstitutional and intersectoral collaboration is essential, supported by international
cooperation and strategic investments to bolster local research capabilities
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