12 research outputs found
Integration at the round table – Marine Spatial Planning in multi-stakeholder settings[1]'
No full textNo abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author. Marine spatial planning (MSP) is often concidered as a pragmatic approach for the implementation of an ecosystem based management to manage marine space in a sustainable manner. Implementing MSP in an ecosystem context requires the involvement of multiple actors and stakeholders at various levels of government and society
Signature and projection of ocean warming effects in global fisheries catch
No full textNo abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author. Marine fishes and invertebrates respond to ocean warming through distribution shifts, generally to higher latitudes and deeper waters. Consequently, fisheries should be affected by ‘tropicalization’ of catch. However, a signature of such warming effects on global catches has not been demonstrated
Marked Genetic Structuring In Localised Spawning Populations Of Cod (Gadus Morhua) Within The North Sea And Adjoining Waters,As Revealed By Microsatellites
No full textNo abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author. Marine fishes have hitherto been characterised by lower genetic differentiation when compared with anadromous and freshwater species (Ward et al 1994), which has been related to a presumed lack of isolating barriers, large population sizes, and high mobility (Smith 1994, Carvalho & Hauser 1998). However, it has been suggested that some studies that found a lack of genetic differentiation may have done so because of inappropriate sampling (e.g. insufficient sample sizes, sampling of non-spawning stocks) or use of insensitive molecular markers (O’Connell & Wright 1997, Carvalho & Hauser 1998, Waples 1998)
Towards spatio-temporal biodiversity indicators for monitoring common objectives of the German Maritime Spatial Plan and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive
No full textNo abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author. Marine spatial planning such as under the German Maritime Spatial Plan may help assist with the implementation of ecosystem-based management under the MSFD while MSFD may help to generate information from monitoring for spatial planning purposes under the Maritime Spatial Plan. One of the identified common high level objectives between MSFD and the German Maritime Spatial Plan is the protection of biodiversity and ecological functions and processes. Therefore, a first attempt of spatio-temporal representation of biodiversity relevant MSFD indicators at the species level is presented here for demersal finfish as well as additional metrics such as Hill Numbers and a metric for functional diversity. Analysis was based on spatially well distributed data across the German EEZ and adjacent water of the North Sea. Multivariate methods such as Generalised additive models were combined with geostatistical methods to produce distributional maps per assessment year
Mapping fishing activity in Scotland’s inshore waters – analytical approaches applied to data from fishery stakeholders
No full textNo abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author. Marine planning relies on robust data on human usage of the sea, to minimise spatial conflicts and to inform decision making. Seas around Scotland support diverse fisheries, including a significant inshore fishing fleet which makes an important contribution to the economy of many coastal communities. We present analyses of data collected during interviews with over 1000 fishermen across Scotland (skippers of vessels < 15 m in length) carried out in 2011 and 2012 and describe the methods used to validate data and produce a detailed understanding of inshore fishing activity including the socio-economic value and usage of different coastal areas in Scottish Territorial Waters. The potential application and utility of the various data outputs in the context of multidisciplinary Marine Spatial Planning are discussed
Succession of marine fouling hydrozoan assemblages at a finfish aquaculture facility in Taranto, Italy
No full textNo abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author. Marine fouling hydroids are responsible for several economic and environmental issues around the world, having been introduced to new habitats and altering native communities. In aquaculture facilities, they have been linked to mortality and health issues. To identify alien or potentially harmful fouling hydroid species in a marine aquaculture facility in Taranto (Italy), a study on the succession of the assemblages of these organisms was conducted on 36 panels immersed in April 2013 next to a fish cage. Three panels were analyzed for each combination of depth (0.2 m, 3 m, and 6 m) and immersion time (3, 6, 9, and 12 months); the hydrozoans growing on the surface of each panel were identified and their surface was estimated and analyzed with multivariate techniques. Species richness, frequency and biomass increased with time, paralleling the overall increase in structural complexity of the fouling assemblages. Medusa production was observed from locally abundant colonies of some species, potentially representing a nuisance for cultured fish through contact-driven envenomations and gill disorders. Several species were observed growing in epibiosis on alien invertebrates. The implications of these findings are discussed in light of the intense traffic of ships in the Port of Taranto
Exploring the temperature-driven size reduction of marine bacteria over an annual cycle
No full textNo abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author. Marine heterotrophic bacteria play key roles in carbon and nutrient cycling and as unicells and ectotherms are directly affected by temperature. One of the predicted effects of global warming is size reduction, with the subsequent consequences on biomass and turnover rates in the future ocean. To study this effect, we carried out monthly experiments during a complete annual cycle, incubating surface water (from 12.7 to 21.2 ºC) at three different temperature treatments (in situ, -3 ºC, +3 ºC). We followed the growth, standing stocks and biovolume changes of two widespread physiological groups detected by flow cytometry: high nucleic acid (HNA) and low nucleic acid (LNA) bacteria. The annual cycle showed that these groups have opposite seasonal trends, where smaller but more abundant abundant bacteria correspond to HNA cells in the colder spring and to LNA cells in the warmer summer. Surprisingly, the effect of temperature treatment on size was noticeable only upon the typically more active HNA bacteria, that showed a decrease in mean biovolume in 75% of experiments. The final effect on biomass was not significant in both cases, indicating that abundance has a greater effect than size for bacteria
MPA design: modelling species distribution with ENFA and MADIFA approaches
No full textNo abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author. Marine protected areas (MPA) are figures of ecosystem management aimed at regulating the captures of species and protect them from overfishing. In many cases MPAs are a community based strategy, and their geographic delimitation has often been based on traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). New ecological methods based on statistical description of presence-only observations allow the definition of the habitat characteristics most suitable for those species. They define a suitability value for each species at each geographic location that should be maximized within the MPA area chosen for species protection. In this work we use two of these approaches (ENFA and MaDiFA) to test whether the limits of the Os Miñarzos MPA within the Seno de Corcubión (coast of Galicia, NW of Spain) fulfill these conditions based on catch data recorded by commercial vessels operating in the area. The analysis shows that the MPA includes areas where most of the commercial species analysed bear high suitability values. We conclude that habitat suitability analysis provides an alternative to TEK for the establishment of MPA, but also to continuously monitoring the evolution of species distribution, which could lead to redefinition of these protection areas in the future
Interactions of commercial fisheries and marine renewable energy developments in Scottish waters
No full textNo abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author. Marine Renewable Energy Developments (MREDs) need to be accommodated within the existing pattern of commercial and conservation uses, in the context of limited ocean space availability. The Scottish Government places high priority on renewable energy, aiming to cover the total electricity demand from renewable sources by 2020. Hence a large number of MREDs are expected. Optimum siting of these developments, while maintaining the sustainability of sectors (economic and ecological), such as commercial fisheries, involves multiple scientific challenges. Predicting and minimising environmental and socio-economic interactions between fisheries and the renewable industry is an important element of both marine planning and licensing. In this study, the spatial distribution of the Scottish commercial fishing fleet is studied to quantify the conflicts and synergies arising from MREDs. The number of vessels impacted, gear types used and fishing intensity in the draft sectoral plan option areas for MREDs in Scottish waters out to 200 nm have been identified. Socio-economic impacts of renewable energy developments on fishing effort/ landings/ revenues at the Scottish fleet and individual vessel scales have been assessed, and potential displacement opportunities have been identified. Outputs from this study may inform both large scale strategic planning and individual project siting in the future
Evaluation of Spatial Planning as a Tool for Integrated Marine and Coastal Management: Serious Gaps and Interesting Opportunities
No full textNo abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author. Marine spatial planning (MSP) is promoted as an important mechanism to improve the management of marine areas, enhancing integration across sectors and levels and balancing interests against each other. Sweden aims at using MSP to manage its marine areas according to the so-called Ecosystem Approach. Its adaptive ecosystem perspective requires a systematic monitoring and evaluation of objectives and instruments in relation to outcomes in nature and society. We have explored the state of the art and conditions to develop a coherent evaluation methodology for coastal and marine planning in Sweden through literature analysis, workshops, and an expert survey. Planning evaluation theory and practice can support method development in Sweden. However, the efforts in evaluation practice of spatial planning and management have so far concentrated on evaluating implementation, whereas evaluation of outcomes in terms of environmental changes has received marginal attention. Robust methods relating planning and management to environmental effects are underdeveloped and underutilised. Swedish experts see a great need for evaluating planning and agree on important points in focus, content and form and that institutional and method development is urgent. Discrepancies between answers indicate differences in perspectives but also the need for general capacity development and mutual education across disciplines
