Steven Berkeley marine conservation fellowship: 2025 winners

Review: The Ocean and Coastal Conservation Guide: The Blue Movement Directory (2005-2006) By David Helvarg (Ed.) Reviewed by Ryder W. Miller San Francisco, USA The Ocean and Coastal Conservation Guide: The Blue Movement Directory (2005-2006). Edited by David Helvarg. Washington, DC: Island Press 2005. 193 pp. ISBN: 1-55963-861-3 $26.95 Trade paper. Printed on recycled, acid-free paper. David Helvarg, the author of Blue Frontier and War Against the Greens, a journalist turned activist, has provided the ocean conservation, now ocean sustainability, community with a directory which lists the many governmental agencies and nonprofits which are concerned with the fate of our coastal and ocean resources. Herein one will find a listing by state of ocean conservation groups, marine schools and science centers, U.S. coastal and ocean parks, and government agencies responsible for the oceans. Described briefly are hundreds of related organizations with which concerned parties can become involved. Included are the addresses of local chapters of major environmental organizations like the Ocean Conservancy, the Audubon Society, the Sierra Club, the Surf Riders Foundation, and others. There is probably an organization in your city or state if you live in the United States. Many of the organizations Helvarg lists are concerned with sustainability and marine pollution, but surprisingly absent from this dense directory of concerned parties are vegetarian or vegan groups which argue not to eat fish at all, for moral or health reasons. Helvarg notes that one of the resources that we depend upon from the sea is protein, the consumption of seafood being an entrenched element of our American lifestyle. Helvarg describes us as a tempest-tossed people, a saltwater people, a coastal people. But there are probably some who would like to make their Blue Movement statement by not eating fish period, or only sustainable harvested fish. Despite there being a large number of groups listed, there is no mention of a name for those who do not eat fish for moral or health reasons in this marine conservation book either. How about nonpiscavore . However, there are many groups concerned with sustainability listed, and Helvarg includes their contact information. Helvarg's directory also describes marine parks, and ocean and estuarine nature preserves. Though the descriptions are brief, there is mention of

The article is devoted to the results of a forecast study to identify scientific, technological, managerial and production potential of Ukraine at the regional level in terms of national objectives Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) No. 14 “Conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”. The study is the next in a series of predictive studies on the conservation of marine resources. The study was carried out by the Forsyth method using expert panels. A survey of experts-scientists of scientific organizations and institutions of higher education on research and technology required for the implementation of the SDG No. 14, and a survey of experts-practitioners in public administration and production to assess the proposed areas of research and technology, were conducted. According to the results of the survey, scientific and technological, managerial and production potentials at the regional level for its possible use in the implementation of national tasks of the SDG No. 14 were determined.

Marine conservation sciences have traditionally been, and remain, non-diverse work environments with many barriers to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI). These barriers disproportionately affect entry of early career scientists and practitioners and limit the success of marine conservation professionals from under-represented, marginalized, and overburdened groups. These groups specifically include women, LGBTQ+, Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). However, the issues also arise from the global North/South and East/West divide with under-representation of scientists from the South and East in the global marine conservation and science arena. Persisting inequities in conservation, along with a lack of inclusiveness and diversity, also limit opportunities for innovation, cross-cultural knowledge exchange, and effective implementation of conservation and management policies. As part of its mandate to increase diversity and promote inclusion of underrepresented groups, the Diversity and Inclusion committee of the Society for Conservation Biology-Marine Section (SCB Marine) organized a JEDI focus group at the Sixth International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC6) which was held virtually. The focus group included a portion of the global cohort of IMCC6 attendees who identified issues affecting JEDI in marine conservation and explored pathways to address those issues. Therefore, the barriers and pathways identified here focus on issues pertinent to participants’ global regions and experiences. Several barriers to just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive conservation science and practice were identified. Examples included limited participation of under-represented minorities (URM) in research networks, editorial biases against URM, limited professional development and engagement opportunities for URM and non-English speakers, barriers to inclusion of women, LGBTQ+, and sensory impaired individuals, and financial barriers to inclusion of URM in all aspects of marine conservation and research. In the current policy brief, we explore these barriers, assess how they limit progress in marine conservation research and practice, and seek to identify initiatives for improvements. We expect the initiatives discussed here to advances practices rooted in principles of JEDI, within SCB Marine and, the broader conservation community. The recommendations and perspectives herein broadly apply to conservation science and practice, and are critical to effective and sustainable conservation and management outcomes.

Assessing public awareness of marine environmental threats and conservation efforts

The background of this feature article is a necessity to systematize a vast array of issues pertinent to the latest applications of remote sensing in coastal and marine conservation. Hence the purpose of this study: stocktaking of cutting-edge research articles in this field and eliciting the essential trends and issues shaping the knowledge and future research and technical development perspectives in coastal and marine nature conservation, which is pivotal for meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals till 2030. A hierarchical cluster analysis was undertaken with the KH Coder 3.0 tool to elicit topical co-occurrence networks for thematic words in academic papers from 2015 to 2021 on the topic quarried from Scholar Google. The article’s main findings are the elicited four main trending themes in applications of remote sensing in coastal and marine conservation: (1) Remote Sensing-Based Classification and Modelling; (2) Conservation of Tropical Coastal and Marine Habitats; (3) Mapping of Habitats and Species Distribution; (4) Ecosystem and Biodiversity Conservation and Resource Management. The main conclusion of the article is that habitat vulnerability is a key factor to take into consideration for the future hybrid applications of remote sensing and “citizen science” inputs.

The use of mixed reality (MR, also XR) as an educational approach and pedagogical strategy merging real world and digital affordances along an immersive learning continuum has been explored across educational settings and contexts (Liu et al., 2017; Maas & Hughes, 2020). In a study examining purposeful educational design using free-choice and self-determined mobile learning in and outside of the classroom in the context of marine conservation education to enhance ecological literacy, an XR intervention was co-designed with primary students and partners and implemented at a marine education centre located adjacent to a marine reserve north of Auckland, in Aotearoa New Zealand (Eames & Aguayo, 2019). The design, development, and implementation of the XR intervention followed design principles and guidelines for the development of XR learning, grouped under four main areas: marine science and conservation (the context); development of ecological literacy; teaching and learning considerations; and mobile learning opportunities (the technology) (Aguayo et al., 2020). The XR intervention was named ‘Pipi’s World’, and included a set of analog and digital elements, resources and learning opportunities themed around Pipi the snapper, a young female character who could show users her world, and the positive impacts of marine conservation. Pipi’s World intervention included an augmented reality (AR) app, QR codes triggering 360 virtual reality (VR) videos, a high-end CGI (computer-generated interface) underwater VR adventure, a series of non-digital haptic experiences themed under a kelp forest (Smith, 2018), and a snorkel tour in the marine reserve. Evidence from this study indicates that the XR intervention had educational impact, by assisting some knowledge and attitude development on learners towards marine ecological literacy during and post-intervention (Eames & Aguayo, 2020). 
 The framework that informed Pipi’s World study was transferred, adapted, and tested during 2020-2021 in a similar marine conservation education context in Las Cruces, in central Chile. The local context presented similarities with Pipi’s world in that both projects were based within a marine education centre situated next to a marine research station and marine reserve, with educational programmes tailored to meet the local national curriculum for primary and secondary learners, in addition to learning activities for visitors from the public. From the outset the framework developed by Aguayo et al. (2020) contained design principles that are generic in many ways but flexible and adaptable enough to be locally developed, according to the specific characteristics and conditions of each educational context. Following socio-ethnographic and socio-cultural activity theory considerations and strategies (Aguayo, 2016; Engeström, 1987; Leadbetter, 2005), framed on a design-based research methodology (Amiel & Reeves, 2008), the grounding of the framework in the Chilean context consisted of examining the viability and adaptability of the framework’s components within the local context (e.g. defining local topics of interests in marine conservation). This process was carried out with a local panel of experts, both online and over several visits to the target location, resulting in the XR intervention ‘Explora Chile Es Mar’ (explore Chile’s ocean) containing a range of real and virtual affordances addressing Chile’s marine conservation priorities, launched in June 2021. This presentation reports on the process and key aspects leading to the development of the XR intervention Explora Chile es Mar, with emphasis on the transferability and adaptability of the original framework into the Chilean context, including some comparison between both case studies, and implications and recommendations for future research and practice.

Larry B. Crowder is Edward Flanders Ricketts Professor of Marine Ecology and Conservation, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University. He started the first course in Marine Conservation in 1997 at Duke University Marine Lab and Co-Edited the first textbook in Marine Conservation in 2005 (Norse and Crowder. 2005. Marine Conservation Biology. Island Press, Washington, DC. This chapter outlines vision for global, transdisciplinary approach to designing pathways to solutions in marine conservation.

Like most ocean regions today, the European and contiguous seas experience cumulative impacts from local human activities and global pressures. They are largely in poor environmental condition with deteriorating trends. Despite several success stories, European policies for marine conservation fall short of being effective. Acknowledging the challenges for marine conservation, a 4-year multi-national network, MarCons, supported collaborative marine conservation efforts to bridge the gap between science, management and policy, aiming to contribute in reversing present negative trends. By consolidating a large network of more than 100 scientists from 26 countries, and conducting a series of workshops over 4 years (2016–2020), MarCons analyzed challenges, opportunities and obstacles for advancing marine conservation in the European and contiguous seas. Here, we synthesize the major issues that emerged from this analysis and make 12 key recommendations for policy makers, marine managers, and researchers. To increase the effectiveness of marine conservation planning, we recommend (1) designing coherent networks of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the framework of marine spatial planning (MSP) and applying systematic conservation planning principles, including re-evaluation of existing management zones, (2) designing MPA networks within a broader transboundary planning framework, and (3) implementing integrated land-freshwater-sea approaches. To address inadequate or poorly informed management, we recommend (4) developing and implementing adaptive management plans in all sites of the Natura 2000 European conservation network and revising the Natura 2000 framework, (5) embedding and implementing cumulative effects assessments into a risk management process and making them operational, and (6) promoting actions to reach ‘good environmental status’ in all European waters. To account for global change in conservation planning and management, we further recommend (7) developing conservation strategies to address the impacts of global change, for example identifying climate-change refugia as high priority conservation areas, and (8) incorporating biological invasions in conservation plans and prioritizing management actions to control invasive species. Finally, to improve current practices that may compromise the effectiveness of conservation actions, we recommend (9) reinforcing the collection of high-quality open-access data, (10) improving mechanisms for public participation in MPA planning and management, (11) prioritizing conservation goals in full collaboration with stakeholders, and (12) addressing gender inequality in marine sciences and conservation.

BackgroundThe use of ethnoecological tools to evaluate possible damage and loss of biodiversity related to the populations of species under some degree of threat may represent a first step towards integrating the political management of natural resources and conservation strategies. From this perspective, this study investigates fishermen’s ecological knowledge about sea turtles and attitudes towards the conservation and bycatch in Ilhéus, Southern Bahia, Brazil.MethodsFishermen experts semi-structured interviews were performed using snowball sampling method. The interviews consisted of a series of questions relating to the fishermen’s profile, structure and work equipment, the local ecological knowledge of fishermen about sea turtles and bycatch, a projective test, attitudes towards turtle conservation and beliefs and taboos regarding turtles. Indicators for quantitative comparisons of respondents in terms of their broad knowledge and attitudes towards turtle conservation were created. Correlation analyses were made between indicators of knowledge and attitude as well as the relationship between education level and knowledge and attitudes.ResultsThirty experts were interviewed for the study. The local ecological knowledge and attitudes of fishermen towards the conservation of sea turtles were respectively medium (0.43) and moderate (0.69) according to experts (based on Likert scale and Cronbach’s Alpha). Potential areas of spawning were reported from Barra Grande to Una covering the entire coast of Ilhéus. Methods for identifying the animal, behavior, and popular names were described by fishermen. The most recent captures of turtles were attributed to fishing line, but according to the respondents, lobster nets and shrimp traps are more likely to capture turtles. Knowledge and attitudes were weakly inversely correlated (r = −0.38, p = 0.04), and the education level of the respondent showed a positive correlation with positive attitudes towards turtle conservation (H = 8.33; p = 0.04). Life history, habitat, specific and exogenous taboos, beliefs and the use of hawksbill turtle to make glasses and other handcrafts are also reported in the study.ConclusionsMonitoring of spawning areas, preservation of traditional practices, strategies to moderate the use of fishery resources and the local ecological knowledge/attitudes can provide data to improve the conservation practices and management of sea turtles.

Participative multi-criteria decision analysis in marine management and conservation: Research progress and the challenge of integrating value judgments and uncertainty

Coral reef biodiversity and conservation.

The Earth's oceans are inherently 3‐D in nature. Many physical, environmental, and biotic processes vary widely across depths. In recent years, human activities, such as oil drilling, mining, and fishing are rapidly expanding into deeper frontier ocean areas, where much of the biodiversity remains unknown. Most current conservation actions, management decisions and policies of both the pelagic and benthic domains do not explicitly incorporate the 3‐D nature of the oceans and are still based on a two‐dimensional approach. Here, we review current advances in marine research and conservation, aiming to advance towards incorporating the third dimension in marine systematic conservation planning. We highlight the importance and potential of vertical conservation planning and zoning from the sea surface to the seafloor. We propose that undertaking marine conservation, management and environmental decisions in 3‐D has the potential to revolutionize marine conservation research, practice and legislation.

Marine environment is one of the world parts that affected by the human activities. Overexploitation, pollution and marine debris are some problems faced globally. The issues are caused by human behaviors and actions, intentionally or accidentally. However, not every person in the world realize the problems in marine environment. The objective of this study is to found out about how far parents were already introduce the marine conservation as early education for the children. The data was collected through questionnaire and analyze with simple math analysis. Results shows that not every parent join in marine conservation program and so do their children. However, most parents were already introducing the marine ecosystem and the importance of marine conservation to their children since early age.

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are rapidly spreading to meet global conservation targets, but new governance arrangements can have unintended impacts on socio-economic development that can undermine and counteract their intended outcomes. We use an exploratory mixed-method research design to understand these development impacts and their underlying mechanisms, guided by an innovative activity space framework that situates marine resource management and conservation in a network of relationships between communities, human services, and nature. Qualitative research – based on 22 interviews in Koh Sdach Archipelago, Cambodia – demonstrates how the local community experienced improving relationships with the state and a slowing deterioration of marine resources, but also social division, heightened livelihood anxiety, and potentially a false sense of economic security. We hypothesise on this basis that marine conservation could impede socio-economic development, for which we find support in our quantitative analysis across Cambodia, the Philippines, and Timor-Leste: MPAs materialised in better-off communities but were associated with slower and partly regressive socio-economic development, in particular decreasing wealth and increasing child mortality. These findings suggest that the rapid global expansion of MPA coverage in its current, environmental-conservation-focused form is problematic as it disregards local social realities. Livelihood adaptation support should complement the implementation of marine resource governance mechanisms to mitigate unintended negative consequences.

Understanding audiences: Making public perceptions research matter to marine conservation