Indo-Pacific Research Articles

On a new, burrow-associated species of Salmoneus Holthuis, 1955 (Decapoda: Alpheidae) from the Indo-West Pacific

A new alpheid shrimp, Salmoneus ngae sp. nov., is described based on two specimens collected on a near-shore, seagrass-rubble sandflat on the north-eastern coast of New Caledonia. The material from Lombok, Indonesia, previously reported as S. alpheophilus Anker & Marin, 2006, is reidentified as S. ngae sp. nov. The new species is a member of the informal S. gracilipes Miya, 1972 species group and appears to be a symbiont of spacious and complex burrows of the snapping shrimp Alpheus rapax Fabricius, 1798. Thus, S. ngae sp. nov. joins an ecological guild within the genus Salmoneus, which is composed of seven species associated with burrows of Alpheus spp. in various parts of the world and in different habitats.

Molecular phylogenetics of the superfamily Stromboidea (Caenogastropoda): New insights from increased taxon sampling

AbstractThe superfamily Stromboidea is a clade of morphologically distinctive gastropods which include the iconic Strombidae, or ‘true conchs’. In this study, we present the most taxonomically extensive phylogeny of the superfamily to date, using fossil calibrations to produce a chronogram and extant geographical distributions to reconstruct ancestral ranges. From these results, we confirm the monophyly of all stromboidean families; however, six genera are not monophyletic using current generic assignments (Strombidae: Lentigo, Canarium, Dolomena, Doxander; Xenophoridae: Onustus, Xenophora). Within Strombidae, analyses resolve an Indo‐West Pacific (IWP) clade sister to an East Pacific/Atlantic clade, together sister to a second, larger IWP clade. Our results also indicate two pulses of strombid diversification within the Miocene, and a Tethyan/IWP origin for Strombidae—both supported by the fossil record. However, conflicts between divergence time estimates and the fossil record warrant further exploration. Species delimitation analyses using the COI barcoding gene support several taxonomic changes. We synonymise Euprotomus aurora with Euprotomus bulla, Strombus alatus with Strombus pugilis, Dolomena abbotti with Dolomena labiosa, and Dolomena operosa with Dolomena vittata. We identified cryptic species complexes within Terebellum terebellum, Lambis lambis, “Canarium” wilsonorum, Dolomena turturella and Maculastrombus mutabilis. We reinstate Rimellopsis laurenti as a species (previously synonymised with R. powisii) and recognise Harpago chiragra rugosus and Lambis truncata sowerbyi valid at the rank of species. Finally, we establish several new combinations to render Lentigo, Dolomena, and Canarium monophyletic: Lentigo thersites, Dolomena robusta, Dolomena epidromis, Dolomena turturella, Dolomena taeniata, Dolomena vanikorensis, D. vittata, “Canarium” wilsonorum, Hawaiistrombus scalariformis, Maculastrombus mutabilis, Maculastrombus microurceus.

On the differences between the two widely distributed and closely related rock shrimps Sicyonia japonica Balss, 1914 and S. parajaponica Crosnier, 2003 (Dendrobranchiata, Penaeoidea, Sicyoniidae), with a new record of S. japonica from Taiwan

The rock shrimp Sicyonia japonica Balss, 1914 is recorded from Taiwan for the first time. The availability of many fresh specimens of S. japonica and S. parajaponica Crosnier, 2003 from various localities in the Indo-West Pacific allowed a detailed comparison of the morphology, fresh coloration and genetics between these two closely related species. Their major differences are illustrated by line drawings, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) images and color photographs. DNA barcoding comparison supports the specific status of these two species and reveals that the western Indian Ocean material of S. japonica may represent another cryptic taxon.

First records of Parahelice K. Sakai, Türkay & Yang, 2006 and Pseudohelice K. Sakai, Türkay & Yang, 2006 from Vanuatu, with description of a new species of Parahelice (Crustacea: Brachyura: Varunidae)

The genera Parahelice K. Sakai, Türkay & Yang, 2006, and Pseudohelice K. Sakai, Türkay & Yang, 2006, are widely distributed in estuarine, mudflats, or mangroves in the Indo-West Pacific, and species of them are often sympatric. Species identification of the two genera is generally difficult, mainly due to the similar morphology and large intraspecific variation. Our study is the first report of the two genera from Vanuatu, including one new species, Parahelice ngankeeae sp. nov., as well as Par. pilimana (A. Milne-Edwards, 1873) and Pseudohelice subquadrata (Dana, 1851). These species can be distinguished from similar species by the characters of the suborbital cristae, the male chelipedal manus, and the first gonopods. The new species is also supported by the molecular results from the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI).

Unusual Patterns of Lateral Scutes in Two Olive Ridley Turtles and Their Genetic Assignment to the Thai Andaman Sea Populations of Lepidochelys olivacea Eschscholtz, 1829.

Two stranded Lepidochelys-like sea turtles were rescued from the Thai Andaman Sea coastline by veterinarians of the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC), one in May of 2019 and another in July of 2021. They were first identified as olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea), as the external appearance of both turtles was closer to that species than the other four species found in the Thai Andaman Sea. In fact, when carefully examined, an unusual pattern of the lateral scutes on each turtle was observed, specifically symmetric 5/5 and asymmetric 5/6, both of which are considered rare for L. olivacea and had never been reported in the Thai Andaman Sea. In contrast, this characteristic was more common for the closely related species, Kemp's ridley (L. kempii), although this species is not distributed in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Thus, we further investigated their genetic information to confirm species identification using two molecular markers, namely the mtDNA control region and nDNA RAG2. The results from the mtDNA control region sequences using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) indicated that both individuals exhibited a higher percent identity with L. olivacea (99.81-100.00%) rather than L. kempii (94.29-95.41%) or any other species. A phylogenetic tree confirmed that these two turtles belonged to the L. olivacea clade. Moreover, the results of RAG2 also supported the mtDNA result, as both individuals shared the same RAG2 haplotype with L. olivacea. Thus, we have concluded that the two turtles with unusual lateral scute patterns exhibited genetic consistency with their original species, L. olivacea, which has brought attention to the importance of exploring rare phenotypes in sea turtle populations residing in Thai Seas.

Confirming the occurrence of two fiddler crabs, Tubuca dussumieri (H. Milne Edwards, 1852) and T. coarctata (H. Milne Edwards, 1852) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Ocypodidae), in Hong Kong by DNA barcoding and morphology

The Indo-West Pacific region has a rich fiddler crab fauna. In East Asia, some species of fiddler crabs, such as Tubuca coarctata (H. Milne Edwards, 1852) and T. dussumieri (H. Milne Edwards, 1852), are considered insular, being present in the Philippines, Taiwan, and Ryukyus, but with no consistent record on continental China. Although T. dussumieri has been previously recorded in continental China, these records were considered dubious or misidentified. The nature of the Kuroshio Current and the colder waters of the China Coastal Current, compared to the currents along the eastern coasts of the Philippines and Taiwan, are considered barriers to the entrance of larvae of these species into the region. Nonetheless, using the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and morphological evidence, we present the first record of T. coarctata and show the presence of a T. dussumieri population in Hong Kong SAR, China. We hypothesize that the newly found T. coarctata in Hong Kong may be related to water temperature increases due to anthropogenic climate change, which allows its larvae to survive in this region and develop into adult crabs. Furthermore, our findings corroborate previous records of T. dussumieri in continental China. The restricted distribution of T. dussumieri in China and the smaller size of individuals, however, may indicate suboptimal habitats for arriving larvae. The limited presence of the two crabs on Chinese shores indicates that the intense coastal development in the country, such as in Hong Kong, may destroy suitable habitats and render these species susceptible to local extinction.

Decrease in MJO Predictability Following Indo–Pacific Warm Pool Expansion

AbstractThe characteristics of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) have changed and are projected to continue changing with the expansion of the Indo–Pacific warm pool, which is the Earth's largest region of warm sea surface temperatures (SSTs). However, the likelihood of a change in MJO predictability following warm pool expansion remains unaddressed. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of warm pool expansion on MJO variability and predictability using the highly idealized aquaplanet configuration of Community Earth System Model 2 (CESM2). By expanding the warm pool in the Indo–Pacific, MJO‐like waves become more regionally confined, short‐lived convective events with weaker magnitude and less robust eastward propagating signals, possibly due to stronger zonal SST gradients and wider meridional widths of the warm pool. Perfect‐model ensemble forecast experiments revealed that the MJO predictability decreased by approximately 5 days, the forecast error proliferated, and the signal rapidly reduced following warm pool expansion.

Isolation and Total Synthesis of PM170453, a New Cyclic Depsipeptide Isolated from Lyngbya sp.

In our continuing search for biologically active new chemical entities from marine organisms, we have isolated a new cyclic depsipeptide, PM170453 (1), from a cyanobacterium of the genus Lyngbya sp., collected in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Structure elucidation of the isolated compound was determined by spectroscopic methods including MS, 1H, 13C and 2D-NMR. To solve the supply problem for 1 and progress pharmaceutical development, the total synthesis of 1 that involves a total of 20 chemical steps in a convergent process was carried out. Its in vitro cytotoxic activity against four human tumor cell lines, as well as the inhibition of the interaction between the programmed cell death protein 1 PD-1 and its ligand PD-L1 were also evaluated.

From Asymmetric Strategic Rivalry to Strategic Bargaining and Cooperation: Is There a Case for India–China Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific?

India and China both have a long history of engagement based on their asymmetric power capabilities, differences in threat perceptions and international status. Given these three aspects of asymmetry, this article argues that China and India must focus on cooperation that can come through bargaining and compromises and promote peace and stability in the region. The article argues that by cooperating with each other they can develop a strong alternative to the existing Western liberal order, in the particular context of the Indo Pacific.

Combining Morphological Characteristics and DNA Barcoding Techniques Confirm Sea Urchins of the Genus Echinometra (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) in Marine Habitat Located at Extreme Regions of the Caribbean Sea.

Echinometra spp. are pantropical echinoids found in benthic marine habitat throughout the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Indo-West Pacific oceanic regions. Currently, morphology and molecular data are sparse for echinoids observed along the northeastern coast of Toco, Trinidad, where they are relatively common. Additionally, accurate species identity for Echinometra spp. remains dynamic at both northernmost and southernmost parts of the Caribbean Sea. Although distribution of sea urchins in the genus Echinometra have extensively been studied throughout the Atlantic and Indo-West Pacific, information on its range of distribution at the edge of the Caribbean Sea is lacking. In this study, the mitochondrial Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I (mt COI) gene was amplified using polymerase chain reaction, then sequenced. Based on successfully obtained gene sequences for 581 base pairs, the echinoid species Echinometra lucunter and Echinometra viridis were identified for black and red color morphotypes from Trinidad (n=23) and Key Largo, Florida (n=6), respectively. Furthermore, these specimens were genetically identical to species identified in other studies for Puerto Rico, Panamá, Honduras, and Belize. Although morphological variations, such as spine and test color occur throughout Echinometra spp., molecular identification using the barcoding technique confirmed E. lucunter color morphs for the first time in Trinidad. Since the status of E. lucunter populations, specifically at the most northern and southern regions of the Caribbean Sea is dynamic, further studies using gene markers are essential in determining species distribution, in light of current trends in climate change.

Ornamental fish in the South African pet shop trade: potential risk to natural aquatic ecosystems

AbstractThe aquarium pet trade is one of the leading pathways for the introduction of invasive species into natural ecosystems. In 2018, we surveyed pet shops across South Africa to obtain a checklist of ornamental fish species in the aquarium pet shop trade and to assess their invasion potential using sourced data (e.g., natural environment, native range, introduction status, impact status and climatic zone). We evaluated selected common aquarium fish species with high invasion potential according to previous invasion history. We highlighted the need for the development of a management strategy for the aquarium pet trade in South Africa. We identified 312 fish species belonging to 77 families and 182 genera. Most pet shops were in Gauteng Province (n = 38), with few in Limpopo Province (n = 3). Gauteng had the highest number of fish species (n = 271), while North West Province had the lowest number (n = 95). Pet shops were dominated by freshwater species (68%), followed by marine species (22%), while the origin of 30 species (10%) was transitional aquatic ecosystems. Most freshwater taxa were native to South America and Asia, while most marine species were from the Pacific and Indo-Pacific Oceans. Most (88%) species were tropical, 10% subtropical, and 1% temperate. Several (n = 28) species had more than 50% frequency of occurrence, representing the most popular ornamental fishes. Several (n = 13) species are invasive in South Africa and other parts of the world. The system of importation of ornamental fish in South Africa is not clear. Although there is a recommendation that these importations must be regulated according to the whitelist and blacklist in South Africa, it is not clear how this is implemented in practice. We demonstrated a high risk of alien fish species introduction in South Africa through the aquarium pet shop trade.

Gene flow throughout the evolutionary history of a colour polymorphic and generalist clownfish.

Even seemingly homogeneous on the surface, the oceans display high environmental heterogeneity across space and time. Indeed, different soft barriers structure the marine environment, which offers an appealing opportunity to study various evolutionary processes such as population differentiation and speciation. Here, we focus on Amphiprion clarkii (Actinopterygii; Perciformes), the most widespread of clownfishes that exhibits the highest colour polymorphism. Clownfishes can only disperse during a short pelagic larval phase before their sedentary adult lifestyle, which might limit connectivity among populations, thus facilitating speciation events. Consequently, the taxonomic status of A. clarkii has been under debate. We used whole-genome resequencing data of 67 A. clarkii specimens spread across the Indian and Pacific Oceans to characterize the species' population structure, demographic history and colour polymorphism. We found that A. clarkii spread from the Indo-Pacific Ocean to the Pacific and Indian Oceans following a stepping-stone dispersal and that gene flow was pervasive throughout its demographic history. Interestingly, colour patterns differed noticeably among the Indonesian populations and the two populations at the extreme of the sampling distribution (i.e. Maldives and New Caledonia), which exhibited more comparable colour patterns despite their geographic and genetic distances. Our study emphasizes how whole-genome studies can uncover the intricate evolutionary past of wide-ranging species with diverse phenotypes, shedding light on the complex nature of the species concept paradigm.

Neutral processes and taxonomic scale drive beta species-genetic diversity correlations in a submesophotic tropical reef fish.

If similar evolutionary forces maintain intra- and interspecific diversity, patterns of diversity at both levels of biological organization can be expected to covary across space. Although this prediction of a positive species-genetic diversity correlation (SGDC) has been tested for several taxa in natural landscapes, no study has yet evaluated the influence of the community delineation on these SGDCs. In this study, we focused on tropical fishes of the Indo-Pacific Ocean, using range-wide single nucleotide polymorphism data for a deep-sea fish (Etelis coruscans) and species presence data of 4878 Teleostei species. We investigated whether a diversity continuum occurred, for different community delineations (subfamily, family, order and class) and spatial extents, and which processes explained these diversity patterns. We found no association between genetic diversity and species richness (α-SGDC), regardless of the community and spatial extent. In contrast, we evidenced a positive relationship between genetic and species dissimilarities (β-SGDC) when the community was defined at the subfamily or family level of the species of interest, and when the Western Indian Ocean was excluded. This relationship was related to the imprint of dispersal processes across levels of biological organization in Lutjanidae. However, this positive β-SGDC was lost when considering higher taxonomic communities and at the scale of the entire Indo-Pacific, suggesting different responses of populations and communities to evolutionary processes at these scales. This study provides evidence that the taxonomic scale at which communities are defined and the spatial extent are pivotal to better understand the processes shaping diversity across levels of biological organization.

Biogeographical diet variation within and between the rabbitfishes Siganus corallinus, Siganus doliatus, Siganus trispilos and Siganus virgatus.

Feeding habits of herbivorous fishes play an important role in shaping the form and function of coastal marine ecosystems. Rabbitfishes (Siganidae) are important consumers of macroalgae on Indo-West Pacific coral reefs. However, it is unclear how their diet varies among and within species at biogeographical scales, casting doubt on their precise functional roles across different regions. The present study assessed the inter- and intra-specific diet variation of four rabbitfishes (Siganus trispilos, Siganus corallinus, Siganus virgatus and Siganus doliatus) factored by morphological relatedness among populations from Ningaloo Reef (western Australia), the Great Barrier Reef (GBR, eastern Australia) and the Yaeyama Islands (Okinawa Prefecture, Japan). Results showed that the region had a strong effect on diet, effectively reducing the expected effect of morphologic similitude. While intra-specific differences were only significant when populations inhabited different regions; interspecific differences were not as predicted, with different morphotypes having similar diets when populations inhabited the same regions. Rabbitfishes consumed more corticated and filamentous macroalgae on the GBR, more foliose and membranous macroalgae at the Yaeyama Islands, and more leathery macroalgae at Ningaloo Reef. The findings indicate that rabbitfishes have high diet plasticity, and hence their functional role as mediators of competition between macroalgae and corals can change across biogeographic regions. Local context is therefore important when assessing the diet and functional role of herbivorous fishes. As climate change unfolds, shifts in the distribution, trophic behaviour and function of species are expected, making the study of trophic plasticity more important.

Substantial Warming of the Atlantic Ocean in CMIP6 Models

Abstract The storage of anthropogenic heat in oceans is geographically inhomogeneous, leading to differential warming rates among major ocean basins with notable regional climate impacts. Our analyses of observation-based datasets show that the average warming rate of 0–2000-m Atlantic Ocean since 1960 is nearly threefold stronger than that of the Indo-Pacific Oceans. This feature is robustly captured by historical simulations of phase 6 of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) and is projected to persist into the future. In CMIP6 simulations, the ocean heat uptake through surface heat fluxes plays a central role in shaping the interbasin warming contrasts. In addition to the slowdown of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation as stressed in some existing studies, alterations of atmospheric conditions under greenhouse warming are also essential for the increased surface heat flux into the North Atlantic. Specifically, the reduced anthropogenic aerosol concentration in the North Atlantic since the 1980s has been favorable for the enhanced Atlantic Ocean heat uptake in CMIP6 models. Another previously overlooked factor is the geographic shape of the Atlantic Ocean which is relatively wide in midlatitudes and narrow in low latitudes, in contrast to that of the Indo-Pacific Oceans. Combined with the poleward migration of atmospheric circulations, which leads to the meridional pattern of surface heat uptake with broadly enhanced heat uptake in midlatitude oceans due to reduced surface wind speed and cloud cover, the geographic shape effect renders a higher basin-average heat uptake in the Atlantic.

A Cross-Sectional Analysis of EMT Certification Rates among Navy Hospital Corpsmen in the INDO-PACIFIC.

Until 2017, the United States Navy (USN) incorporated Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) curriculum into Basic Medical Technician Corpsman (BMTC) training program. At overseas USN and Marine Corps installations, USN hospitals and clinics must train and certify EMTs to support the Emergency Medical System (EMS) mission. The primary aim of this study is to identify the impact of removing NREMT curriculum from BMTC on NREMT exam pass rates of students stationed in the Indo-Pacific (INDOPAC) region. This study examines and analyzes 1 st and 3 rd attempt NREMT exam pass rates of four OCONUS installations in the INDOPAC region over 10.5 years. The researcher conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of NREMT exam pass rates. Data were extracted from the NREMT database from four program sites in Japan. Five years of data before and after the curriculum change were included. Date ranges extracted were from January 1, 2012, to June 1, 2022. During the observed 10.5 years, 1093 students attempted the NREMT cognitive examination within the INDOPAC region and were included. Cumulative pass rates for 1 st and 3 rd attempts for all four locations for all years were 64.2% and 71.1%, respectively. Comparison of the overall INDOPAC 1 st attempt pass rate before and after BMTC curriculum change shows a 62% pass rate for 2012-2017 (before EMT curriculum removal) and a 66% pass rate for 2017-2022 (after removal). The two means do not show statistical significance as the p-value is determined to be 0.172 (P>0.05). No statistical correlation between students before and after the curriculum change was found. A correlation was identified between pass rates and delayed examination, indicating if the national exam is delayed, the rate of certification decreases.

Ascetoaxinus ravichandrani sp. nov., a new species of deep-water Thyasiridae (Mollusca: Bivalvia) from the northern Indian Ocean

A new species of deep-sea thyasirid (Bivalvia: Thyasiridae), Ascetoaxinus ravichandrani sp. nov., is described and illustrated from material collected in the northern Indian Ocean during the FORV Sagar Sampada deep-sea cruise no. 404. Specimens were collected from a depth between 1007 m and 1038 m off Kanyakumari, Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu, South India. This is the first record of the genus Ascetoaxinus from the Indo-West Pacific. The new species is compared to A. quatsinoensis P.G. Oliver & Frey, 2014 from the Northeast Pacific and A. ovoideus (Dall, 1890) from the Northwest Atlantic. It can be distinguished from these species by its external shell characters. Further comparisons are made between the new species and other larger thyasirids recorded from deep waters around India, notably Channelaxinus investigatoris E.A. Smith, 1895. The distinctions and similarities among these species are discussed, highlighting the key features that set A. ravichandrani apart from related species.

Impacts of the Asian Australian Monsoon and Indo Pacific Sea Surface Temperature on Urban Climates in Major Indonesian Cities for Low Carbon Building Design

Impacts of the Asian Australian Monsoon and Indo Pacific Sea Surface Temperature on Urban Climates in Major Indonesian Cities for Low Carbon Building Design

Taxonomic characterization of five species of emperor fishes (Actinopterygii: Eupercaria: Lethrinidae) based on external morphology, morphometry, and geographic distribution in the northwestern Indian Ocean

Species of the genus Lethrinus, commonly referred to as emperor fishes, mainly distributed in the Indo–West Pacific, including the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman are poorly known. It is difficult to characterize them morphologically, as there are no distinguishing meristic features for the majority of species. We studied the morphological features of 65 specimens representing the genus Lethrinus to define and identify the species involved. Among the morphological characters commonly considered in this type of study, we also included new, previously undescribed characters. The results of Tukey’s post hoc HSD test for metric and meristic variables, which showed significant differences between species in ANOVA, indicate that most metric traits and the number of scale rows above the lateral line differ significantly among the five morphotypes distinguished. Principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant function analysis (DFA) effectively showed the morphometric variation between these morphotypes. The characteristics of body depth, head length, pectoral fin length, and caudal fin length are the most distinguishing diagnostic at the species level. We determined that the collected fish specimens represented: Lethrinus borbonicus Valenciennes, 1830, Lethrinus crocineus Smith, 1959, Lethrinus lentjan (Lacepède, 1802), Lethrinus microdon Valenciennes, 1830, and Lethrinus nebulosus (Forsskål, 1775). We also confirmed their validity as distinct species. Notably, L. crocineus, previously known only from the western Indian Ocean (Africa and Socotra), is now reported for the first time from the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Lastly, a distribution map for the Lethrinus species is included.

Implementasi Konsep ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) dalam Pengembangan Ekonomi Biru di Kawasan Indo Pasifik: Studi Kasus Chairmanship Indonesia di ASEAN Tahun 2023

The Indo Pacific region is an area rich in natural resources and has great economic potential. However, rapid economic growth and lack of awareness of environmental protection and social sustainability have led to negative impacts on the environment and society in the region. To overcome this problem, the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) concept has been widely recognized as a framework for encouraging sustainable economic growth by considering environmental, social and good governance factors. The purpose of this research is to examine how the ESG concept is applied in the development and development of the blue economy in the Indo Pacific Region, especially during Indonesia's tenure as chairman of ASEAN in 2023. In this research, we will identify the concrete steps taken by Indonesia in implementing the concept. ESG and promoting the blue economy in the region. This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach method. Data was processed and collected using questionnaires and library literature. The research object consisted of 50 STIE Ganesha student respondents. By analyzing the policies and initiatives launched by the Indonesian government during their leadership in ASEAN. Relevant data will be collected through literature reviews and official documents. It is hoped that the results of this research will provide a better understanding of Indonesia's efforts to implement ESG concepts and promote the blue economy in the Indo Pacific Region. This research limits the scope by using students' perspectives regarding the ESG concept in developing the blue economy in the Indo Pacific region. This research can also provide insight into the challenges faced and the opportunities that exist in developing a sustainable economy in this region. Relevant policy implications will also be identified to support the future development of the blue economy.